BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Martha M. Escutia, Chair
2003-2004 Regular Session
SB 666 S
Senator Bowen B
As Introduced
Hearing Date: April 22, 2003 6
Government Code 6
MTY:cjt 6
SUBJECT
Wireless 911 Service
DESCRIPTION
This bill would require the Department of Consumer Affairs
to convene a working group to make recommendations for a
state privacy policy related to customer location
information of users of wireless services.
BACKGROUND
This bill is sponsored by Senator Bowen to monitor the
status of the development of wireless 911 service. The
bill would require the Department of General Services (DGS)
to report annually to the Legislature on the status of
implementing wireless 911 service.
Because the customer location technology involved in
wireless 911 also has significant privacy implications, the
author also included a provision creating a working group
to study those issues. It is this provision that is within
the jurisdiction of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
CHANGES TO EXISTING LAW
Existing law provides for a program where telephone
customers can dial "911" to directly contact emergency
response personnel. That program is administered by the
Communications Division of the Department of General
Services (DGS).
(more)
SB 666 (Bowen)
Page 2
Existing law requires 911 calls from wireless phones to
first go to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) unless a
local public safety agency reaches agreement with the CHP
and DGS that the call should first be routed to the local
public safety agency.
This bill would require DGS to report to the Legislature on
an annual basis on the status of implementing wireless 911
service.
This bill would require the Office of Privacy Protection
(OPP) to convene a working group of wireless
telecommunications service providers and users, as well as
privacy policy experts, to recommend a state privacy policy
related to customer location information on users of
wireless communications services.
COMMENT
1. Need for the bill
According to the analysis of the Energy, Utilities, and
Communications Committee:
When 911 is called from traditional telephones,
the public safety answer point (PSAP), which is
the police, fire, sheriff, or CHP dispatch center
that answers the call, is automatically provided
with the caller's telephone number and street
address. This information is critical to providing
rapid and accurate emergency response. It's
particularly helpful because in times of
emergency, flustered callers can fumble this basic
information - or they may not be in a position to
provide it. However, when 911 is called from a
wireless phone, the calling number is only
sporadically provided and location information is
never provided. The lack of location information
for wireless 911 calls has delayed emergency
response, and in some instances, resulted in a
loss of life. Providing location information on
wireless 911 calls is particularly useful
precisely because the users are mobile and
probably aren't calling from home. The federal
SB 666 (Bowen)
Page 3
government has required wireless phone companies
to provide location information on 911 calls.
The analysis further states that:
TRUSTe, a non-profit organization active in
Internet commerce issues, is working on a wireless
privacy project in conjunction with some wireless
carriers, privacy advocates, and electronic
commerce advocates. This bill requires the OPP to
convene a working group of privacy interests and
recommend a privacy policy to the Legislature by
July 1, 2004.
Committee staff has contacted various consumer advocacy
groups, all of whom are supportive of the creation of the
working group.
Support: None Known
Opposition: None Known
HISTORY
Source: Author's Office
Related Pending Legislation: None Known
Prior Legislation: None Known
Prior Vote: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications
Cmte. (9-0)
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