|
| | | An Act Authorizing the Public Utilities Commission To |
|
| | | Designate a Sole Provider of 2-1-1 Information and |
|
| | | Referral Services in Maine |
|
| | | Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become | | effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as | | emergencies; and |
|
| | | Whereas, on July 21, 2000 the Federal Communications Commission | | determined that there was sufficient public benefit to justify | | the use of a scarce public resource to assign 2-1-1 to be used | | for access to community information and referral services; and |
|
| | | Whereas, the Legislature finds that the implementation of a | | single, easy-to-use telephone number, 2-1-1, for public access to | | information and referral for health and human services and | | disaster-related information will benefit the citizens of this | | State by providing easier access to available health and human | | services, by reducing inefficiencies in connecting people with | | the desired service providers and by reducing duplication of | | effort; and |
|
| | | Whereas, the Legislature further finds that there is currently | | no entity authorized to provide information and referral services | | in Maine using the FCC-reserved 2-1-1 telephone number; and |
|
| | | Whereas, the Public Utilities Commission has determined that it | | has no jurisdiction to designate an information and referral | | service provider entitled to use the 2-1-1 telephone number in | | this State; and |
|
|
