H-3342              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2823

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Fraser, May, Nelson, Crane, Belcher, Phillips, Winsley and Scott

Read first time 1/22/90 and referred to Committees on Energy & Utilities/Appropriations.

AN ACT Relating to state-wide implementation of enhanced 911 telephone systems; amending RCW 82.14B.010 and 82.14B.020; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 160, Laws of 1981 and RCW 82.14B.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((The legislature finds that counties should be provided with an additional revenue source to fund emergency service communication systems on a county-wide basis)) It is the policy of the state that emergency service communication systems be standardized by establishing uniform standards for 911 telephone systems, encouraging the establishment of 911 service state-wide, and pursuing the goal of establishing enhanced 911 telephone systems state-wide.  An expansion of 911 and enhanced 911 systems of emergency service communications provides vastly improved response time and greater assurance that emergency resources will reach the scene of distress.  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)) switched access lines.

        Sec. 2.  Section 2, chapter 160, Laws of 1981 and RCW 82.14B.020 are each amended to read as follows:

          As used in this chapter:

          (1) "Emergency services communication system" means a county-wide radio or landline communications network, 911 telephone system or 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) "Enhanced 911 telephone system" means a public telephone system consisting of a network, data base and on-premises equipment which is accessed by dialing 911 which then 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 operating in a defined 911 service area and 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) "((Telephone)) Switched access line" means the telephone service line which connects a subscriber's main telephone(s) or equivalent main  telephone(s) to the ((telephone)) local exchange company's switching office.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The department of community development shall study and determine what is necessary for state-wide implementation of 911 and enhanced 911 telephone systems.  The study process shall include participation by public and private agencies and organizations that should be involved in planning for, implementing, and operating enhanced 911 telephone systems, and the study should include enhanced 911 system costs and recommended methods of funding, 911 service area alternatives, time required for state-wide implementation of enhanced 911 telephone systems, whether it is preferable that enhanced 911 telephone systems be implemented state-wide as soon as possible or on some other schedule, and legislative recommendations, if any.  The commission shall report study results to the energy and utilities committees of the senate and house of representatives by December 1, 1990.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     There is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to the department of community development, from the general fund, the sum of forty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the purposes of this act.  Grants, contributions, and appropriations from other entities are encouraged and shall be used in lieu of general fund moneys where possible.