PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 3182, 3323 PRINTER'S NO. 3530
No. 2363 Session of 1976
INTRODUCED BY MESSRS. KOLTER, FINEMAN, IRVIS, MANDERINO, BERLIN,
HALVERSON, MRS. FAWCETT, MESSRS. LAUGHLIN, ZWIKL, PETRARCA,
A. K. HUTCHINSON, SALOOM, LETTERMAN, WILLIAMS, LaMARCA,
CAPUTO, GEISLER, SHANE, MILANOVICH AND A. C. FOSTER JR.,
MAY 11, 1976
AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 21, 1976
AN ACT
1 Relating to the implementation of the emergency telephone number
2 "911"; providing a title; providing an intent; providing for
3 a State plan; providing a system director; providing for
4 telephone industry coordination; providing for coin telephone
5 conversion; providing for system approval; and providing an
6 appropriation.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Short Title.--This act shall be known and may be
10 cited as the "Emergency Telephone Act."
11 Section 2. Legislative Intent.--The Legislature hereby finds
12 and declares that it is in the public interest to shorten the
13 time required for a citizen to request and receive emergency
14 aid. There currently exist thousands of different emergency
15 phone numbers throughout the Commonwealth. Provision for a
16 single, primary three-digit emergency number through which
17 emergency services can be quickly and efficiently obtained would
18 provide a significant contribution to law enforcement and other
1 public efforts by making it easier to notify emergency center
2 personnel. Such a simplified means of procuring emergency
3 services will result in the saving of life, and reduction in the
4 destruction of property, and quicker apprehension of criminals.
5 It is the intent of the Legislature to establish and implement a
6 cohesive Statewide emergency telephone number "911" plan which
7 will provide citizens with rapid direct access to public
8 emergency operation centers by dialing the telephone number
9 "911," with the objective of reducing the response time to
10 situations requiring law enforcement, fire, medical, rescue, and
11 other emergency services.
12 Section 3. Definitions.--As used in this act, unless the
13 context clearly requires otherwise:
14 "Agency" means the Governor's Office of Administration.
15 "Local government" means any political subdivision or any
16 combination or group thereof.
17 "Public agency" means the State, and any city, county, city
18 and county, municipal corporation, chartered organization,
19 public district, or public authority located in whole or in part
20 within this Commonwealth which provides or has authority to
21 provide fire fighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or
22 other emergency services.
23 "Public safety agency" means a functional division of a
24 public agency which provides fire fighting, law enforcement,
25 medical, or other emergency services.
26 "Secretary" means the Secretary of Administration in the
27 Governor's office.
28 Section 4. State Plan.--The agency shall develop a Statewide
29 emergency telephone number "911" system plan within one year of
30 the effective date of this act. The plan shall provide for:
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1 (1) The establishment of the public agency emergency
2 telephone communications requirements for each entity of local
3 government in the State.
4 (2) a system to meet specific local government requirements.
5 Such system shall include law enforcement, fire fighting, and
6 emergency medical services, and may include other emergency
7 services such as poison control, suicide prevention, and civil
8 defense services.
9 (3) Identification of the mutual aid agreements necessary to
10 obtain an effective "911" system.
11 (4) A funding provision WHICH shall identify the cost <--
12 necessary to implement the "911" system.
13 (5) A firm implementation schedule which shall provide for
14 full implementation of the Statewide emergency telephone number
15 "911" system within five years of the effective date of this
16 act. The schedule shall be staggered to permit orderly
17 implementation and to accommodate local variances. Each public
18 agency designated in the plan shall order the "911" system from
19 the telephone utility within three months of the date specified
20 in the plan for that public agency. Installation of such system
21 shall be within 24 months after such order has been placed. The
22 agency shall be responsible for the coordination and
23 implementation of such plan. The agency shall promulgate any
24 necessary rules, regulations, and schedules related to public
25 agencies for implementing and coordinating such plan.
26 Section 5. System Director.--Secretary of Administration is
27 designated as the director of the Statewide emergency telephone
28 number "911" system and, for the purpose of carrying out the
29 provisions of this act, is authorized to coordinate the
30 activities of the system with State, county, local, and private
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1 agencies. The director is authorized to employ required
2 professional and clerical persons, to hire professional
3 consultants, to designate a deputy system director, and to
4 establish an operational project team for the purpose of
5 carrying out the provisions of this act. The director in
6 implementing the system shall consult, cooperate and coordinate
7 with local law enforcement agencies.
8 Section 6. Regional Systems.--Nothing in this act shall be
9 construed to prohibit or discourage the formation of
10 multijurisdictional or regional systems; and any system
11 established pursuant to this act may include the jurisdiction,
12 or any portion thereof, of more than one public agency.
13 Section 7. Telephone Industry Coordination.--The agency
14 shall coordinate with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
15 which shall encourage the Pennsylvania telephone industry to
16 activate facility modification plans for a timely "911"
17 implementation.
18 Section 8. Coin Telephones.--The Pennsylvania Public Utility
19 Commission shall establish rules to be followed by the telephone
20 utilities in Pennsylvania designed toward encouraging the
21 provision of coin free dialing of "911" calls wherever
22 economically practicable and in the public interest.
23 Section 9. System Approval.--From the effective date of this
24 act, no emergency telephone number "911" system shall be
25 established and no present system shall be expanded without
26 prior approval of the Telecommunications Management Agency.
27 Section 10. Compliance.--All public agencies shall assist
28 the agency in their efforts to carry out the intent of this act,
29 and such agencies shall comply with the developed plan.
30 Section 11. Existing Emergency Telephone Service.--Any
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1 emergency telephone number established by any local government
2 or State agency prior to the effective date of this act using a
3 number other than "911" shall be changed to "911" within 24
4 months of the effective date of this act.
5 Section 12. Federal Assistance.--The director of the
6 Telecommunications Management Agency is authorized to apply for
7 and accept Federal funding assistance in the development and
8 implementation of a Statewide emergency telephone number "911"
9 system. THE DIRECTOR SHALL NOT SPEND OR ENCUMBER ANY FEDERAL <--
10 FUNDS UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED BY ACT OF THE GENERAL
11 ASSEMBLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT.
12 Section 13.--Appropriation.--The sum of $200,000 $150,000 is <--
13 appropriated from the General Fund to the agency within the
14 Office of Administration to carry out the purposes of this act.
15 This appropriation shall be for the fiscal year 1977.
16 Section 14. Effective Date.--This act shall take effect July
17 1, 1976.
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