Californians across the state may one day be able to dial 2-1-1 to find critical community services and learn vital information after a natural disaster.
Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday signed a bill that would authorize the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to spend up to $1.5 million to expand the service to the 20 rural counties that don’t yet have it.
Bill author Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, described the easy-to-remember number as a powerful tool that helps connect residents to critical community services such as food, housing and mental health treatment, as well as disaster relief.
"This new law will lay the groundwork for statewide coordination and provide one-time funding to ensure all residents of California can access this critical service regardless of where they live," Hueso said in a statement to Techwire after the governor signed the bill.
The bill authorizes the PUC to use ratepayer money collected through the California Teleconnect Fund until Jan. 1, 2023. Residents in 38 counties have access to the three-digit number, which was first established in 2005, according to the bill.
The startup costs for many rural counties have been prohibitive despite their vulnerability to forest fires, floods, earthquakes or other natural disasters.
In addition to bringing 2-1-1 to all of California, the bill authorizes the PUC to allocate funds to support a comprehensive, statewide database that could connect callers to information and referrals.
