1-1     By:  Gutierrez (Senate Sponsor - Moncrief)           H.C.R. No. 109
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 18, 2001;
 1-3     April 19, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Business and Commerce; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the
 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                         HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, Texans in need of information about and referrals to
 1-8     health and human services programs face a difficult task given the
 1-9     state's size and the vast number of federal, state, and local
1-10     health and human services providers; their challenge will only
1-11     increase as the state's population continues to grow and change
1-12     demographically; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Many Texans would benefit from a centralized,
1-14     comprehensive, statewide link to health and human services programs
1-15     for seniors, people with disabilities, victims of crimes, people in
1-16     the military and their dependents, children and youth, and other
1-17     target populations, as well as to comprehensive programs that serve
1-18     the entire community; and
1-19           WHEREAS, State policymakers must look to public and private
1-20     partnerships to maximize the impact of the financial resources
1-21     invested in health and human services programs and to address the
1-22     needs of the people of Texas in an efficient and timely manner; and
1-23           WHEREAS, 2-1-1 is a free, easy-to-remember statewide
1-24     abbreviated telephone number that connects callers to an
1-25     information and referral service that makes critical connections
1-26     between those in need and appropriate community-based organizations
1-27     and government agencies; and
1-28           WHEREAS, The Federal Communications Commission has designated
1-29     2-1-1 for universal access to health and human services information
1-30     and referral, and nearly every other state is pursuing or exploring
1-31     2-1-1 implementation; and
1-32           WHEREAS, The 2-1-1 initiative in Texas is truly a public and
1-33     private partnership; approximately $5 million in private donations
1-34     have been contributed to the system through local United Ways and
1-35     other organizations; and
1-36           WHEREAS, Texas has the programs and infrastructure in place
1-37     to implement a 2-1-1 system; organizations providing support to the
1-38     2-1-1 initiative include the Texas Health and Human Services
1-39     Commission Information and Referral Network, Area Information
1-40     Centers, which are linked to every community in Texas, local
1-41     communities that support the initiative through private donations,
1-42     and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which has proposed
1-43     rules under consideration relating to the implementation of the
1-44     2-1-1 program; now, therefore, be it
1-45           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-46     hereby declare support for the establishment of a statewide 2-1-1
1-47     information and referral telephone network so that the people of
1-48     Texas may be efficiently and effectively linked with needed health
1-49     and human services information and assistance.
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