Senate approves overhaul of 911 funding, centralizes fees and creates NG911 authority

The Mississippi Senate approved a sweeping update to the state's emergency-communications funding and governance meant to accelerate a transition to next-generation 911 (NG911). The measure designates the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) as the state coordinator for NG911, creates an NG911 authority and advisory board, centralizes collection of emergency-communications service fees and sets new rules on distribution and allowable uses.

Senator Delano, sponsor of the bill, told the chamber the legislation is a "rip out and replace" of Chapter 19 provisions that were written before IP-based emergency communications existed. The bill establishes a single emergency-communications service charge set at $2 per line (landline, commercial line, voice-over-IP, wireless, or prepaid wireless), requires service providers to remit collected fees to the Department of Revenue, and tasks the authority with devising a GIS-based formula to distribute funds to Emergency Communications Districts (ECDs).

Key allocations and limits in the bill: no more than 7% of total fees may be used for the state-level authority and implementation of a statewide NG911 plan; at least 30% of each ECD's receipts must be reserved for capital projects consistent with an approved NG911 implementation plan; remaining funds are restricted to emergency-communications services and ECD operations. The bill requires ECDs to adopt NG911 implementation plans by a specified deadline and allows consolidation and enterprise procurement to reduce costs.

Senator Delano acknowledged the cost burden on local jurisdictions and said the bill aims to provide more consistent, equitable funding and make local governments and PSAPs eligible for federal NG911 grants by establishing a state coordinator. He and other senators also discussed a large existing CMRS (commercial mobile radio service) fund that holds roughly $80+ million in previous collections; the bill freezes future deposits to that account while directing future collections under the new system and contemplates using the reserve in a future grant program after the authority presents a plan to the legislature.

The bill passed after floor debate and will move to the House. Sponsors said the change should improve accountability and qualify more jurisdictions for federal assistance; local officials warned of large implementation costs and said funding rules must be clear to allow counties to plan for migration to NG911.