South Carolina H 4704: 211 Network

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4704 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4704

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO TRANSFER THE SOUTH CAROLINA 211 NETWORK TO THE 
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS; TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY 
ADDING SECTION 37-6-515 SO AS TO CREATE THE SOUTH CAROLINA 211 NETWORK WITHIN 
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 1-11-770, RELATING 
TO the SOUTH CAROLINA 211 NETWORK, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Effective 
July 1, 2026, the South Carolina 211 Network, created within the Budget and 
Control Board pursuant to Section 1-11-770 by Act 339 of 2002, is transferred 
to the Department of Consumer Affairs.

SECTION 2. Chapter 6, Part 5, Title 37 of the S.C. Code is amended 
by adding:

 Section 
37-6-515. (A) Pursuant to Section 
1-11-770(C), there is created within the Department of Consumer Affairs a 
statewide South Carolina 211 Network, which must serve as the single point of 
coordination for information and referral for health and human services. The objectives 
for establishing the South Carolina 211 Network are to:

 (1) 
provide comprehensive and cost-effective access to health and human services 
information;

 (2) 
improve access to accurate information by simplifying and enhancing state and 
local health and human services information and referral systems and by 
fostering collaboration among information and referral systems;

 (3) 
electronically connect local information and referral systems to each other, to 
service providers, and to consumers of information and referral services;

 (4) 
establish and promote standards for data collection and for distributing 
information among state and local organizations;

 (5) 
promote the use of a common dialing access code and the visibility and public 
awareness of the availability of information and referral services;

 (6) 
provide a management and administrative structure to support the South Carolina 
211 Network and establish technical assistance, training, and support programs 
for information and referral-service programs;

 (7) 
test methods for integrating information and referral services with local and 
state health and human services programs and for consolidating and streamlining 
eligibility and case-management processes;

 (8) 
provide access to standardized, comprehensive data to assist in identifying 
gaps and needs in health and human services programs; and

 (9) 
provide a unified systems plan with a developed platform, taxonomy, and 
standards for data management and access.

 (B)(1) In order to participate in the 
South Carolina 211 Network, a 211 provider must be certified by the Department 
of Consumer Affairs. The department must develop criteria for certification and 
must adopt the criteria as regulations.

 (2) 
If any provider of information and referral services or other entity leases a 
211 number from a local exchange company and is not certified by the 
department, the department shall, after consultation with the local exchange 
company and the Public Service Commission, request that the Federal 
Communications Commission direct the local exchange company to revoke the use 
of the 211 number.

 (3) 
The department shall seek the assistance and guidance of the Public Service 
Commission and the Federal Communications Commission in resolving any disputes 
arising over jurisdiction related to 211 numbers.

SECTION 3. Section 1-11-770 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 (C) The South Carolina 211 Network 
program authorized by this section is transferred to the Department of Consumer 
Affairs and is established thereto as set forth in Section 37-6-515.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect on July 1, 
2026.

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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 01:17 PM