AB 3020

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Pursuant to authority delegated by the Federal Communications Commission to state regulatory bodies and its existing statutory authority, the Public Utilities Commission has established procedures for implementing 2-1-1 dialing in California to connect people to social services and aid in times of disaster. Existing law, until January 1, 2023, authorized the commission, if it determined that doing so was an appropriate use of funds collected from ratepayers, to expend up to $1,500,000 from the California Teleconnect Fund Administrative Committee Fund to help close 2-1-1 service gaps in counties lacking access to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery information and referral services, where technically feasible, through available 2-1-1 service. Existing law establishes the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) within the Governor's office to provide long-range planning and research and to serve as the comprehensive state planning agency. This bill would, upon appropriation, require the OPR to establish and convene the 2-1-1 Strategic Advisory Committee. The bill would require the committee to be composed of specified members, including directors of specified state agencies or their designees, representatives of community-based organizations that represent specified vulnerable populations, a member of the public with lived experience in utilizing 2-1-1 services, and city or county officials with knowledge or experience with local 2-1-1 programs and services. The bill would require the committee to, among other things, identify and establish an ongoing funding source for statewide 2-1-1 infrastructure and operations, and recommend policies and priorities to encourage the development of California's 2-1-1 infrastructure. The bill would require the committee's meetings to be open to the public.