House State Government Committee approves HB97 to codify GIS office, formalize 9-1-1 address data sharing

The House State Government Committee approved House Bill 97 on Feb. 25, voting to codify the state Geographic Information Systems program in the state office and to establish routine data sharing with 9-1-1 for address verification and mapping.

Pro Tem Pringle, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure formalizes work the mapping office already performs for state agencies and establishes a regular two-way exchange so corrections originating in 9-1-1 are incorporated into official maps. An office representative said the initiative began under prior administrations and is now housed in the state's GIS program office.

Representative Paramore offered and the committee adopted an amendment that replaces specified lines in the bill to require certain appointees to be appointed by the secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and employed in the classified service of the merit system. The Chair called for the amendment, received a second, and announced it passed by voice vote.

After the amendment, a motion to approve HB97 as amended was made and seconded; members approved the bill by voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

Pringle emphasized the public-safety rationale for the bill, saying, "This bill, I mean, this can save lives because this is gonna help with the mapping and and delivering emergency services to our people, particularly in rural counties." He thanked the committee after the passage.

The bill as discussed would codify the GIS program office and set up a working relationship with 9-1-1 focused on address verification and sharing corrected address data for mapping. The transcript uses multiple spellings for the office (ALIA and OLIA); committee discussion described it generically as the state GIS program office that supports mapping for state agencies. The committee approved the bill and moved on to other business.

The committee did not specify funding changes, implementation timelines, or an effective date for the statutory changes in the transcript. The amendment text recorded in the hearing requires particular appointees to be "appointed by the secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and employed in the classified service of the merit system," language adopted as part of the amendment.

The House State Government Committee adjourned after completing its business; the transcript does not show any further floor or chamber actions on HB97.