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<ns0:Id>20250AB__183298AMD</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-11</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-03-19</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Ransom</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
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<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Ransom</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title>An act to add Section 280.3 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>public utilities</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>2-1-1 information and referral response system.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Existing law requires local public agencies to establish a “9-1-1” emergency telephone number, as specified. Existing law also authorizes a local public agency to establish a nonemergency “3-1-1” telephone system. Under existing federal law, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) has designated “2-1-1” to be the national abbreviated dialing code to provide access to nonemergency community information and referral services.
Pursuant to authority delegated by the FCC to state regulatory bodies and its existing statutory authority, the PUC has established procedures for implementing 2-1-1 dialing in California.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require the PUC to convene state emergency planning agencies and the 2-1-1 lead entity appointed by the PUC to establish communication channels between state emergency planning agencies, the 2-1-1 lead entity, and 2-1-1 providers and to integrate 2-1-1 into the state emergency planning and emergency communications processes, as provided. The bill would require the PUC
to support 2-1-1 providers in, among other things, enhancing critical 2-1-1 system capacity and service quality through core operating support, providing equitable access to 2-1-1 dialing and services, publishing a statewide 2-1-1 community needs data dashboard for use by state agencies, developing aligned systems and protocols with 9-1-1 and 9-8-8, and implementing the duties of the 2-1-1 lead entity, as provided. The bill would require the 2-1-1 entity to conduct statewide 2-1-1 system activities, provide funding, if available, to local 2-1-1 providers, and provide annual reports to the PUC, as specified. The bill would require the PUC to annually communicate 2-1-1 system funding needs to the Department of Finance and Governor’s office for consideration in state budget planning. The bill would require the PUC to convene relevant state agencies, utilities, advocates, and persons involved in th 2-1-1 system to, among other things, evaluate current utility financial assistance, savings, and discount program
awareness, referral practices, and outcomes, as provided. The bill would create in the State Treasury the 2-1-1 Fund to be used for purposes of these provisions.</html:p>
<html:p>The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_5AECD6E0-7ECB-4EC9-8746-C824384C8E2D">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the 2-1-1 Infrastructure and Emergency Response Act.</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Public Utilities Commission has established procedures for implementing 2-1-1 dialing in California, has established a framework for a 2-1-1 lead entity responsible for implementing and coordinating 2-1-1 services, including serving as the point of contact for state agencies and emergency response agencies during disasters, and has appointed 211 California as the 2-1-1 lead
entity.
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<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Californians must be able to access 2-1-1 essential community services and critical communications infrastructure year-round and during disasters.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Because the 2-1-1 system serves such a wide range of populations and service categories and has no dedicated funding source, unlike 9-1-1 and 9-8-8, it is essential to create a fund to pool funding from different sources unless or until a dedicated funding source for the 2-1-1 system is identified.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
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Section 280.3 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Public Utilities Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>280.3.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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The commission shall convene state emergency planning agencies, including the Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Public Health, and the 2-1-1 lead entity appointed by the commission to do both of the following:
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<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Establish communication channels between state emergency planning agencies, the 2-1-1 lead entity, and 2-1-1 providers, as set forth in Decision 11-09-016 (September 8, 2011), Decision Granting Authority to Provide Emergency Access to 211 Services in Counties and Localities Without Existing 211 Centers and to Appoint a 211 Lead Entity, including adding 2-1-1 to emergency notification and coordination channels.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Integrate 2-1-1 into the state emergency planning and emergency communications processes.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall support 2-1-1 providers in doing all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Enhancing critical 2-1-1 system capacity and service quality through core operating support, including all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Staffing to handle 2-1-1 contacts.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Training, supervision, and quality assurance.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Consistent data collection and reporting.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Multilingual and multichannel access through modern technology and infrastructure.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Providing equitable access to 2-1-1 dialing and services by closing 2-1-1 coverage gaps and ensuring basic 2-1-1 service access statewide.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Publishing a statewide 2-1-1 community needs data dashboard for use by state agencies in monitoring and identifying community and disaster needs and resource gaps, and to inform efficient and responsive resource allocation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Strengthening 2-1-1 community resource databases and enable resource data sharing and delivery to state agencies, health systems, and other key partners, and reduce redundancies in resource directory building and updating.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Developing aligned systems and protocols with 9-1-1 and 9-8-8 to strengthen integration and direct people to the right number for the right resources at the right
time.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Promoting 2-1-1 awareness through public education and outreach opportunities.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(7)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Improving 2-1-1 system readiness, infrastructure, and capacity to respond to disasters and all hazard events, including by doing all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Completing local and statewide 2-1-1 emergency operations plans.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Securing needed infrastructure updates, tools, protocols, and training for both local disaster response and statewide mutual aid and network response.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Engaging with local counties, cities, community-based organizations, and voluntary organizations active in disaster response planning, regarding the role of the 2-1-1 system and communication protocols.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Providing emergency funding for 2-1-1 disaster activation when local or philanthropic funding is not available or not sufficient to match 2-1-1 disaster contact volume.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(8)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Implementing the duties of the 2-1-1 lead entity appointed by the commission.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The 2-1-1 lead entity shall do all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Conduct statewide 2-1-1 system activities specified under this section.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Provide funding, if available, to local 2-1-1 providers for activities specified under this section.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Provide annual reports to the commission on the 2-1-1 system status, use of any funds, and future 2-1-1 system funding needs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall annually communicate 2-1-1 system funding needs to the Department of Finance and the Governor’s office for consideration in state budget planning.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall convene relevant state agencies, utilities, advocates, and persons involved in the 2-1-1 system to evaluate current utility financial assistance, savings, and discount program awareness, referral practices and outcomes, and to explore how to more efficiently connect eligible households to utility-related financial assistance, savings, and discount programs through 2-1-1.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
There is hereby created in the State Treasury the 2-1-1 Fund, the moneys in which shall be used for purposes of this section.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 4.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution.
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