1. The Department, in collaboration with any state or local agencies or community-based organizations which provide information and referral services concerning health, welfare, human and social services and any group established by the Governor to implement a statewide information and referral system concerning health, welfare, human and social services, shall establish and maintain a statewide information and referral system to provide nonemergency information and referrals to the general public concerning the health, welfare, human and social services provided by public or private entities in this State. The system must:

(a) Integrate any information and referral systems previously established by state agencies, local agencies or community-based organizations with the system established pursuant to this section;

(b) Be the sole system in this State which is accessible to a person by dialing the digits 2-1-1 and which provides nonemergency information and referrals to the general public concerning the health, welfare, human and social services provided by public or private entities in this State;

(c) Be accessible to a person using the public telephone system by dialing the digits 2-1-1;

(d) Include information concerning service-connected disabilities and diseases, including, without limitation, diseases presumed to be service-connected pursuant to 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303 to 3.344, inclusive;

(e) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (f), include information that is updated periodically; and

(f) Include information concerning the licensing status of any entity licensed pursuant to chapter 449 of NRS that is reviewed and updated at least quarterly.

2. In establishing the statewide information and referral system, the Department, any state or local agencies or community-based organizations which provide information and referral services concerning health, welfare, human and social services and any group established by the Governor to implement a statewide information and referral system concerning health, welfare, human and social services shall consult with representatives of:

(a) The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada;

(b) Telephone companies which provide service through a local exchange in this State;

(c) Companies that provide wireless phone services in this State;

(d) Existing information and referral services established by state agencies, local agencies or community-based organizations;

(e) State and local agencies or other organizations that provide health, welfare, human and social services;

(f) Nonprofit organizations; and

(g) Such other agencies, entities and organizations as determined necessary by the Department, any state or local agencies or community-based organizations which provide information and referral services concerning health, welfare, human and social services or any group established by the Governor to implement a statewide information and referral system concerning health, welfare, human and social services.

3. The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, each telephone company which provides service through a local exchange in this State and each company that provides wireless phone services in this State shall cooperate with the Department, any state or local agencies or community-based organizations which provide information and referral services concerning health, welfare, human and social services and any group established by the Governor to implement a statewide information and referral system concerning health, welfare, human and social services in the establishment of the statewide information and referral system.

(Added to NRS by 2005, 2437; A 2019, 251, 2691, effective January 1, 2020)