H-1598

AN ACT Relating to state-wide implementation of enhanced 911; amending RCW 38.52.030, 82.14B.010, 82.14B.020, 82.14B.030, 82.14B.040, 82.14B.090, and 82.14B.100; adding new sections to chapter 38.52 RCW; and repealing RCW 80.36.550, 80.36.5501, and 82.14B.080.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that a state-wide emergency communications network of enhanced 911 telephone service, which allows an immediate visual display of a caller's location, would serve to further the safety, health, and welfare of the state's citizens, and would save lives. The legislature, after reviewing the study outlined in section 1, chapter 260, Laws of 1990, further finds that state-wide implementation of enhanced 911 telephone service is feasible and should be accomplished as soon as practicable.

Sec. 2. RCW 38.52.030 and 1986 c 266 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The director may employ such personnel and may make such expenditures within the appropriation therefor, or from other funds made available for purposes of emergency management, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(2) The director, subject to the direction and control of the governor, shall be responsible to the governor for carrying out the program for emergency management of this state. The director shall coordinate the activities of all organizations for emergency management within the state, and shall maintain liaison with and cooperate with emergency management agencies and organizations of other states and of the federal government, and shall have such additional authority, duties, and responsibilities authorized by this chapter, as may be prescribed by the governor.

(3) The director shall develop and maintain a comprehensive, all-hazard emergency plan for the state which shall include an analysis of the natural and man-caused hazards which could affect the state of Washington, and shall include the procedures to be used during emergencies for coordinating local resources, as necessary, and the resources of all state agencies, departments, commissions, and boards. The comprehensive, all-hazard emergency plan authorized under this subsection may not include preparation for emergency evacuation or relocation of residents in anticipation of nuclear attack. This plan shall be known as the comprehensive emergency management plan.

(4) In accordance with the comprehensive emergency management plans and the programs for the emergency management of this state, the director shall procure supplies and equipment, institute training programs and public information programs, and shall take all other preparatory steps, including the partial or full mobilization of emergency management organizations in advance of actual disaster, to insure the furnishing of adequately trained and equipped forces of emergency management personnel in time of need.

(5) The director shall make such studies and surveys of the industries, resources, and facilities in this state as may be necessary to ascertain the capabilities of the state for emergency management, and shall plan for the most efficient emergency use thereof.

(6) The director may appoint a communications coordinating committee consisting of six to eight persons with the director, or his or her designee, as chairman thereof. Three of the members shall be appointed from qualified, trained and experienced telephone communications administrators or engineers actively engaged in such work within the state of Washington at the time of appointment, and three of the members shall be appointed from qualified, trained and experienced radio communication administrators or engineers actively engaged in such work within the state of Washington at the time of appointment. This committee shall advise the director on all aspects of the communications and warning systems and facilities operated or controlled under the provisions of this chapter.

(7) The director, through the state enhanced 911 coordinator, shall coordinate and facilitate implementation and operation of a state-wide enhanced 911 emergency communications network.

(8) The director shall appoint a state coordinator of search and rescue operations to coordinate those state resources, services and facilities (other than those for which the state director of aeronautics is directly responsible) requested by political subdivisions in support of search and rescue operations, and on request to maintain liaison with and coordinate the resources, services, and facilities of political subdivisions when more than one political subdivision is engaged in joint search and rescue operations.

((~~(8)~~)) (9) The director, subject to the direction and control of the governor, shall prepare and administer a state program for emergency assistance to individuals within the state who are victims of a natural or man-made disaster, as defined by RCW 38.52.010(6). Such program may be integrated into and coordinated with disaster assistance plans and programs of the federal government which provide to the state, or through the state to any political subdivision thereof, services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds by way of gift, grant, or loan for purposes of assistance to individuals affected by a disaster. Further, such program may include, but shall not be limited to, grants, loans, or gifts of services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, to individuals who, as a result of a disaster, are in need of assistance and who meet standards of eligibility for disaster assistance established by the department of social and health services: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein shall be construed in any manner inconsistent with the provisions of Article VIII, section 5 or section 7 of the Washington state Constitution.

((~~(9)~~)) (10) The director shall appoint a state coordinator for radioactive and hazardous waste emergency response programs. The coordinator shall consult with the state radiation control officer in matters relating to radioactive materials. The duties of the state coordinator for radioactive and hazardous waste emergency response programs shall include:

(a) Assessing the current needs and capabilities of state and local radioactive and hazardous waste emergency response teams on an ongoing basis;

(b) Coordinating training programs for state and local officials for the purpose of updating skills relating to emergency response;

(c) Utilizing appropriate training programs such as those offered by the federal emergency management agency, the department of transportation and the environmental protection agency; and

(d) Undertaking other duties in this area that are deemed appropriate by the director.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. By December 31, 1998, each county, singly or in combination with adjacent counties, shall implement an enhanced 911 emergency communications network that will constitute part of the state-wide enhanced 911 network. The state enhanced 911 coordination office established by section 4 of this act shall assist and facilitate the network implementation of each county.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A state enhanced 911 coordination office, headed by the state enhanced 911 coordinator, is established in the emergency management division of the department. Duties of the office shall include:

(1) Coordination, facilitation, implementation, and operation of the state-wide enhanced 911 emergency communications network;

(2) Seeking advice and assistance from, and provide staff support for, the enhanced 911 advisory committee;

(3) Administering the enhanced 911 account created by section 6 of this act; and

(4) Recommending to the utilities and transportation commission by October 31st of each year the level of the state enhanced 911 excise tax for the following year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The enhanced 911 advisory committee is created to advise and assist the state enhanced 911 coordinator to implement and operate the state-wide enhanced 911 network. The director shall appoint the members of the committee who must represent the diverse geographical areas of the state and include state residents who are members of the national emergency number association, the associated public communications officers northwest, the Washington state fire chiefs association, the state fire policy board, the Washington fire commissioners association, the Washington state patrol, the association of Washington cities, the Washington state association of counties, and representatives of large and small local exchange telephone companies. This section shall expire December 31, 2000.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The enhanced 911 account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the state enhanced 911 excise tax imposed by RCW 82.14B.030 shall be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the fund may be used only to help implement and operate the state-wide enhanced 911 communications network. Only the state enhanced 911 coordinator may authorize expenditures from the account. The state enhanced 911 coordinator shall, with the advice and assistance of the enhanced 911 advisory council, specify by rule the purposes for which moneys may be expended from this account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures.

