An Act providing for the review and consolidation of certain toll free telecommunications services maintained and operated by certain State and local entities, supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. As used in this act:

"Commission" means the State Commission on the Consolidation of Toll Free Telecommunications Services established in accordance with section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

"Information and referral services" means any services necessary for or related to the active process of connecting a person with a need or a problem with a source of information or a provider of a service that will meet that need or address that problem.

"Toll free telephone number" means a telephone number for which the toll charges for completed telephone calls are paid by the toll free subscriber.

2. There is established in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury a commission to be known as the State Commission on the Consolidation of Toll Free Telecommunications Services.

The commission shall consist of the following members: the State Treasurer, who shall serve ex officio; the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology in the Department of the Treasury, who shall serve ex officio; the President of the Board of Public Utilities, who shall serve ex officio; two public members appointed by the Governor; two public members appointed by the President of the Senate; two public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; a representative of the United Way of New Jersey, Inc.; and a representative of the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for the provision of information and referral services in accordance with section 12 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

Ex officio members of the commission may designate an officer or employee of the member's department, office, or board, as the case may be, to represent the member at a meeting of the commission. Each designee of an ex officio member may vote and take action on behalf of the member for whom the person constitutes a designee. Any such designation shall be provided in writing delivered to the commission and shall continue in effect until revoked or amended by subsequent written notification delivered to the commission.

Public members appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate, or the Speaker of the General Assembly shall not be a candidate for or hold elective public office at the time of appointment to, or while serving as a member of, the commission. Public members appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate, or by the Speaker of the General Assembly may be removed from the commission by the appointing authority, for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard.

Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as provided for in the original appointment of its members; provided, however, that any vacancies in the membership occurring after the original appointment of its members shall be filled within 30 days of the occurrence thereof.

The commission shall organize as soon as practicable, but not later than the 30th day following the date P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is enacted. The commission shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from among the members of the commission and shall select and appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

The commission shall meet at least twice in each year, but may meet more frequently at the call of the chairman and may hold hearings at the times and in the places the chairman deems necessary. The commission may request and shall be entitled to receive from the Executive branch of State government, including all entities exercising executive branch authority, such assistance and information as the commission shall require to fulfill its purposes. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of any officer, employee, or assistant of the Executive branch of State government, including all entities exercising executive branch authority, as the commission shall require to enable it to perform its duties and responsibilities and as may be available for its purposes.

The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel and other miscellaneous expenses incurred directly and exclusively in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the commission for its purposes.

3. The commission shall evaluate and conduct a study of the toll free telecommunications services which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and are maintained and operated by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government and boards of education, and for those purposes it shall be the duty and responsibility of the commission to:

a. identify the toll free telephone numbers which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and that are paid for, in whole or in part, from State funds appropriated or otherwise made available for such purposes, and are maintained and operated by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government, and boards of education;

b. determine the department, board, bureau, commission, agency, office, or other entity responsible for the maintenance and operation of each toll free telephone number that is identified by the commission;

c. determine the purpose for which each toll free telephone number that is identified by the commission is maintained and operated;

d. determine the information and referral services provided, if any, in connection with each toll free telephone number that is identified by the commission;

e. determine the State or federal law, rule, or regulation, if any, which mandates or otherwise authorizes the maintenance and operation of each toll free telephone number that is identified by the commission;

f. determine the frequency with which each toll free telephone number that is identified by the commission is used; and

g. determine the estimated cost to maintain and operate each toll free telephone number that is identified by the commission during the most recent 12-month period for which data are available.

4. The commission shall make recommendations regarding the toll free telecommunications services which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and are maintained and operated by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government and boards of education, and for those purposes it shall be the duty and responsibility of the commission to:

a. recommend the termination of any toll free telephone number that is identified by the commission in accordance with section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and that is found, by the commission, to be unused or no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was established;

b. recommend the consolidation of any toll free telephone number which facilitates the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, that is identified by the commission in accordance with section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and that is found, by the commission, to be duplicative or to be maintained and operated by identical or substantially similar purposes as another toll free telephone number maintained and operated by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government and boards of education; and

c. recommend the transfer of any toll free telephone number that is identified by the commission in accordance with section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and that is found, by the commission, to be maintained and operated to facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or emergency preparedness and disaster recovery to a representative of the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for the provision of information and referral services in accordance with section 12 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), if the commission determines that the administrator will have the capacity to maintain and operate the toll free telephone number and to provide any information and referral services associated with that toll free telephone number (1) with greater efficiency or greater cost effectiveness and (2) maintain compliance with any State or federal laws that regulate the maintenance and operation of the toll free telephone number or the provision of information referral services.

