SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1426
PRINTER'S NO. 2279
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1304
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY SOLOMON, MADDEN, WEBSTER, KINSEY, SANCHEZ, HILL-
EVANS, GUENST, GUZMAN, GREEN, CIRESI AND KHAN, JUNE 2, 2023
SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 13, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in 911 emergency communication
services, further providing for uniform 911 surcharge and for
termination.
AMENDING TITLE 35 (HEALTH AND SAFETY) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION
SERVICES, PROVIDING FOR A LEGISLATIVE BUDGET AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE STUDY AND FURTHER PROVIDING FOR TERMINATION.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 5306.2 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 5306.2. Uniform 911 surcharge.
* * *
(a.1) Surcharge increase.--Beginning January 1, 2024, the
surcharge of $1.65 assessed under subsection (a) shall increase
to $1.97 and be adjusted annually each year thereafter by a
percentage equal to the upward percentage change in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for which figures
have been officially reported by the United States Department of
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Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The following shall apply:
(1) The surcharge increase shall be rounded to the
nearest 1¢.
(2) The percentage change of the surcharge increase
shall be determined by comparison of the figures for the
previous June with the current June figures.
(3) The surcharge increase shall be applied to the next
successive calendar year. If the percentage change in the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
declines, the amount of the surcharge shall remain unchanged
for the successive calendar year.
(4) The agency shall, within 10 days of determining the
surcharge increase, submit a notice of the determination to
the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
* * *
Section 2. Section 5398 of Title 35 is amended to read:
§ 5398. Termination.
This chapter shall expire January 31, [2024] 2029.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
SECTION 1. TITLE 35 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED
STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
§ 5312.2. LEGISLATIVE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE STUDY.
(A) REQUIREMENT.--THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT
COMMISSION AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION, SHALL STUDY THE
FOLLOWING AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO:
(1) DETERMINING ANY EFFICIENCIES THAT CAN BE GAINED IN
THE CURRENT 911 SYSTEM OR POTENTIAL EFFICIENCIES THAT CAN BE
GAINED WITH A DIFFERENT 911 SYSTEM.
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(2) REVIEWING OPERATIONS IN OTHER STATES, THE AMOUNT OF
FUNDING THAT THE OTHER STATES PROVIDE THROUGH ALL FUNDING
SOURCES, INCLUDING THE STATE FUNDING PER CAPITA, AND THE
MAKEUP OF THE LOCAL SHARE.
(3) OPTIONS FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF COUNTY 911 SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING THE OPTION OF REGIONAL TASK FORCES PROPOSED BY THE
AGENCY.
(4) OPTIONS TO ALLOW 911 SYSTEM EMPLOYEES TO WORK FROM
HOME.
(5) THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN A 911 SYSTEM,
INCLUDING RECOMMENDED STANDARDS.
(6) THE INTEGRATION OF THE 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS
LIFELINE INTO THE 911 SYSTEM, INCLUDING PROTOCOLS TO SUPPORT
THE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION OF RESPONDERS,
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICES DURING A
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.
(7) THE INTEGRATION OF PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE
DISPATCH INTO THE 911 SYSTEM.
(8) THE USE OF AUTOMATIC ALARMS AND CALL STACKING,
INCLUDING RECOMMENDED STANDARDS.
(B) CONSULTATION.--THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE, JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION MAY CONSULT WITH THE AGENCY, THE 9-1-1
ADVISORY BOARD, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION OF
PENNSYLVANIA, THE PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY
NUMBER ASSOCIATION AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN ORDER TO CONDUCT
THE STUDY UNDER THIS SECTION.
(C) REPORT.--THE COMMITTEE SHALL SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE VETERANS
AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND
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THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS AND
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
BY NOVEMBER 30, 2024, AND SHALL TRANSMIT A COPY OF THE FINAL
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU FOR PUBLICATION IN
THE NEXT AVAILABLE ISSUE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN WITHIN 30
DAYS OF THE SUBMISSION OF THE FINAL REPORT.
SECTION 2. SECTION 5398 OF TITLE 35 IS AMENDED TO READ:
§ 5398. TERMINATION.
THIS CHAPTER SHALL EXPIRE [JANUARY 31, 2024] SEPTEMBER 30,
2025.
SECTION 3. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
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