Article 6.6. State Nonemergency Telephone System of California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 6.6.

Every local public agency may establish a nonemergency telephone system as provided in this article. The digits "311" shall be dedicated as the nonemergency telephone number within the system. Nonemergency "311" telephone systems shall be designed to provide a system similar to a "911" selective routing system, whereby the location of the initial call is determined to provide a coordinated uniform delivery system to meet the specified requirements of each local jurisdiction. Every system shall be designed to allow the handling of emergency calls by the "911" emergency telephone system.

For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:
  (a) "Local public agency" means a city, county, city and county, and joint powers authority that provides a public safety answering point (PSAP).
  (b) "Nonemergency telephone system" means a system structured to provide access to only public safety agencies such as police and fire, or a system structured to provide access to public safety agencies and to all other services provided by a local public agency such as street maintenance and animal control.
  (c) "Public Safety Communications Division" means the Public Safety Communications Division within the Office of Emergency Services.

The Public Safety Communications Division is authorized to aid local public agencies in the formulation of concepts, methods, and procedures that will improve the operation of systems authorized by this article and increase cooperation among public agencies.