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House approves 9‑1‑1 location build‑out fee after amendments; bill sunsets in 2011
Summary
First Substitute House Bill 36, which establishes a 2‑year build‑out of statewide 9‑1‑1 location capability funded by a monthly fee (14¢ during build, 9¢ maintenance), passed the House 42‑24 after an amendment that removed a loan program. Supporters cited lives saved; opponents raised privacy and tracking concerns.
The Utah House on Feb. 12 passed First Substitute House Bill 36, a bill to expand statewide 9‑1‑1 location services and pay for the system through a modest monthly fee on telephone service.
Sponsor (referred to in the transcript as Representative D / Representative Dee) described a two‑year build‑out to provide 9‑1‑1 service for landlines and cell phones across the state and to implement Phase II location technology (GPS or triangulation) required by federal timelines. The sponsor said the bill calls for a 14¢ monthly charge during build‑out (about $1.68 per year) that would later drop to a 9¢ maintenance fee; the bill includes a sunset provision slated for 2011.
Representative Snow offered an amendment that made drafting cleanups and deleted a revolving loan program from the bill; the sponsor accepted the amendment as friendly on the floor. Supporters told stories of lost skiers, snowmobilers and crash victims who could not be located and argued the upgrade would save lives and reduce wasted search resources. Representative Adams said the modest per‑person cost was justified by potential lifesaving benefits.
Opponents and questioners sought clarification about coverage in rural areas and about whether fees would apply to all telephone lines; the sponsor and colleagues explained the fee would apply to dedicated telephone service lines and that the measure included provisions to program towers to accept 9‑1‑1 calls regardless of carrier to improve rural connectivity.
Representative Dougal noted current carrier and tower tracking capabilities and described the technology differences between cell‑tower proximity and federally required Phase II GPS/triangulation location reporting.
After debate, voting closed with the House recording 42 yes votes and 24 no votes; the bill passed and will be forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.