5. The commission shall design and develop policies and procedures regarding the consolidation of the toll free telecommunications services which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and are maintained and operated by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government and boards of education, and for those purposes it shall be the duty and responsibility of the commission to:

a. design and develop policies and procedures that may be used by the State Treasurer to effectuate the termination, consolidation, and transfer of any toll free telephone number, and any associated information and referral services, recommended to be terminated, consolidated, or transferred by the commission in accordance with section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

b. design and develop policies and procedures that may be used by the State Treasurer to establish guidelines and adopt standards regarding best practices in the maintenance and operation of toll free telephone numbers and in the procurement of telecommunications services which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and are necessary for the maintenance and operation of toll free numbers that shall be utilized by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government and boards of education, for the establishment of any additional toll free telephone number or for the procurement of any additional telecommunication services, provided in connection with an existing toll free number or the establishment of a new toll free telephone number, that is paid for, in whole or in part, from State funds appropriated or otherwise made available for such purposes; and

c. design and develop policies and procedures that may be used by the State Treasurer to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform State residents of the changes to the toll free telecommunications services which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and are maintained and operated by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government and boards of education as a result of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

6. The commission shall design and develop policies and procedures regarding the continued oversight of the toll free telecommunications services, which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and are maintained and operated by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government, and boards of education and, for that purpose it shall be the duty and responsibility of the commission to:

a. design and develop policies and procedures that may be used by the commission to review any additional toll free telephone number or any additional telecommunication service, provided in connection with an existing toll free telephone number or the establishment of a new toll free telephone number, which facilitates the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and that is established or procured by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government, and boards of education and that is paid for, in whole or in part, from State funds appropriated or otherwise made available for such purposes on or after the 180th day following the date the interim report made by the commission in accordance with section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is transmitted;

b. design and develop policies and procedures that may be used by the commission to determine if any additional toll free telephone number or any additional telecommunication service, provided in connection with an existing toll free telephone number or the establishment of a new toll free telephone number, which facilitates the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, that is established or procured by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government and boards of education and that is paid for, in whole or in part, from State funds appropriated or otherwise made available for such purposes on or after the 180th day following the date the interim report made by the commission in accordance with section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is transmitted, is established or procured in accordance with the guidelines and standards adopted, or caused to be established and adopted, by the State Treasurer in accordance with section 10 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

c. design and develop policies and procedures that may be used by the commission to identify and make recommendations for the transfer of any additional toll free telephone number that is found, by the commission, to be maintained and operated to facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery to the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for purposes of providing comprehensive information and referral services in accordance with section 12 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) following the date the interim report made by the commission in accordance with section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is transmitted; and

d. design and develop policies and procedures that may be used by the commission to review and make recommendations for the improvement of any guidelines and standards established and adopted, or caused to be established and adopted, by the State Treasurer in accordance with section 10 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

7. The commission shall make an interim report regarding the fulfillment of the several purposes for which it is established.

The interim report shall, at a minimum, detail any toll free telephone number identified and any determinations made in accordance with section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); specify any recommendations made in accordance with section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); and enumerate any policies and procedures designed and developed in accordance with section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

The interim report shall be transmitted to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature, in accordance with section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on or before the first day of the sixth month next following the date P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is enacted.

8. The commission shall make an annual report regarding the fulfillment of the several purposes for which it is established.

The annual report shall detail the activities and accomplishments undertaken and achieved by the commission during the preceding fiscal year, specify the goals and objectives, and any plans or proposals to achieve or accomplish those goals and objectives, during the current and future fiscal years, and set forth a financial statement covering its operations during the preceding fiscal year.

The annual report shall, in any fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the commission's interim report made in accordance with section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is transmitted, provide a statement:

a. specifying the toll free telephone numbers which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and are maintained and operated by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government and boards of education and that are paid for, in whole or in part, from State funds appropriated or otherwise made available for such purposes;

b. indicating the department, board, bureau, commission, agency, office, or other entity responsible for the maintenance and operation of each toll free telephone number that is specified;

c. indicating the purpose for which each toll free telephone number that is specified is maintained and operated;

d. indicating the frequency with which each toll free telephone number that is specified is used; and

e. indicating the estimated annual cost to maintain and operate each toll free telephone number that is specified during the last completed fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and any future fiscal year in which data are available.

The annual report shall be transmitted to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature, in accordance with section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on or before September 1 of each year.

