Citations Affected: IC 8-1; noncode.
Synopsis: 211 services. Defines "information and referral services" for
purposes of 211 dialing code services. Gives the right of first refusal
for provision of 211 services for a state agency to a 211 service
provider if the 211 service provider and the state agency determine that
211 is the most cost effective method of delivering the services.
Requires the office of management and budget to coordinate a study
with various state agencies to identify information and referral services
and to report the results of the study to the Indiana utility regulatory
commission, 211 service providers, and general assembly no later than
December 31, 2008. Requires a state agency that uses 211 to enter into
an agreement with the recognized 211 service provider that establishes
the terms and amount of compensation to the recognized 211 service
provider.
Effective: Upon passage.
January 10, 2008, read first time and referred to Committee on Small Business and
Economic Development.
January 24, 2008, amended, reported _ Do Pass.
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
utilities.
delivery of human services in Indiana.
(b) A state agency or department that provides human services may
not establish a public telephone line or hotline to provide information
or referrals unless the agency or department first:
(1) consults with the recognized 211 service provider in the area
to be served by the telephone line or hotline about to determine
whether using 211 to provide access to the information or
referrals is the most cost effective method of delivery; and
(2) notifies the commission of the consultation and
determination described in subdivision (1).
If the state agency or department determines that 211 is the most
cost effective way to provide access to information and referral
services, the recognized 211 service provider with which the state
agency or department consulted under subdivision (1) has the right
of first refusal to provide 211 services for the state agency or
department.
(c) A person may not disseminate information to the public about
the availability of 211 or 211 services in an area of Indiana except in
accordance with:
(1) a rule adopted by the commission under IC 4-22-2; or
(2) an order issued by the commission in a specific proceeding.
(d) A state agency or department that uses a recognized 211
service provider to provide access to information and referral
services shall enter into an agreement with the recognized 211
service provider concerning the provision of access to information
and referral services. An agreement under this subsection must
establish the terms and amount of compensation from the 211
services account to the recognized 211 service provider.
purposes of this section.
(d) The commission shall annually prepare a plan for the
expenditure of the money in the account. The plan must be reviewed by
the state budget committee before the commission may make
expenditures from the fund.
(e) Money in the account may be spent for the following purposes:
(1) The creation of a structure for a statewide 211 resources data
base that:
(A) meets the Alliance for of Information and Referral
Systems standards for information and referral systems data
bases; and
(B) is integrated with a local resources data base maintained
by a recognized 211 service provider.
Permissible expenditures under this subdivision include
expenditures for planning, training, accreditation, and system
evaluation.
(2) The development and implementation of a statewide 211
resources data base described in subdivision (1). Permissible
expenditures under this subdivision include expenditures for
planning, training, accreditation, and system evaluation.
(3) Collecting, organizing, and maintaining information from state
agencies, departments, and programs that provide human
services, for access by a recognized 211 service provider.
(4) Providing grants or other compensation to a recognized 211
service provider for any of the following purposes:
(A) The design, development, and implementation of 211
services in a recognized 211 service provider's 211 service
area. Funds provided under this subdivision may be used for
planning, public awareness, training, accreditation, and
evaluation.
(B) The provision of 211 services on an ongoing basis after the
design, development, and implementation of 211 services in
a recognized 211 service provider's 211 service area.
(C) The provision of 211 services on a twenty-four (24) hour
per day, seven (7) day per week basis.
(f) The expenses of administering the account shall be paid from
money in the account.
(g) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the account not
currently needed to meet the obligations of the account in the same
manner as other public money may be invested.
(h) Money that is in the account under subsection (b)(2) through
(b)(4) at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general
fund.
in IC 8-1-19.5 apply throughout this SECTION.
(b) As used in this SECTION, "information and referral
services" includes the following:
(1) Toll free telephone lines.
(2) Human services data bases.
(3) Human services resource directories.
(c) The office of management and budget shall coordinate a
study with the following agencies to identify all information and
referral services for the state:
(1) The department of workforce development.
(2) The family and social services administration.
(3) The Indiana state department of health.
(4) The Indiana criminal justice institute.
(5) The department of child services.
(6) The Indiana department of homeland security.
(7) The Indiana department of veterans' affairs.
(8) The governor's planning council for people with
disabilities.
(9) The housing and community development authority.
(10) The office of faith based and community initiatives.
(11) The office of community and rural affairs.
(12) Any other agency whose participation the office of
management and budget determines would further the
purposes of this SECTION and IC 8-1-19.5.
(d) Not later than December 31, 2008, the office of management
and budget shall report the results of the study conducted under
subsection (c) to the following:
(1) The commission.
(2) Recognized 211 service providers.
(3) The general assembly, in an electronic format under
IC 5-14-6.
(e) The report under subsection (d) must do the following:
(1) Summarize the purpose, scope, effectiveness, cost, and
funding for each information and referral service. Each
summary under this subdivision must document the
following:
(A) The objectives of the information and referral service.
(B) The operational standards under which the
information and referral service operates.
(C) The percentage of human services providers associated
with the information and referral service that meet
standards developed by the Alliance of Information and
Referral System (AIRS).
(D) The units of service provided by human services
providers associated with the information and referral
service during the most recent applicable reporting period.
Documentation under this clause must describe the method
by which units of service are calculated.
(E) The costs of providing the information and referral
service, including the following:
(i) Staffing.
(ii) Data bases.
(iii) Technology.
(iv) Telecommunication and marketing costs associated
with a separate toll free line, human services data base,
or human services resource directory.
(F) Sources of federal and state funding and other state
resources used to provide human services and information
and referral services.
(2) Identify potential cost savings and service improvements
to the state through information and referral services,
including the use of 211 and 211 services.
(f) This SECTION expires January 1, 2009.