Senate Bill No. 436
(By Senators Hunter, Oliverio, Prezioso, Kessler, Snyder,
Caldwell, Dempsey, Love, Bailey, Helmick, McCabe, Rowe, Fanning,
Bowman, McKenzie, Ross, White, Jenkins, Minard, Unger and Sharpe)
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[Introduced February 4, 2003; referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance.]
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A BILL to amend chapter twenty-four of the code of West Virginia,
one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding
thereto a new article, designated article eight, relating to
directing the public service commission to implement the West
Virginia 211 information and referral system in accordance
with the recommendations of the public service commissions'
appointed task force as reported to the Legislature in two
thousand two.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter twenty-four of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding
thereto a new article, designated article eight, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 8. 211 Information and Referral System.
§24-8-1. Legislative findings.
The Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the
citizens of West Virginia to implement the universally, free access
telephone number "211" made available by the federal communications
commission for states to develop an information and referral source
for human and social services. The "211" system will provide a
vital resource to the citizens of West Virginia for social and
human service information and referral by providing a critical
connection between individuals and families in need and the
appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies.
The Legislature further finds that implementing the "211"
information and referral system will serve as a centralized
resource for human and social service professionals, medical
personnel, government agencies and charitable organizations by
providing a full spectrum of service options to the citizens of
West Virginia. The "211" system will also serve as a centralized
point in times of natural disasters or national emergencies by
providing access to information for the coordination of relief.
Therefore, the Legislature authorizes and directs the public
service commission to implement the "211" information and referral
system in accordance with the recommendations of the public service
commissions' appointed task force as reported to the Legislature.
§24-8-2. Rule-making authority.
The public service commission shall propose rules for
legislative promulgation in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code regarding the
implementation and
administration of this system. From the effective date of this
section until the date of the promulgation of these rules, the
commission may file rules as emergency rules in accordance with the
applicable provisions of this code in order to implement and
administer this system.
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(NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to direct the public
service commission to implement the West Virginia "211" information
and referral system in accordance with the recommendations of the
public service commissions' appointed task force as reported to the
Legislature in 2002.
This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.)