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An Act Regarding Tort Liability in the Provision of E-9-1-1 Access-only Service
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2930, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 68, §10, is further amended to read:
 
2. Telecommunications providers.   A telecommunications provider assisting in the implementation and operation of the statewide E-9-1-1 system, including, but not limited to, the development, establishment and maintenance of the network, the development and maintenance of any databases and the processing of callsE-9-1-1 system, is subject to tort liability:
 
A.  For property damages, bodily injury or death resulting from any defect in the E-9-1-1 system or inadequacy in the provision of E-9-1-1 service caused by the telecommunications provider's negligent acts or omissions in developing, establishing, implementing, maintaining or operating the E-9-1-1 system, up to a maximum amount for any and all claims arising out of a single occurrence not to exceed $300,000 or the dollar amount that appears in Title 14, section 8105, subsection 1, whichever is greater; and
 
B.  For property damages, bodily injury or death resulting from any defect in the E-9-1-1 system or inadequacy in the provision of E-9-1-1 service caused by the telecommunications provider's intentional, willful or reckless acts or omissions in developing, establishing, implementing, maintaining or operating the E-9-1-1 system, without limitation on the amount.
 
For purposes of this subsection, the term "telecommunications provider" means a local exchange carrier, a commercial mobile service provider, as defined in 47 United States Code, Section 332(d), or an interconnected voice over Internet protocol service provider; an employee of a local exchange carrier, commercial mobile service provider or interconnected voice over Internet protocol service provider acting within the scope of the employee's employment; or an agent of a local exchange carrier, commercial mobile service provider or interconnected voice over Internet protocol service provider acting within the scope of the agent's agency.
 
For purposes of this subsection, the term "E-9-1-1 system" includes, but is not limited to, the networks, databases and call processing services necessary to provide enhanced 9-1-1 services or enhanced 9-1-1 access-only services in accordance with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.
 
SUMMARY
This bill clarifies that the provision of E-9-1-1 access-only services is covered by the law governing the liability of telecommunications providers in the implementation and operation of the statewide E-9-1-1 system.