Title: An act relating to the enhanced 911 advisory committee.

Brief Description: Making permanent the enhanced 911 advisory committee.

Sponsors: Senators Kastama, Roach, Rasmussen, Oke and Schmidt; by request of Military Department.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 1/19/06, 1/24/06 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6217 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: The statewide Enhanced 911 (E-911) Advisory Committee was originally established in 1991 and is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2006. The committee advises and assists the state E-911 coordinator in coordinating and facilitating the implementation and operation of E-911 throughout the state. Members are appointed by the director of the military department and represent diverse geographical areas of the state. E-911 committee members must be members of specific organizations representing fire chiefs and fire fighters, law enforcement, cities, counties, local exchange telephone companies, radio communications companies, and public communications officers.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The sunset date for the E-911 Advisory Committee is changed from December 31, 2006 to December 31, 2011.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill removed the sunset date entirely, making the committee permanent.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The E-911 advisory committee's work isn't done yet. New technologies have created new challenges, and the advisory committee plays a significant role in making sure that the 911 system works regardless of the technology used to dial it.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Jim Mullen, Washington Military Department; Jim Quackenbush, E-911 Advisory Committee, National Emergency Number Association, APCU; Dick Dickinson, Telecommunication Systems.