Sec. 7. RCW 82.14B.010 and 1981 c 160 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature finds that the state and counties should be provided with an additional revenue source to fund the state-wide enhanced 911 emergency service communication systems on a county-wide basis. The legislature further finds that the most efficient and appropriate method of deriving additional revenue for this purpose is to ((~~vest the legislative authorities of the counties, subject to voter approval, with the power to~~)) impose an excise tax on the use of telephone access lines.

Sec. 8. RCW 82.14B.020 and 1981 c 160 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Emergency services communication system" means a ((~~county-wide~~)) state-wide radio or landline communications network, including an enhanced 911 telephone system, which provides rapid public access for coordinated dispatching of services, personnel, equipment, and facilities for police, fire, medical, or other emergency services.

(2) "((~~Telephone~~)) Enhanced 911 telephone system" means a public telephone system consisting of a network, data base, and on-premises equipment that is accessed by dialing 911 and that enables reporting police, fire, medical, or other emergency situations to a public safety answering point. The system includes the capability to selectively route incoming 911 calls to the appropriate public safety answering point that operates in a defined 911 service area and the capability to automatically display the name, address, and telephone number of incoming 911 calls on a video monitor or printer at the appropriate public safety answering point.

(3) "Switched access line" means the telephone service line which connects a subscriber's main telephone(s) or equivalent main telephone(s) to the telephone company's switching office.

((~~(3)~~)) (4) "Telephone company" has the meaning ascribed to it in RCW 80.04.010.

Sec. 9. RCW 82.14B.030 and 1981 c 160 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislative authority of a county ((~~may~~)) shall impose ((an)) a county enhanced 911 excise tax on the use of ((~~telephone~~)) switched access lines in an amount not exceeding fifty cents per month for each ((~~telephone~~)) switched access line. The amount of tax shall be uniform for each ((~~telephone~~)) switched access line. ((This tax must be approved by a favorable vote of at least three-fifths of the electors thereof voting on the proposition, at which election the number of persons voting "yes" on the proposition shall constitute three-fifths of a number equal to forty per centum of the total votes cast in the county at the last preceding general election when the number of electors voting on the proposition does not exceed forty per centum of the total votes cast in the county in the last preceding general election; or by a majority of at least three-fifths of the electors thereof voting on the proposition when the number of electors voting on the proposition exceeds forty per centum of the total votes cast in the county in the last preceding general election. This tax may be imposed for six years without subsequent voter approval. At any election held under this section, the ballot title of the proposition shall state the maximum monthly rate of the proposed tax which may be imposed by the county legislative authority. The actual rate of tax to be imposed shall be set by ordinance, which rate shall not exceed the maximum monthly rate approved by the electors.

No tax may be imposed under this section for more than one year before the expected implementation date of an emergency services communication system. The power granted under this section is in addition to any other authority which counties have to fund emergency services communication systems)) A county may impose a tax that is less than fifty cents only if the tax assessed fully funds the operation of the enhanced 911 network in that county.

(2) A state enhanced 911 excise tax is imposed on all switched access lines in the state. Until December 31, 1998, the amount of tax shall not exceed twenty cents per switched access line and thereafter shall not exceed ten cents per switched access line. The tax shall be uniform for each switched access line. Tax proceeds shall be deposited by the treasurer in the enhanced 911 account created in section 6 of this act.

(3) By October 31st of each year the state enhanced 911 coordinator shall recommend the level for the next year of the state enhanced 911 excise tax to the utilities and transportation commission. The commission shall by the following December 31st determine the level of the state enhanced 911 excise tax for the following year.

Sec. 10. RCW 82.14B.040 and 1981 c 160 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~A county imposing a~~)) The state enhanced 911 tax and the county enhanced 911 tax ((~~under~~)) created in this chapter shall ((~~require collection of the tax~~)) be collected from the user by the ((~~telephone~~)) local exchange company providing the switched access line. The ((~~telephone~~)) local exchange company shall state the amount of the ((~~tax~~)) taxes separately on the billing statement which is sent to the user.

Sec. 11. RCW 82.14B.090 and 1987 c 17 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

An emergency service communication district is authorized to finance and provide an emergency service communication system and((~~, if authorized by the voters,~~)) to finance the system by imposing the excise tax authorized in RCW 82.14B.030.

Sec. 12. RCW 82.14B.100 and 1987 c 17 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

RCW 82.14B.040 through 82.14B.060 apply to any emergency service communication district established under RCW 82.14B.070 ((~~through~~)) and 82.14B.090. ((A ballot proposition to authorize the excise tax authorized under RCW 82.14B.040 through 82.14B.060 may be submitted to the voters of a proposed emergency service communication district at the same election the ballot proposition creating the district is submitted. The authority to impose the tax shall only exist if both of these ballot propositions are approved.))

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 80.36.550 and 1990 c 260 s 3;

(2) RCW 80.36.5501 and 1990 c 260 s 2; and

(3) RCW 82.14B.080 and 1987 c 17 s 2.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. Sections 1 and 3 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 38.52 RCW.