F. Procedures for cooperation and coordination with telephone utilities and municipalities for implementation and maintenance;

H. Estimates of the cost of establishing an operational E- 9-1-1 system; and

I. Procedures for collecting and administering the necessary funds for E-9-1-1.;

Sec. 3. 25 MRSA §2926, sub-§2, ¶¶J and K are enacted to read:

J.__Standards and procedures for developing and maintaining the system databases; and

K.__Standards and procedures to establish and deliver emergency medical dispatch, or EMD, as a component of the statewide E-9-1-1 system.

Sec. 4. 25 MRSA §2926, sub-§§5 and 6 are enacted to read:

5.__Call answering coverage.__The bureau is authorized to provide and ensure call answering coverage, so that all E-9-1-1 calls are answered in accordance with bureau standards.

6.__System databases.__The system databases must be the property of the bureau.

Sec. 5. 25 MRSA §2927, sub-§1-B, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 651, §1 and affected by §4, is amended to read:

1-B. Statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge. The activities authorized under this chapter are funded through a special statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge levied on each residential and business telephone exchange line, including private branch exchange lines and Centrex lines, cellular or wireless telecommunications service subscribers and semipublic coin and public access lines. The statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge may not be imposed on more than 25 lines or numbers per customer billing account. The statewide E- 9-1-1 surcharge is 32¢ 58¢ per month per line or number. The statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge must be billed on a monthly basis by each local exchange telephone utility or cellular or wireless telecommunications service provider and be shown separately as a statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge on the customer's bill.

Sec. 6. 25 MRSA §2927, sub-§2-B, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 651, §1, is amended to read:

2-B. Surcharge remittance. Each local exchange telephone utility and cellular or wireless telecommunications service provider shall remit the statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge revenues collected from its customers pursuant to this section on a monthly basis and within one month of the month collected to the Treasurer of State for deposit in a separate account known as the E-9-1-1 fund. Service providers shall provide, on a form approved by the bureau, supporting data, including but not limited to the following:

A.__The calculation used to arrive at the surcharge remittance amount;

B.__The calculation used to arrive at the uncollectible amount of surcharge;

C.__The total surcharge;

D.__The month and year for which surcharge is remitted;

E.__The legal name of company and telephone number__and, if applicable, the parent company name, address and telephone number; and

F.__The preparer's name and telephone number.

Sec. 7. PL 1999, c. 651, §4 is repealed.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill does the following.

1. It increases the surcharge from 32¢ to 58¢ to fund the E- 9-1-1 program.

2. It standardizes the surcharge remittance process for all telecommunications providers.

3. It clarifies that the Emergency Services Communication Bureau owns the E-9-1-1 databases.

4. It authorizes the bureau to coordinate with telephone companies and municipalities for maintenance of the system following implementation.

5. It provides Emergency Medical Dispatch, or EMD, as an essential part of the E-9-1-1 service to the caller.

6. It repeals the payment process utilized by phone companies following the surcharge sunset period.

7. It provides the bureau authority to ensure that E-9-1-1 calls are answered by public safety answering points should circumstances require the bureau to act to provide public safety answering points coverage.