Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Technology, Energy & Communications Committee |
HB 2029
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning enhanced 911 emergency communications service.
Sponsors: Representatives Ericks, Morris, McCoy, Ormsby, Hudgins, Hunt, Takko, Springer, Van De Wege, Conway, Eddy, Hasegawa, Finn, Dunshee, Haigh, Kenney, Kessler, Morrell and Goodman.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/16/09
Staff: Kara Durbin (786-7133)
Background:
Emergency 911 communications services allow callers to reach agencies that can dispatch an appropriate type of response. "Enhanced 911" (also known as E-911) is a type of service that allows the caller's phone number and location to be automatically displayed at the public safety answering point. In Washington, 911 systems are primarily administered by counties, and in some cases, cities.
E-911 services are funded by county and state excise taxes. All counties may impose an excise tax on each switched telephone access line. The maximum rate that a county may levy on a switched access line is 50 cents. Counties may also impose an excise tax of up to 50 cents per month on each radio (wireless) access line. In contrast to the counties, the state only levies a 20-cent tax on switched telephone access lines and radio access lines. State E-911 excise taxes fund a state E-911 coordinator and help counties to pay for the extra costs incurred in upgrading from a basic system to an E-911 system.
Summary of Bill:
Provisions related to statewide enhanced 911 (E-911) services are repealed and reinstated in substantially the same form.
The state and county E-911 excise taxes are eliminated and replaced with a state and a county E-911 service fee.
State E-911 Service Fee
The state E-911 service fee is $0.25 per month for each switched access line, radio access line, internet protocol-enabled voice device, or other communications service devices capable of transmitting voice or data to 911 in the state.
The state E-911 service fee must be remitted to the Department of Revenue (Department) and deposited into the Enhanced 911 Account in the State Treasury.
County E-911 Service Fee
For each switched access line, radio access line, internet protocol-enabled voice device, or other communication service device capable of transmitting voice or data, the county E-911 service fee is $0.90 per month. Beginning January 1, 2012, the county E-911 service fee for these lines or devices will increase to $1.20 per month. Beginning January 1, 2014, the county E-911 service fee for these lines or devices will increase to $1.50 per month.
The county E-911 service fee must be remitted to the Department. The Department must distribute the E-911 service fees collected to each county. Each county must deposit the service fee proceeds into a dedicated E-911 account.
Administration
The state and county E-911 service fees must be paid by the subscriber to the local exchange company providing the switched access line, the radio communications service company providing the radio access line, or the internet protocol-enabled voice service providing service to the internet protocol-enabled voice device.
The Department must adopt rules as may be necessary to administer the state and county E-911 service fee.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 6, 2009.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.