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Subcommittee backs bill to expand 9-1-1 board, members argue it would improve equity and oversight
Summary
A measure to add city and county representation to the state's emergency communications (9-1-1) board advanced after discussion about funding formulas, growth, and the need for more uniform service delivery across Tennessee's 105 9-1-1 districts.
The Department and Agency Subcommittee advanced a bill that would expand the state emergency communications board by adding a city member and a county member, increasing appointments to 11.
Representative Bridal, sponsor of the bill, said the state’s 9-1-1 system was created about four decades ago and that many current local districts still operate under original funding and operational models. "They really have shown very little effort in moving the districts and the state 9-1-1 system in a uniform method of delivering service," Bridal said, citing issues such as call transfers that can delay dispatch of emergency responders.
Bridal said current funding and the formula that distributes phone-bill revenue to districts has not kept pace with population growth and differing call volumes among districts. He discussed a separate resolution on that session's agenda to raise the 9-1-1 phone fee and described the board expansion as a step toward more equitable funding and service delivery.
Committee members questioned funding sources and asked how the system is financed. Bridal said an increase in the fee under consideration would generate additional revenue statewide and noted that property taxes continue to fund parts of local 9-1-1 operations. "I think most citizens think their monthly 9-1-1 bill funds the operation. I would personally love that rate to go high enough to take all the burden off property taxes," Bridal said.
Bridal described the expanded board as intended to bring additional local government perspective (city and county) to push for uniform delivery standards and adjustments to the funding formula to account for growth, call volume and equity between districts. He said the bill was being taken off notice for later consideration and that the larger discussion on the fee increase would appear later in the session.
The committee took the item off notice for later consideration and will consider related funding measures separately.
