By Gutierrez 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.