Relating to emergency telephone systems including next generation 911 systems and public safety answering points

This bill relates to emergency telephone systems by implementing federal rules regarding next generation 911 systems and requiring a study on public safety answering points. _____ communications service surcharge each quarter. 9, subpt. J, at which point, the percent of funds generated by the emergency communications service surcharge each quarter allocated by the program manager to joint 911 service boards shall increase to percent. The bill changes the defined term “next generation 911 network service provider” to “next generation 911 core service provider” and makes corresponding changes of the term throughout the chapter. Under current law, moneys collected due to the imposition of the emergency communications service surcharge are deposited in the 911 emergency communications fund. Moneys remaining in the 911 emergency communications fund after paying all obligations may first be used to provide grants to public safety answering points agreeing to consolidate. The bill eliminates this distribution option. 9, subpt. J. In a corresponding order, the federal communications commission stated that the purposes of the regulations are to expedite the transition to next generation 911, to help ensure the nation’s 911 system functions effectively, and to support the deployment of advanced 911 capabilities. The order defines responsibilities and sets deadlines for originating service providers to implement next generation 911 capabilities on their networks and deliver 911 calls to next generation 911 systems. The bill directs the department of homeland security and emergency management (department) to work with the Iowa communications network to procure and implement new internet protocol routers to improve the next generation 911 network. Once the department completes implementation of the new routers, the bill directs the current router provider to decommission the existing routers. _____ The bill directs the department, between the effective date of the bill and June 30, 2026, to begin the process of preparing to fund wireline cost recovery. During that time, joint 911 service boards shall fund wireline cost recovery as applicable. 9, subpt. J. 9, subpt. J. The bill directs the department to study multiple topics concerning public safety answering points (PSAPs) and make recommendations to the general assembly by January 1, 2026. The topics include the concept of PSAP managed service where one or more PSAP could enter into an agreement with another PSAP or joint service board for the sharing of management, staffing, policies and procedures, and equipment and systems; when the managed PSAP could operate at less than every hour of every day as needed while calls for the service area are answered by the managing PSAP; funding arrangements and terminology for the managed PSAP and managing PSAP; technical and operational considerations for PSAPs entering into an agreement; and points where consolidation of systems and equipment are feasible.