An Act To Promote Public Safety Answering Point Efficiency

Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2925, sub-§6, ¶D  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 25 MRSA §2927, sub-§5,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 409, §1, is further amended to read:

Sec. 3. Report regarding public safety answering points and E-9-1-1 system. No later than February 1, 2010, the Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau shall prepare and submit to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy a report on:

1. The optimum configuration of public safety answering points in the State, taking into account:

2. The benefits and consequences of expanding the statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge to fund all E-9-1-1 system costs, including operation and maintenance expenses that are currently funded through county assessments and fees from the political subdivisions, and the projected increase in the E-9-1-1 surcharge required to fund all system costs.

After receipt and review of the report required under this section, the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy may submit legislation relating to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.

summary

This bill requires the E-9-1-1 Council to assist the Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau in resolving service-related complaints regarding the E-9-1-1 system. It requires the bureau to include in its annual report to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy information regarding the performance of each of the public safety answering points during the reporting period. The bill directs the bureau to prepare and submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy regarding the optimum configuration of public safety answering points in the State and the benefits and consequences of expanding the statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge to fund all E-9-1-1 system costs. The bill authorizes the committee to submit legislation relating to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.