THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PAYTON, BELFANTI, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, GOODMAN, HARKINS, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, MURT, PASHINSKI, READSHAW, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH AND YOUNGBLOOD, SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, SEPTEMBER 20, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Directing the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to engage

a specialist to study the emergency 911 and wireless E-911

telephone reporting systems and make a report, with

recommendations, to the General Assembly.

WHEREAS, The act of July 9, 1990 (P.L.340, No.78), known as

the Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act, declares that the

implementation of a toll-free 911 telephone number, whereby an

individual within this Commonwealth may gain rapid and direct

access to emergency aid, is in the interest of public welfare

and safety; and

WHEREAS, Act 78 establishes the Emergency Services Fund,

which consists of three funding sources: fees collected from

every wireless service customer, funds appropriated by the

General Assembly and funds from private or other public sources;

and

WHEREAS, The 911 system permits a person dialing 911 by

telephone to be connected to a public safety answering point to

report police, fire, medical and other emergencies; and

WHEREAS, The enhanced 911 service, or E-911, is an emergency

telephone system that provides automatic identification of the

caller's telephone number and location; and 

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth maintains a public safety answering

point (PSAP) in each of the 67 counties, and the cities of

Allentown and Bethlehem each maintain a PSAP of their own,

bringing the total number of PSAPs within this Commonwealth to

69; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA)

has publicly indicated the Emergency Services Fund has proven to

be inadequate to fund these 69 PSAPs; and

WHEREAS, Because the 911 emergency calling system has become

an integral and essential part of the provision of emergency

services in this Commonwealth, an adequate means of funding this

system is mandatory; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That PEMA, after a competitive bidding process,

hire experts to study the 911 and wireless E-911 systems

currently being used, along with potential technologies, in

relation to the funding mechanism currently authorized under Act

78; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the experts contracted to conduct this study

analyze cost-benefit ratios to determine the cost effectiveness

of these systems; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the experts contracted to conduct this study

provide their analysis to PEMA by November 15, 2010; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That, based on its review of the experts' analysis,

PEMA make a report and recommendations to the General Assembly

with respect to the following:

(1)  The efficacy of collecting the funding sources

allowed under Act 78.

(2)  The expenditures authorized for payment from each

county's restricted account for 911 expenditures.

(3)  Disbursements made by PEMA from the Emergency

Services Fund.

(4)  The method and amount of funding collected through

the contribution rate, the 911 surcharge and the wireless

E-911 surcharge in comparison to the funding systems used by

other states.

(5)  The feasibility and effectiveness of consolidating

PSAPs.

(6)  Cost-saving measures that could be utilized by PSAPs

or by PEMA which will not jeopardize public safety.

(7)  Cost-saving initiatives being considered or

implemented in other states.

(8)  A review of current auditing requirements of State

and county 911 expenditures.

(9)  Issues the Commonwealth should consider when

incorporating Next Generation 9-1-1 and other nontraditional

communication technologies into its emergency response

system.

(10)  Emerging or available 911 funding options by either

the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions which do not

rely on disparate technologies, fees or grants;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency

submit this report, with recommendations, to the General

Assembly by November 30, 2010.