Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Telecommunications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislators push for audit and oversight of NextGen 911 project after cost and delay concerns
Summary
AB 1805 would require an immediate state auditor review, strengthen the 911 advisory board into an oversight board with authority to hire technical experts, and mandate quarterly legislative reports to clarify NextGen 911 project status; public‑safety stakeholders supported transparency while urging care not to delay deployment.
The subcommittee considered AB 18 05 to increase transparency and oversight of California’s NextGen 911 modernization project after testimony that the program has cost hundreds of millions with limited public benefits to date.
The author argued the state must audit the program, strengthen the existing 911 advisory body into an empowered oversight board and require quarterly legislative reports to explain roadblocks and proposed solutions. "We spent decades and a lifetime telling Americans that 911 is a reliable place for them to get help," the author said, urging oversight to restore public trust.
Mark Smith of CalNENA, which represents dispatch professionals, supported greater transparency and legislative oversight but cautioned that changing advisory structures should not create new delays to deployment. He said some states have successfully deployed NextGen 911 and Californians deserve the technology.
The committee advanced AB 1805 to the Appropriations Committee; members indicated they want audit findings and oversight mechanisms to be calibrated so they increase accountability without unnecessarily stalling technical implementation.
