BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 911|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 911
Author: Alpert (D)
Amended: 5/20/03
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE : 11-0, 4/8/03
AYES: Vincent, Johnson, Battin, Cedillo, Chesbro,
Karnette, Machado, Margett, Morrow, Murray, Soto
SENATE ENERGY, U.&C. COMMITTEE : 7-1, 4/22/03
AYES: Bowen, Morrow, Alarcon, Battin, Dunn, Murray, Sher
NOES: McClintock
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Local emergency telephone systems: 911
Administrative
Board
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill creates in state government, the State
911 Advisory Board to advise the Telecommunications
Division of the Department of General Services, comprised
of specified members appointed by the Governor.
ANALYSIS : Existing law, the Warren 911 Emergency
Assistance Act, establishes a 911 emergency telephone
program, managed by the DGS, to expedite public safety
response to citizen emergencies. As one of its
responsibilities, DGS is required to regularly consult with
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a number of state and private entities, including the State
Fire Marshal, the State Department of Health Services, the
Governor's Office of Traffic Safety, the Office of
Emergency Services, the California Council on Criminal
Justice, the public utilities of the state, local
officials, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and others.
Calls to 911 are answered either by the CHP or by local
public safety agencies, and responded to by local
government agencies (e.g., police or sheriff departments).
This bill:
1.Establishes a 10-member State 911 Advisory Board
appointed by the Governor and comprised of: (a) the
Chief of the 911 Emergency Communications Office (to
serve as a nonvoting Chair of the board); (b) one
representative from the California Highway Patrol; (c)
two representatives each recommended by the California
Police Chief's Association, the California State
Sheriff's Association, the California Fire Chief's
Association, and the California Chapter of the National
Emergency Number Association Executive Board.
2.Specifies that recommending authorities shall give
consideration to knowledge, training, and expertise of
the appointee with respect to their experience within
California 911 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.
3.Requires each member of the committee to serve a two-year
term, except as follows: (a) the presiding chief of the
California 911 Emergency Communications office shall
serve for the duration of his or her tenure, (b) four of
the remaining members shall serve an initial term of
three years. 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.
4.Requires the board is to meet quarterly in public
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sessions in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting
Act. 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.
5.Requires the board to advise the Telecommunications
Division of the Department of General Services on all of
the following subjects:
A. Policies, practices, and procedures for the
California 911 Emergency Communications Office.
B. Technical and operational standards for the
California 911 system consistent with the National
Emergency Number Association (NENA) standards.
C. Training standards for county coordinators and PSAP
managers.
D. Budget, funding, and reimbursement decisions
related to the State Emergency Number Account.
E. Proposed projects and studies conducted or funded
by the State Emergency Number Account.
F. Expediting the rollout of Enhanced 911 Phase II
technology.
6.Specifies that upon request of a local public agency, the
board is to conduct a hearing on any conflict between a
local public agency and the Telecommunications Division
regarding a final plan that has not been approved by the
Telecommunications Division pursuant to Section 53114 of
the Government Code. The board shall meet within 30 days
following the request, and shall make a recommendation to
resolve the conflict to the Telecommunications Division
within 90 days following the initial hearing by the board
pursuant to the request.
Background
DGS currently maintains a California Emergency Services
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Advisory Board (CESAB), composed of a cross section of
public safety agencies, to promote communication between
public policy safety answering points (PSAPs) and the
state's 911 Emergency Communications Office. The CESAB
acts as an advisory body to the 911 Office on a wide
variety of issues and provides input regarding policies,
standards and technical direction. Recommendations of the
CESAB are not binding on the 911 Office. The Office
allocates approximately $140 million in telephone
surcharges to PSAPs.
The author notes that the state's 911 Emergency
Communications Office recently introduced new funding
formulas resulting in considerable cutbacks for many public
safety agencies. The author emphasizes that information
concerning the rationale for the formulas and the appeal
process were both limited. The author states that this
measure is intended to improve the quality of the process
and ensure that professionals who deliver 911 services are
making decisions about the system.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/20/03)
California Chapter of the National Emergency Number
Association
California State Sheriff's Association
City of San Diego Police Department
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Proponents note that the board
created by this measure is based on other successful models
(e. g., Board of Corrections, POST Commission, etc.)
Proponents contend that the current structure for
establishing funding formulas and distributions does not
take into account significant variables that impact the
delivery of 911 services. Proponents claim that this has
placed many 911 call centers on the brink of disaster.
Proponents firmly believe that this measure will help
improve delivery of the 911 systems by addressing such
issues as bidding policies and establishing consistent
procedures regarding equitable reimbursement for all
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participating agencies.
DLW:nl 5/20/03 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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