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Bill to direct 911 cost-recovery funds to local districts wins committee approval
Summary
House Bill 263 would change how the state 9-1-1 board distributes cost-recovery funds, allowing uses for telecommunicator training, advisory services and a hardship grant program; the committee gave the bill a favorable report.
House Bill 263, proposed by Representative Oliver, would revise how the state 9-1-1 board distributes cost-recovery funds to local 9-1-1 districts and establish allowable uses including training, advisory services and a grant program for financially distressed districts.
Representative Oliver told the committee that a monthly fee collected from telephone service providers funds 9-1-1 services and that roughly 20 percent of those funds remain with the state 9-1-1 board in a cost recovery fund. The bill would allow that fund to be used to cover required training and certification for public safety telecommunicators, pay for advisory services to districts, create a hardship grant program and require the state 9-1-1 board by rule to set a maximum year-end balance for the fund.
Committee members asked for additional detail on how funds would be distributed and how many members serve on the state board; Representative Oliver said she could obtain additional detail for the record. A committee member said a local 9-1-1 director the member consulted supported the legislation.
The committee moved and approved a favorable report on HB 263.
Ending: Staff will provide more details on board membership and the administrative rulemaking process for maximum fund balances as the bill advances.
