Housing Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-183
AN ACT CONCERNING THE COST OF 2-1-1 FOR LIFELINE PROGRAM
Title: CELLULAR TELEPHONE CUSTOMERS.
Vote Date: 3/10/2020
Vote Action: JF To Floor
PH Date: 2/27/2020
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Housing Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
To require any provider of lifeline cellular telephone service to not charge any minutes for
calls to 2-1-1.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None Stated.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Richard Cho, Chief Executive Officer, Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, Hartford:
Cho voiced his support for SB-183, he believes that this bill will provide the homeless
population easier access to 2-1-1, and thus, easier access to food and shelter.
Kiley Gosselin, Executive Director of the Partnership for Strong Communities, Hartford:
Gosselin and her organization support SB-183 and state that by making 2-1-1 calls no use
service minutes, it will provide homeless individuals with better access to housing services.
Richard Porth, CEO of United Way of Connecticut: Porth states that SB-183 will ensure that
no one would be charged their service minutes by making calls to 2-1-1. They believe that
this will remove the financial barrier that may be keeping those who need housing services
away and remove the need to choose between minutes of housing.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None Stated
Reported by: Dalton Mongeau Date: 03/09/2020
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