BILL NUMBER: SB 911 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 3, 2003
INTRODUCED BY Senator Alpert
FEBRUARY 21, 2003
An act to add Section 53115.4 to Sections
53115.4 and 5311.5 to, and to repeal Sections 53100.5 and 53115.2 of,
the Government Code, relating to emergency services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 911, as amended, Alpert. Local emergency telephone systems:
911 Administrative Board.
The Warren-911-Emergency Assistance Act directs the
Communications Division of Telecommunications of
the Department of General Services to consult regularly with
specified agencies, officials, and entities, including local
representatives from cities and counties to accomplish its
responsibilities with respect to the establishment by local agencies
of 911 telephone service.
This bill would create the State 911 Administrative Board
with specified duties comprised of specified members appointed
by the Governor to approve, modify, or deny decisions of the division
pursuant to this act. The division would be required to obtain
board approval in carrying out its duties under the act and members
of the board would serve for not more than 2; 2-year
consecutive terms, except as specified.
The bill would also require the board to meet quarterly in public
session and the division to provide administrative support to the
board. The bill would provide that members may receive reimbursement
for travel and per diem.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 53115.4 is added to the Government
SECTION 1. Section 53100.5 of the Government Code is repealed.
53100.5. The Legislature hereby finds and declares:
(a) The Communications Division of the Department of General
Services is currently in the process of updating its implementation
of "911" emergency phone service to all areas of California.
(b) The improvements to the emergency "911" service will enable
the law enforcement agency receiving the "911" call to determine the
exact location of the caller upon connection of the call.
(c) The communications division provides for the enhancement of
emergency telephone systems of cities within the respective counties
based on the population density of the counties, with those counties
with greater density receiving enhanced "911" emergency service
first. Most rural telephone companies serve sparsely populated
areas, averaging only 14 telephones per square mile.
(d) Many of the telephone corporations in the rural areas of
California are capable of receiving enhanced "911" emergency
telephone service, but are not scheduled for improvements within the
next five years because of their population density.
(e) Telephone customers in the rural areas are generally not close
to emergency services providers and are dependent on the telephone
to contact those providers.
(f) It is in the state's interest expeditiously to provide
enhanced "911" emergency telephone service to the rural areas of
California upon reaching those counties by the present system, which
is based on density.
SEC. 2. Section 53115.2 of the Government Code is repealed.
53115.2. The advisory committee shall have the following duties:
(a) The committee shall evaluate requests from local agencies for
state assistance for incremental costs and recommend to the Chief of
the Communications Division of the Department of General Services
when appropriation for reimbursement to a local agency for such
incremental costs should be made. The committee shall only review
final plans which have been referred for consideration for
incremental funding by the Communications Division at the request of
a local agency. The committee shall make a recommendation to the
Communications Division regarding state appropriations for payment or
reimbursement for incremental costs.
(b) The committee shall, upon request of a local public agency,
conduct a hearing on any conflict between a local public agency and
the Communications Division regarding a final plan which has not been
approved by the Communications Division pursuant to Section 53115.
The committee shall meet within 30 days following such request, and
shall make a recommendation to resolve the conflict to the
Communications Division within 90 days following the initial hearing
by the committee pursuant to such request.
(c) The committee may also act in a general advisory capacity to
the Communications Division relative to the implementation of any
"911" system.
SEC. 3. Section 53115.4 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
53115.4. (a) There is in state government the State 911
Administrative Board. In carrying out its duties under this article,
the Communications Telecommunications
Division shall obtain the approval of a majority of the board
present and voting. The board shall adopt procedures and criteria
consistent with the requirements of this article for the approval,
modification, or denial of the division's decisions.
(b) The board shall be comprised of the following members
appointed by the Governor who shall serve at the pleasure of the
Governor for not more than two consecutive terms.
(1) The Statewide Manager of the California 911 Emergency
Communications Office, or his or her designee.
(2) The president of the California National Emergency Number
Association Board (CalNENA), or his or her designee.
