(20 ILCS 1335/20)

Sec. 20. Designation of lead entity for 2-1-1.

(a) Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Department is authorized to identify, designate, and enter into a contract with a lead entity to provide governance and oversight, including the ability to design, implement, support, and coordinate a State-wide 2-1-1 system.

(b) Qualifications for designation of the lead entity shall include:

(1) a public or private governance structure with representation from and active collaboration with State health and human service departments, specifically the Department, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department on Aging, the Department of Human Rights, the Department of Public Health, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Commerce Commission, and non-governmental entity stakeholders; non-governmental entity stakeholders shall constitute a minimum of two-thirds of the representatives;

(2) demonstrated expertise or experience, or both, in planning, supporting, and overseeing administration of a State-wide information and referral system;

(3) demonstrated support from community partners, including local 2-1-1 service providers;

(4) demonstrated expertise in providing access to health and human services; and

(5) a demonstrated track record of securing diversified funding sources, and evidence of existing diversified funding sources, in order to support sustainable operation of 2-1-1.

(c) The lead entity shall encourage the orderly and efficient use of 2-1-1 to:

(1) provide referrals and access to human services; and

(2) collect needed information about the demand for and delivery of human services in Illinois.

(d) The lead entity shall establish standards consistent with prevailing national standards established for providing information about and referrals to human services agencies to 2-1-1 callers. The standards shall prescribe the technology or manner of delivering 2-1-1 calls and shall not exceed any requirements for 2-1-1 systems set by the Federal Communications Commission. The standards shall be consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring accessibility for users of Teletypewriters for the Deaf (TTY).

(e) The lead entity shall provide periodic programmatic and fiscal reports on activities, accomplishments, and other issues to the Department, as outlined in Section 60.

(f) In awarding the contract under subsection (a) of this Section, the Department shall ensure that the 2-1-1 lead entity has the organizational capacity to carry out the terms of the contract and that the contract is cost-neutral to the Department.

(Source: P.A. 104-138, eff. 8-1-25.)