By Gutierrez, Maxey, Gallego, Dunnam                 H.C.R. No. 109
         77R5356 ELG-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Texans in need of information about and referrals to
 1-2     health and human services programs face a difficult task given the
 1-3     state's size and the vast number of federal, state, and local
 1-4     health and human services providers; their challenge will only
 1-5     increase as the state's population continues to grow and change
 1-6     demographically; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, Many Texans would benefit from a centralized,
 1-8     comprehensive, statewide link to health and human services programs
 1-9     for seniors, people with disabilities, victims of crimes, people in
1-10     the military and their dependents, children and youth, and other
1-11     target populations, as well as to comprehensive programs that serve
1-12     the entire community; and
1-13           WHEREAS, State policymakers must look to public and private
1-14     partnerships to maximize the impact of the financial resources
1-15     invested in health and human services programs and to address the
1-16     needs of the people of Texas in an efficient and timely manner; and
1-17           WHEREAS, 2-1-1 is a free, easy-to-remember statewide
1-18     abbreviated telephone number that connects callers to an
1-19     information and referral service that makes critical connections
1-20     between those in need and appropriate community-based organizations
1-21     and government agencies; and
1-22           WHEREAS, The Federal Communications Commission has designated
1-23     2-1-1 for universal access to health and human services information
1-24     and referral, and nearly every other state is pursuing or exploring
 2-1     2-1-1 implementation; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, The 2-1-1 initiative in Texas is truly a public and
 2-3     private partnership; approximately $5 million in private donations
 2-4     have been contributed to the system through local United Ways and
 2-5     other organizations; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Texas has the programs and infrastructure in place
 2-7     to implement a 2-1-1 system; organizations providing support to the
 2-8     2-1-1 initiative include the Texas Health and Human Services
 2-9     Commission Information and Referral Network, Area Information
2-10     Centers, which are linked to every community in Texas, local
2-11     communities that support the initiative through private donations,
2-12     and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which has proposed
2-13     rules under consideration relating to the implementation of the
2-14     2-1-1 program; now, therefore, be it
2-15           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-16     hereby declare support for the establishment of a statewide 2-1-1
2-17     information and referral telephone network so that the people of
2-18     Texas may be efficiently and effectively linked with needed health
2-19     and human services information and assistance.