FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5335

 

C 128 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

 

Brief Description:  Revising the authority of the statewide enhanced 911 program to support the statewide enhanced 911 system.

 

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Economic Development & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Snyder, Deccio, T. Sheldon, Morton, B. Sheldon, Hochstatter, Parlette, Sheahan, Hewitt, Haugen, Oke, McCaslin and Honeyford).

 

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Telecommunications

House Committee on Technology, Telecommunications & Energy

 

Background:  In 1991, voters adopted Referendum 42, requiring enhanced 911 (E-911) service to be available throughout the state by December 31, 1998.  The Military Department is responsible for statewide coordination of E-911 programs.  Under the E-911 system, a caller's phone number and location are automatically displayed at the public safety answering point.

 

E-911 services are funded by county and state excise taxes.  The state levies a maximum tax of 20 cents per switched telephone access line.  Voters approved this state tax when they adopted Referendum 42.  There is no state tax on radio access (wireless/cellular) lines.  State tax revenues fund statewide coordination of the E-911 program and help counties to pay for the extra costs incurred in upgrading from a basic 911 system to an E-911 system.

 

In 1998, the Legislature found that some counties generate insufficient revenues to cover E-911 related salaries and operational expenses and authorized state E-911 funds to provide temporary salary assistance to small counties or ongoing salary assistance to counties that have regionalized their operations.  To qualify for state E-911 salary assistance, a county must impose the maximum allowable county excise tax rate.

 

The maximum tax rate that a county may levy on a switched line is 50 cents.  Counties may also impose an excise tax of up to 25 cents per month on each radio (wireless/cellular) access line. Thirty-eight counties impose the maximum rates.

 

Summary:  Legislative findings are made, including that the Enhanced 911 system has served to further the health, safety, and welfare of Washington citizens and saved lives; and that statewide operation and management will improve the system by creating efficiencies, permitting greater local control, and providing needed support to counties.

 

The purposes for which the state E-911 funds may be used are changed.  The specific limitations on salary assistance are removed and replaced with general authority to the state E-911 coordinator to enter into statewide agreements to improve the efficiency of 911 services.

 

Direction is provided to the state E-911 coordinator for adopting rules that define the allowable purposes based on specified priorities.  The priorities are listed as follows:  (1) assuring that 911 is operational statewide; (2) assisting as necessary to assure counties can achieve a basic service level for 911 operations; and (3) assisting counties as practicable with capital investments necessary to increase 911 effectiveness.

 

Votes on Final Passage:

 

Senate480

House     95 1

 

Effective:  July 1, 2001