Brief Description: Concerning emergency services communications systems.

Sponsors: Representatives Fromhold, Orcutt and Anderson.

Hearing Date: 2/25/03

Staff: Matt Cooper (786-7106).

Background:

Counties are authorized to impose an excise tax on telephone and cellular phone lines. An amount equal to the minimum tax must be appropriated for enhanced 911 service.

Enhanced 911 service is the system of communications lines and computer networks that routes incoming 911 calls to the appropriate public safety answering point. This ensures that emergency calls are routed to the public safety answering point that is responsible for answering the call. The enhanced 911 system also displays a caller's name, address, and phone number at the public safety answering point.

Summary of Bill:

Counties must fund an emergency services communications system, rather than an enhanced 911 service, at a level equal to the minimum enhanced 911 county tax.

An emergency services communications system is a radio or telephone network that provides rapid access to coordinated dispatching of emergency services across a county or district. A component of an emergency services communications system is an enhanced 911 system.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.