SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5692

As Passed Senate, March 17, 2003

Title: An act relating to health and human services and information referral.

Brief Description: Establishing a 211 network.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Carlson, Hargrove, Esser, Parlette, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Children & Family Services & Corrections: 2/25/03, 3/4/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/17/03, 46-3.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5692 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Stevens, Chair; Carlson, Deccio, Hargrove, McAuliffe and Regala.

Staff: Tony Rugel (786-7754)

Background: 2-1-1 networks existing in several other states provide a single phone number for people to use to access health and human services and disaster related information. It is felt that 2-1-1 networks can provide a more efficient, cost-effective, and simple way of providing people with information about government services.

Summary of Bill: The Department of Social and Health Services and the Washington Information Network 2-1-1 (WIN 2-1-1) work in conjunction to establish and maintain a network consisting of call centers and a statewide resource data base. A 2-1-1 account is created in the state treasury from public and private funds and is used for granting purposes to develop, operate, and maintain the network.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 24, 2003.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2003.

Testimony For: Emphasis was given to the importance of having one phone number for citizens to call when in need of services from the state.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Dennis Smith, Washington Information Network (WIN 211); Tom Page, WIN 211; Dave Dittemore, Wash. Util. and Transp. Comm.; Ed Hidano, DSHS.