9. The State Treasurer shall, on or before the 30th day following the date the interim report made by the commission in accordance with section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is transmitted, terminate or cause to be terminated any toll free telephone number that is recommended to be terminated by the commission in accordance with subsection a. of section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

The State Treasurer shall, on or before the 90th day following the date the interim report made by the commission in accordance with section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is transmitted, consolidate or cause to be consolidated any toll free telephone number that is recommended to be consolidated by the commission in accordance with subsection b. of section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

The State Treasurer shall, on or before the 180th day following the date the interim report made by the commission in accordance with section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is transmitted, transfer or cause to be transferred any toll free telephone number, and any associated information and referral services provided in connection with a toll free telephone number, that is recommended to be transferred by the commission in accordance with subsection c. of section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

10. The State Treasurer shall establish guidelines and adopt standards, or cause to be established and adopted guidelines and standards, regarding best practices in the maintenance and operation of toll free telephone numbers and in the procurement of telecommunications services necessary for the maintenance and operation of toll free telephone numbers which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and that shall be utilized by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government, and boards of education for the establishment of any additional toll free telephone number or for the procurement of any additional telecommunication services, provided in connection with any existing toll free telephone number or the establishment of any new toll free telephone number, that is paid for, in whole or in part, from State funds appropriated or otherwise made available for such purposes on or after the 180th day following the date the interim report made by the commission in accordance with section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is transmitted.

The guidelines and standards established and adopted, or caused to be established and adopted, by the State Treasurer may incorporate any policies and procedures designed and developed by the commission in accordance with subsection b. of section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), but shall specify that the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for the provision of information and referral services in accordance with section 12 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is the provider of first choice with respect to any toll free telephone number that is maintained and operated to facilitate the provision of information referral services on health and human services and on issues related to governmental programs and to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery.

Any guidelines or standards established and adopted, or caused to be established and adopted, by the State Treasurer shall be made available to the public on the Department of the Treasury's Internet website.

11. The State Treasurer shall, on or before the 180th day following the date the interim report made by the commission in accordance with section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is transmitted, conduct, or cause to be conducted, a public awareness campaign to inform State residents of the changes to the toll free telecommunications services which facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, and are maintained and operated by the Executive branch of State government, which may include all entities exercising executive branch authority, public institutions of higher education, independent State authorities, units of local government, and boards of education as a result of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

The public awareness campaign conducted, or caused to be conducted, by the State Treasurer may incorporate any policies and procedures designed and developed by the commission in accordance with subsection c. of section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), but shall, at a minimum, notify State residents that the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for the provision of information and referral services in accordance with section 12 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is the primary entity responsible for the maintenance and operation of a unified toll free telecommunications network with the capacity to provide comprehensive information and referral services on health and human services and on issues related to governmental programs and to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery to State residents in need of such services.

The public awareness campaign conducted, or caused to be conducted, by the State Treasurer shall utilize print and broadcast media, but may utilize the Internet and any other form of communication available to the State Treasurer for purposes of conducting the campaign.

The public awareness campaign shall be conducted, or caused to be conducted, by the State Treasurer from any cost savings achieved or anticipated to be achieved by the State Treasurer as a result of the termination, consolidation, and transfer of any toll free telephone numbers, and any information and referral services provided in connection with a toll free telephone number, that is required to be terminated, consolidated, or transferred in accordance with section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and from any other resources made available to the State Treasurer for purposes of conducting the campaign.

12. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, the State Treasurer may enter into an agreement with the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code for purposes of providing comprehensive information and referral services on health and human services and on issues related to governmental programs and to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery to State residents in need of such services, if such administrator is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in accordance with the provisions of the "New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation Act," N.J.S.15A:1-1 et seq. and is recognized and endorsed by the Board of Public Utilities as the sole administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code in this State for access to community information and referral services.

Any such agreement shall contain provisions requiring the administrator who enters into the agreement with the State Treasurer to administer any toll free telephone number, and any associated information and referral services provided in connection with a toll free telephone number, that is recommended to be transferred by the commission in accordance with subsection c. of section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and so transferred by the State Treasurer in accordance with section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) in a manner that is more efficient or more cost effective than its current configuration and that maintains compliance with any State or federal laws that regulate the maintenance and operation of the toll free telephone number or the provision of any associated information referral services.

Any such agreement shall contain provisions requiring the administrator who enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer to cause an audit of its books and accounts to be made at least once in each year by a certified public accountant and cause a copy thereof to be transmitted to the Secretary of State, the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury, and the State Auditor.

Any such agreement shall contain provisions authorizing the State Treasurer to terminate the agreement with the administrator if that administrator fails to cause an audit of its books and accounts to be made at least once in each year by a certified public accountant or fails to cause a copy thereof to be transmitted to the Secretary of State, the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury, and the State Auditor.

