Legislative committee reviews budget for new State 9‑1‑1 Board; fee-funded, begins FY2026

The Legislative Budget Committee heard an overview of the budget for the newly created State 9‑1‑1 Board during its budget hearing. Legislative Research Department analyst Steven Wu said the board will not appear in state accounting until fiscal year 2026 because HB 2690 converted the 9‑1‑1 coordinating council into a state agency and set the agency start date.

The budget matters because it establishes the agency’s initial operations and the funding stream that supports public safety answering points (PSAPs) across the state. "This agency doesn't have any... it doesn't receive any state general funds. It's primarily funded by 9‑1‑1 fees," Wu said at the hearing, explaining why the FY2024 and FY2025 columns in the budget document show zeros.

Wu told the committee the budget includes two main categories: agency operations and aid to local units. Agency operations are budgeted at about $15,455,000, which covers salaries and operating costs for the agency. The budget lists 14 full‑time positions overall, with about eight positions budgeted to be filled initially, including an executive director, two liaisons, a communications and training coordinator, an administrative assistant, a technical specialist and accounting support. Contractual services account for roughly $14.3 million of operations spending; Wu said most of that funds a hosted‑solution contract for the 9‑1‑1 system.

Aid to local units is budgeted at a little over $25 million and, Wu said, will be distributed to individual PSAPs across the state rather than used for the board’s internal operations. The document also lists the principal fee sources for the program: a $0.90 monthly subscriber fee, a prepaid wireless 9‑1‑1 fee and PSAP cost shares. During questions, Representative Del Perde cited the document: "I believe on page 3, 90¢ per month per subscriber," and Wu confirmed roughly two‑thirds of that fee (about $0.66) is deposited into the state 9‑1‑1 fund.

Sherry Massey, introduced at the hearing as the executive director of the Kansas 9‑1‑1 Coordinating Council and the official overseeing the transition, was present to answer operational questions. "I'm Sherry Massey. I'm the executive director of the Kansas 9‑1‑1 Coordinating Council and overseeing the transition into the state 9‑1‑1 board," she said when asked to identify herself. Committee members deferred technical and agency‑operation questions to Massey and directed budget questions to Wu.

Wu said the special committee on legislative budget reviewed the request in November and December and recommended concurrence with the agency’s request; the analyst reported no committee changes to the board’s requested budget.

The committee closed the budget hearing on the State 9‑1‑1 Board and proceeded to consider recommendations for other boards and agencies.