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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Thousands of Illinois' citizens need to access a
3 variety of social services including, but not limited to: child
4 care, counseling, crisis intervention, emergency food and
5 shelter, literacy training, affordable housing, services to
6 the disabled, respite care, substance abuse treatment, and
7 elder care; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Hundreds of different local, regional, and State
9 organizations in Illinois, both public and private, provide
10 services that respond to these needs; and
 
11     WHEREAS, It is often extremely confusing and time consuming
12 for citizens to identify and access available services; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The process of connecting those in need in
14 Illinois with services can be simplified through the 211
15 telephone dialing code, which is the national dialing code for
16 information and referral for health and human services; and
 
17     WHEREAS, 85 million Americans in 26 states have access to
18 211 service; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Illinois is one of the only Midwest states without
20 211; and
 
21     WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation
22 in 2003, P.A. 93-613, which authorizes up to six local
23 information and referral sites to use the 211 dialing code; and
 
24     WHEREAS, P.A. 93-613 requires the Governor to establish a
25 Human Services 211 Collaboration Board; and
 
26     WHEREAS, This Human Services 211 Collaboration Board is
27 charged with establishing criteria for choosing up to six local

 

 

HR0971 - 2 - LRB093 22285 LCB 51325 r

1 information and referral sites to use the 211 dialing code; and
 
2     WHEREAS, P.A. 93-613 did not include any State funding for
3 implementation of 211 in Illinois; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Local information and referral sites that use the
5 211 dialing code must rely on local and private funding; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The proposed federal legislation, "Calling for
7 211 Act", would authorize $200 million for states to implement
8 211 centers; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Illinois would be able to take advantage of these
10 federal dollars, if appropriated; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Federal funding is necessary to assure a
12 sustainable 211 system in Illinois; and
 
13     WHEREAS, U.S. Representatives Costello, Davis, Jackson,
14 LaHood, and Rush are cosponsors of H.R. 3111; therefore be it
 
15     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
17 the Illinois General Assembly calls for the entire Illinois
18 congressional delegation to cosponsor the federal "Calling for
19 211 Act" (H.R. 3111 and S. 1630) and to use their influence to
20 help pass this legislation; and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22 presented to each member of the Illinois Congressional
23 delegation.