CHAPTER 258
HB 707 - FINAL VERSION
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2001 SESSION
03/09
HOUSE BILL 707
AN ACT establishing a 211 commission.
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
This bill establishes a 211 commission to oversee the design, development, and operation in New Hampshire of the 211 service code for community information and referral services.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05apr01...0428h
6/12/01...1583s
6/12/01...1652s
26june01...1781CofC
01-0640
03/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One
AN ACT establishing a 211 commission.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
258:1 211 Commission Established.
I. There is hereby established a 211 commission to make recommendations on the design, development, and operation in New Hampshire of the 211 service code for community information and referral services.
II. The commission shall consist of 13 members as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, at least 2 of whom shall be from the house science, technology, and energy committee.
(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The executive director of the bureau of emergency communications, or designee.
(d) The consumer advocate, or designee.
(e) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(f) Four members appointed by the governor:
(1) One member representing incumbent local exchange carriers.
(2) One member representing statewide information and referral services.
(3) One member representing local information and referral services.
(4) One member representing specialized information and referral services.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. Members shall elect from among themselves a person to serve as commission chairperson and another to serve as commission vice-chairperson.
258:2 Duties of the 211 Commission.
I. The 211 commission shall make recommendations relative to the design, development, and operation of a statewide 211 information service that shall address, at a minimum, the issues of:
(a) Year-round, 24-hour, live response.
(b) Information and referral specialists who are trained and meet national standards for information and referral call processing.
(c) 211 service being available toll-free to all residents of the state.
(d) Immediate access to a comprehensive statewide database of service providers.
(e) Accommodation for citizens with special needs including, but not limited to, physical disabilities, language restrictions, TTY requirements, and specialized care.
(f) Utilization of existing local, specialized and statewide information and referral services in conjunction with implementing a statewide 211 program.
(g) Cooperative working relationships with 911 emergency services and governmental agencies such as the department of health and human services.
(h) Criteria for performance and service quality of the entities involved in the provision of 211 services.
(i) 211 services being operated in accordance with any national standards for community information and referral services adopted by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems.
(j) The formation of an ongoing 211 commission.
(k) A proposed annual budget and potential funding sources to support 211 service.
II. The 211 commission shall review any available information from the public utilities commission regarding 211 service.
258:3 Report by 211 Commission. The 211 commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, the public utilities commission, and the state library. The 211 commission shall either file, and designate as such, a final report on or before December 1, 2001 or file, and designate as such, an interim report on or before December 1, 2001 and a final report on or before July 1, 2002.
258:4 Public Utilities Commission Action. The public utilities commission shall not pursue any proceedings relative to 211 service until the 211 commission established under this act issues its final report. The public utilities commission shall not impose any tax, fee, or surcharge directed towards 211 service until future legislation authorizing such action has passed.
258:5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
(Approved: July 13, 2001)
(Effective Date: July 13, 2001)