(3) One representative from the California Highway Patrol.
(4) Two representatives from City Public Safety Answering Points,
on the recommendation of the California Police Chiefs' Association.
(5) Two representatives from County Public Safety Answering
Points, on the recommendation of the California State Sheriffs'
Association.
(6) One representative from the telephone service providers,
elected by the CalNENA membership.
(7) One representative from the customer premise equipment
vendors, elected by the CalNENA membership.
(8) Two representative from any Public Safety Answering Point,
elected by the CalNENA membership.
(c) Board members shall be current members of the National
Emergency Number Association (NENA) and employed as a Public Safety
Answering Point (PSAP) manager or county coordinator, except where a
specific person is designated as a member, for those representatives
from the telephone service providers and the customer premise
equipment vendors.
(d) Each member shall serve a two-year term, except as follows:
(1) The presiding California 9-1-1 Emergency Communications
Statewide Manager shall serve for the duration of his or her tenure.
(2) The CalNENA president shall serve a one-year term in
accordance with the term of the CalNENA position. This person may be
elected by the CalNENA membership the previous year or the
post-presidential year to facilitate a two-year term.
(3) Four of the remaining members shall serve an initial term of
three years.
(e) Board members shall not receive compensation for their service
on the board but may be reimbursed for travel and per diem for time
spent in attending meetings of the board.
(f) The board shall meet quarterly in public sessions in
accordance with the provisions of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act
(Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of
Division 3 of Title 2). The Communications Division shall provide
administrative support to the board. The board, at its first meeting,
shall adopt bylaws and operating procedures consistent with this
article.
(1) The Chief of the California 9-1-1 Emergency Communications
Office shall serve as the nonvoting chair of the board.
(2) One representative from the Department of the California
Highway Patrol.
(3) Two representatives on the recommendation of the California
Police Chiefs' Association.
(4) Two representatives on the recommendation of the California
State Sheriffs' Association.
(5) Two representatives on the recommendation of the California
Fire Chiefs Association.
(6) Two representatives on the recommendation of the CalNENA
Executive Board.
(c) Recommending authorities shall give consideration to the
knowledge, training, and expertise of the appointee with respect to
their experience within the California 9-1-1 system. Board members
should have at least two years of experience as a Public Safety
Answering Point (PSAP) manager or county coordinator, except where a
specific person is designated as a member.
(d) Each member shall serve a two-year term, except as follows:
(1) The presiding Chief of the California 9-1-1 Emergency
Communications Office shall serve for the duration of his or her
tenure.
(2) Four of the remaining members shall serve an initial term of
three years.
(e) Board members shall not receive compensation for their service
on the board, but may be reimbursed for travel and per diem for time
spent in attending meetings of the board. Additionally, wages paid
by a board member's agency may be reimbursed for actual time spent by
the member on board duties.
(f) The board shall meet quarterly in public sessions in
accordance with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9
(commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 3
of Title 2). The Telecommunications Division shall provide
administrative support to the board. The board, at its first
meeting, shall adopt bylaws and operating procedures consistent with
this article and establish committees as necessary.
SEC. 4. Section 53115.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:
53115.5. The 9-1-1 Administrative Board shall have, but not be
limited to, the following duties:
(a) Develop, approve, and implement the policies, practices, and
procedures for the California 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Office.
(b) Develop, approve, and implement technical and operational
standards for the California 9-1-1 system consistent with the
National Emergency Number Association (NENA) standards.
(c) Develop, approve, and implement the duties, responsibilities,
and training standards for county coordinators and Public Safety
Answering Point (PSAP) Managers.
(d) Review and approve all proposed budget, funding, and
reimbursement decisions related to the State Emergency Number
Account.
(e) Review and approve all proposed projects and studies conducted
or funded by the State Emergency Number Account.
(f) Shall, upon request of a local public agency, conduct an
appeals hearing between the agency seeking funding and the California
9-1-1 Emergency Communications Office to resolve any conflicts.