SB1344 - 472R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

SB 1344

PSPRS; deferred plans; return

Sponsor: Senator Huppenthal

DPA	Committee on Public Institutions & Retirement
X	Caucus and COW
	As Engrossed and As Passed the House

SB 1344 limits participation in the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), modifies the interest rates on current reverse DROP accounts and creates a new reverse DROP for employees hired after June 30, 2006.

Strike-everything amendment to SB 1344 establishes the Arizona 2-1-1 System and authorizes AHCCCS to administer the statewide infrastructure to support the website and call centers.

History of the Strike-everything amendment

Arizona 2-1-1 Online

In 2001, the Valley of the Sun United Way began organizing stakeholders within Arizona for the purpose of designing the Arizona 2-1-1 System. On June 29, 2005, the Arizona 2-1-1 Online website was announced. The website serves as an access point to a clearinghouse of information and referral network for public safety, homeland security, emergency response and health and human services resources.

2-1-1 System

The 2-1-1 is a federally designated public access telephone number that connects callers with alerts and bulletins on emergencies and disasters, including homeland security alerts as well as public health and safety advisories. The 2-1-1 System provides 2-1-1 as an alternative number to 9-1-1 and is designated for non-emergency calls, resulting in a possible load reduction for all 9-1-1 System dispatchers.

Voice-Over IP – Statewide Infrastructure

According to AHCCCS, the agency has an upgraded Voice-Over Internet Protocol (IP) telecommunications system. Voice-Over IP allows voices and data to be sent over the internet using one internet connection. The technology reduces carrier charges because the system allows a person to call anywhere in the state without paying long distance phone charges. AHCCCS stated that using Voice-Over IP also reduces costs because it minimizes the amount of telephone hardware and switches required. This technology proves useful for a statewide agency that requires extensive use of call centers. The statewide infrastructure required within this legislation will be the Voice-Over IP with a statewide application.

Provisions of the Strike-everything amendment

· Establishes the Arizona 2-1-1 System and authorizes AHCCCS to establish a statewide infrastructure to support the website and call centers.

· Authorizes the 2-1-1 System to use call centers that are accessed by calling 2-1-1 and a web site to provide statewide disaster response, homeland security and health and human services information to the public and community organizations.

· Authorizes AHCCCS, the Government Information and Technology Agency (GITA) and the Division of Emergency Management within the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) to cooperate in developing statewide policies, standards and procedures for the 2-1-1 System.

· Allows DEMA to use the call center infrastructure to receive emergency calls during times of local emergency.

· Allows the 2-1-1 System to provide information regarding community volunteer opportunities.

· Allows AHCCCS to enter into agreements with municipal, county and tribal governments, and associations of these governments to provide the infrastructure for call centers.

· Authorizes all agreements to require compliance with the policies, standards and procedures developed, in exchange for the use of the infrastructure.

· Allows participating local governments to designate local call centers to operate the 2-1-1 System.

· Allows AHCCCS to provide grants to participating local government call centers.

· Requires AHCCCS to adopt rules necessary to carry out the Arizona 2-1-1 System requirements.

Amendment

Public Institutions & Retirement:

· The strike-everything amendment was adopted.

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Forty-seventh Legislature