BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS Senator Ben Hueso, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Bill No: AB 1564 Hearing Date: 6/21/2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Author: |Williams | |-----------+-----------------------------------------------------| |Version: |3/17/2016 As Amended | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ |Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes | ------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Consultant:|Nidia Bautista | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUBJECT: Emergency services: wireless 911 calls: routing DIGEST: This bill requires the Office of Emergency Services (OES), working with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and county coordinators to review and ensure the most efficient routing of mobile calls to the 911 system. ANALYSIS: Existing law: 1)Establishes the Warren-911 Emergency Assistance Act and provides a local public agency to adopt a plan to implement a 9-1-1 emergency telephone response system, and establishes the State 9-1-1 Advisory Board. (Government §Code 53100, et seq.) 2)Requires a provider of mobile telephone service to provide access to the local emergency telephone systems described in the Warren-911 Act. (Public Utilities Code §2892) 3)Authorizes a 9-1-1 call from a mobile phone service to be routed to a local public safety access point (PSAP) other than the CHP, if the alternate routing meets specified criteria. (Public Utilities Code §2892) This bill: 1)Requires the OES to take all necessary actions to maximize the efficiency of the "911" system. 2)Requires OES to require the Public Safety Communications AB 1564 (Williams) Page 2 of ? Division (PSCD) to work with the CHP and county coordinators to review call data to determine the most efficient routing for wireless 911 calls based on annual comprehensive statewide review and routing decisionmaking process. 3)Provides that after completion of annual comprehensive statewide review and routing decisionmaking process, a local fire, police, sheriff, or emergency medical services agency, or a local public safety answering point, may submit a written requires for a review of a specific cell sector based on specified criteria. 4)Requires OES to require PSCD to work with the wireless carriers to verify that all cell sector routing decisions have been implemented. Background California's 9-1-1 system. The OES Public Safety Communications Division is tasked with administering the 9-1-1 emergency telephone response system in the state, including reviewing PSAP equipment and operations. PSCD is responsible for design, installation, maintenance and repair of the statewide microwave network and public safety radio communications systems used by the State's public safety agencies' first responders on a 24 hours/7 days a week/365 days a year basis. PSC is responsible for the administration and oversight of the State Emergency Telephone Number Account (SETNA) used to fund 9-1-1 in California, and for the design development of the statewide network that supports delivery of 9-1-1 calls to the State's 452 PSAPs, with over 400 that are non-CHP. Growth of wireless telephones. When the 9-1-1 system was first established in the 1970s, the majority of emergency calls were made from landlines. The emergency response system receives a call which is routed to a PSAP and the dispatcher dispatches emergency services to the location. With the advent of mobile phones, 9-1-1 calls from mobile phones were routed to a CHP dispatcher in recognition that most of the early mobile phones were in cars, and it was assumed that most of the calls related to issues experienced on the roads. However, as mobile phone use has grown and devices have become smaller, more 9-1-1 calls are coming from locations that aren't necessarily near the CHP patrolled freeways and roadways. Yet, the current dispatch system still largely relies on the CHP to dispatch the call, AB 1564 (Williams) Page 3 of ? potentially delaying on-the-ground emergency response. According to numbers from 2013, there were over 25 million 9-1-1 calls placed with about 75 percent coming from wireless phones. Misrouting of calls. According to the author, in January of 2014, a 23 year old woman was found by her brother to be unresponsive. He called 911 from his mobile phone and his call was first routed to the CHP, delaying the emergency response time. The City of Santa Barbara dispatched emergency response to a location 10 minutes from initial dispatch to arrive at the correct location. According to the author, as a result of the delay, the woman died. Need to improve efficiency. This bill would require OES to conduct a statewide comprehensive assessment of the 9-1-1 routing system and adjust the routing to improve the response times and locations. While currently allowed under law, this bill would require OES to conduct this assessment and make routing decision on an annually basis, thereby continuously improving the routing system. These changes have the potential to shave minutes from on-the-ground emergency response which could help save lives and improve health outcomes. Prior/Related Legislation AB 510 (Rodriguez, 2016) would have increased the membership of the State 9-1-1 Advisory Board from 11 members to 15. Held in Assembly Committee on Appropriation. AB 510 (Rodriguez, 2016) would have required Cal OES to conduct a comprehensive review of the California's 9-1-1 emergency communication systems. Held by author in this committee. SB 1211 (Padilla, Chapter 926, Statutes of 2014) required Cal OES to develop a plan and timeline for testing, implementation, and operation of a Next Generation 9-1-1 (Next Gen 9-1-1) emergency communication system, including text, throughout California. FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No SUPPORT: AB 1564 (Williams) Page 4 of ? Fire Chiefs Association of Santa Barbara County (Source) American Heart Association American Medical Response American Stroke Association California Ambulance Association California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians California Fire Chiefs Association California Peace Officers' Association California Professional Firefighters California State Sheriffs' Association County of Santa Barbara Emergency Medical Directors Association of California Emergency Medical Administrators' Association of California Emergency Medical Services Administrators Association Fire Districts Association of California League of California Cities OPPOSITION: None received ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The author states: "By clarifying the process by which an alternate PSAP is selected, people in emergency situations will reach the most efficient emergency responders the first time, shaving minutes from response times. This will dramatically improve lifesaving outcomes for the public who call 9-1-1." -- END --