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2005 Session

Budget Amendments - SB700 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Houck
Co-Patron(s): Blevins, Howell, Lambert, Miller Y., Ruff, Wagner
COY-Information & Referral System 211 Phone Line

Item 362 #5s

Item 362 #5s

First Year - FY2005 Second Year - FY2006
Health And Human Resources
Social Services, Department of FY2005 $0 FY2006 $270,500 GF
FY2005 $0 FY2006 $270,500 NGF

Language
Page 350, line 33, strike "$317,589,196" and insert "$318,130,196".
Page 351, line 50, after "F.", insert "1."
Page 351, line 56, after "on", insert:
"many of the specialized health and human resource services available in the Commonwealth including".
Page 352, strike line 1 and insert:
"2.  Out of this appropriation, $270,500 from the general fund and $270,500 from the nongeneral fund shall be provided for Virginia’s Information and Referral System for the implementation of the statewide, 24-hour 2-1-1 system.  The 2-1-1 system shall provide information and referrals to health and human services available throughout the Commonwealth.  Funding shall be appropriated to cover the costs associated with launching the 2-1-1 system including expanding the hours of the Information and Referral System to 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  The total cost to implement Virginia’s 2-1-1 system statewide is $1,000,000 with the balance of funding provided by private and local funds through partnerships established by the six regional Information and Referral centers.  
3.  The Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the Department of Medical Assistance Services, shall apply for any available federal funding for the 2-1-1 system and report on efforts to implement the system.  A report on these activities shall be submitted by November 30, 2005, to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, and the Virginia Commission on Youth."


Explanation
(This amendment provides funding and language to expand the statewide information and referral (I&R) system by implementing a 2-1-1 telephone number for citizens to use in obtaining free information about available health and human services. The Federal Trade Commission has reserved the number “2-1-1” as a national abbreviated dialing code that offers free access to health and human information and referral services. The goal is for the number to be universally recognizable, making a critical connection between individuals and families in need and the appropriate community based organization and government agencies. With the implementation of 2-1-1, citizens of Virginia will have 24 hours a day/7 days a week access to the resources contained in the I&R system. It is estimated that call volume will increase by approximately 40 percent once 2-1-1 is implemented in the Commonwealth. In addition, language is added to existing budget language on Virginia’s I&R System so that it accurately references many of the specialized health and human resource information and referral services provided by the system to citizens in the Commonwealth. This is a recommendation of the Virginia Commission on Youth.)