13. The State Treasurer shall promulgate, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

14. a. The administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for the provision of information and referral services in accordance with section 12 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) may, at the discretion of the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property, purchase materials, supplies, equipment or services, having a value in excess of $500, under any contract awarded on behalf of the State by the Division of Purchase and Property, subject to such rules as the director may establish.

b. The director may establish limitations with respect to materials, supplies, equipment and services available for purchase and impose other appropriate conditions upon purchasing as deemed necessary, by the director, to protect the State's own purchasing interests.

c. The administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who participates in a State contract pursuant to this section shall accept responsibility for the payment of any cost determined to be due to a vendor and file such reports as the director may require setting forth expenditures on such contracts.

d. The director shall make available at appropriate times to the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who participates in a State contract pursuant to this section a list of all current contracts entered into on behalf of the State, setting forth the materials, supplies, equipment or services included therein and the prices, terms and conditions thereof.

e. The director shall promulgate, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section, including the establishment of a schedule of fees to cover administrative costs.

15. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill provides for the review and consolidation of certain toll free telecommunications services maintained and operated by certain State and local governmental entities.

The bill establishes an 11-person commission to be known as the State Commission on the Consolidation of Toll Free Telecommunications Services. The bill provides that the commission will be allocated within the Department of the Treasury, and that the commission will consist of certain ex officio members, certain public members appointed by the Governor and the presiding officers of each House of the Legislature, and certain other representatives.

The bill requires the commission to conduct a comprehensive study and evaluation of certain toll free telecommunications services maintained and operated by the State and certain local entities. The bill requires the commission to make certain recommendations regarding the consolidation of certain toll free telecommunications services identified by the study. The bill requires the commission to design and develop certain policies and procedures that will, among other things, assist in effectuating the termination of certain toll free telephone numbers, the consolidation of certain toll free telephone numbers, and, under certain conditions, the transfer of certain other toll free telephone numbers maintained and operated to facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to governmental programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery. The bill requires the commission to design and develop certain policies and procedures related to the continued oversight of the toll free telecommunications services maintained and operated by the State and certain local governmental entities.

The bill requires the commission to make an interim report regarding its review, which report details certain toll free telephone numbers identified by the commission's study, specifies any recommendations concerning the consolidation of toll free telephone numbers, and enumerates any policies and procedures designed and developed by the commission. The bill requires the commission to make and transmit an annual report regarding the commission's activities during the course of the year, and detailing certain toll free telecommunications of the State and certain local governmental entities.

The bill requires the State Treasurer to effectuate the termination, consolidation, and transfer of any toll free telephone numbers recommended to be terminated, consolidated, or transferred by the commission.

The bill provides that within 30 days of the date the commission's interim report is transmitted, the State Treasurer must terminate any toll free telephone numbers maintained and operated by the State and certain local government entities that are determined, by the commission, to be unused or no longer necessary for the purposes for which they were established.

The bill provides that within 90 days of the date the commission's interim report is transmitted, the State Treasurer must consolidate any toll free telephone numbers maintained and operated by the State and certain local government entities that are determined, by the commission, to be duplicative or maintained and operated for identical or substantially similar purposes as another toll free telephone number.

The bill provides that within 180 days of the date the commission's interim report is transmitted, the State Treasurer must transfer to the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer any toll free telephone numbers that are maintained and operated by the State and certain local government entities and that are determined to be maintained and operated to facilitate the provision of information and referral services on health and human services or on issues related to government programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, provided the administrator will maintain and operate those numbers and any associated information and referral services in a manner that is more efficient or cost effective than the current configuration and that maintains compliance with State and federal laws that regulate the maintenance and operation of the toll free telephone numbers or the provision of information and referral services.

The bill requires the State Treasurer to establish guidelines and adopt standards regarding best practices in the maintenance and operation of certain toll free telephone numbers and in the procurement of certain telecommunications services necessary for the maintenance and operation of toll free telephone numbers that will be utilized by the State and certain local government entities. The bill requires the State Treasurer to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform State residents of changes to State and local toll free telecommunications services as a result of the bill, and requires the State Treasurer to conduct the campaign using cost savings achieved or anticipated to be achieved by the State Treasurer as a result of the termination, consolidation, and transfer of any toll free telephone numbers, and any information and referral services provided in connection with a toll free telephone number.

The bill authorizes the State Treasurer to enter into an agreement with the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code for purposes of providing comprehensive information and referral services on health and human services and on issues related to government programs or to emergency preparedness and disaster recovery to State residents in need of such services. The bill provides that the administrator must be incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of this State and recognized and endorsed by the Board of Public Utilities as the sole administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code in this State for access to community information and referral services.

The bill permits the administrator of the 2-1-1 dialing code who enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer to make certain purchases of supplies, materials, equipment, or services through State contracts at State contract prices. The bill specifies that the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury may limit the purchasing power of the 2-1-1 administrator in certain instances, and specifies that the 2-1-1 administrator who makes a purchase through a State contract must accept responsibility for the payment of any cost determined to be due to the vendor.

The bill authorizes the State Treasurer to promulgate rules and regulations that may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill.

The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.