HB423: HB423 Emergency telephone number 9-1-1 system; Next Generation 9-1-1 systems and services; provide

25 LC 56 0308/AP House Bill 423 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Wade of the 9th, Donatucci of the 105th, Reeves of the 99th, Silcox of the 53rd, Hilton of the 48th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 12 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 and Part 4 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 461 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency communications authority2 and emergency telephone number 9-1-1 system, respectively, so a s to provide for Next3 Generation 9-1-1 systems and services; to revise and provide fo r definitions; to revise the4 duties and responsibilities of the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority as relevant5 to Next Generation 9-1-1 systems and services; to add members to the board of directors of6 such authority; to require all new 9-1-1 systems conform to wireless enhanced 9-1-1 service7 or NG9-1-1 service standards; to revise the role of the executive director of the authority; to8 provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10 PART I11 SECTION 1-1.12 Article 12 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Geo rgia Annotated, relating to13 emergency communications authority, is amended by revising Code Section 38-3-181,14 relating to definitions, as follows:15 H. B. 423 - 1 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP "38-3-181.16 As used in this article, the term:17 (1) 'Authority' means the Georgia Emergency Communications Aut hority established18 pursuant to Code Section 38-3-182.19 (2) 'Board of directors' or 'board' means the governing body of the authority.20 (2.1) 'Commonly accepted standards' means the technical standa rds followed by the21 communications industry for network, device, and internet proto col connectivity that22 enables interoperability. Such standards are developed and app roved by a standards23 development organization that is accredited by an American standards body, such as the24 Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, the Internet Engineering Task25 Force, or the National Emergency Number Association.26 (2.2) 'Emergency medical dispatch' means the management of requests for emergency27 medical assistance by utilizing a system of:28 (A) A tiered response or priority dispatching of emergency med ical resources based29 on the level of medical assistance appropriate for the victim; and30 (B) Prearrival first aid or other medical instructions given b y trained31 telecommunicators responsible for receiving 9-1-1 calls and dispatching public safety32 agencies.33 (3) 'Emergency 9-1-1 system' or '9-1-1 system' has the same me aning as provided set34 forth in Code Section 46-5-122.35 (4) 'Enhanced ZIP Code' has the same meaning as provided set forth in Code Section36 46-5-122.37 (4.1) 'ESInet' means a state emergency services IP network which is an NG9-1-1 network38 contracted by the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority to one or more39 NG9-1-1 system providers for the purpose of securely receiving 9-1-1 requests for40 emergency assistance, transferring 9-1-1 requests for emergency assistance and all41 H. B. 423 - 2 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP associated data, providing centralized network management and security monitoring, and42 enabling call routing using GIS data.43 (4.2) 'Geographic information systems data' or 'GIS data' mean s digital geospatial44 information that can be used to assist in locating a person who places a 9-1-1 request for45 emergency assistance, including, but not limited to, mapped dat a sets, such as public46 safety answering point boundaries; boundaries; site structure a ddress points; road47 centerlines; emergency service boundaries; and other additional data.48 (5) 'Local government' means a county, municipality, regional authority, or consolidated49 government in this state that operates or contracts for the ope ration of a public safety50 answering point and has adopted a resolution or ordinance pursu ant to Code51 Section 46-5-133 to impose 9-1-1 charges under Code Section 46-5-134.52 (5.1) 'Next Generation core services' means services required to deliver secure,53 interoperable, multimedia-capable services to public safety answering points, seamlessly54 and without the need for proprietary interfaces.55 (6) 'Next Generation 9-1-1' or 'NG911' 'NG9-1-1' is a secure, nationwide, interoperable,56 standards-based, all Internet protocol emergency communications infrastructure enabling57 end-to-end transmission of all types of data, including, but no t limited to, voice and58 multimedia communications from the public to a public safety answering point. means59 an internet protocol based system that:60 (A) Ensures interoperability;61 (B) Is secure;62 (C) Provides resiliency and redundancy;63 (D) Employs commonly accepted standards;64 (E) Enables 9-1-1 public safety answering points to receive, process, and analyze all65 types of 9-1-1 requests for emergency assistance;66 (F) Acquires and integrates additional information useful for handling 9-1-1 requests67 for emergency assistance; and68 H. B. 423 - 3 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP (G) Supports the sharing of information related to 9-1-1 reque sts for emergency69 assistance among public safety answering points and emergency response providers.70 (6.1) 'Next Generation 9-1-1 system provider' or 'NG9-1-1 syst em provider' means an71 entity that provides a Next Generation 9-1-1 system to a public safety answering point.72 (7) '9-1-1 charge' has the same meaning as provided set forth in Code Section 46-5-122.73 (7.1) '9-1-1 request for emergency assistance' means a communi cation, such as voice,74 text, picture, multimedia, or any other type of data, that is s ent to a 9-1-1 public safety75 answering point for the purpose of requesting emergency assistance.76 (8) 'Primary public safety answering point' means the first point of reception of a 9-1-177 request for emergency assistance by a facility that has been designated to receive 9-1-178 requests for emergency assistance and route such requests to em ergency service79 personnel as defined in 47 U.S.C.A. Section 222.80 (8)(8.1) 'Public safety answering point' has the same meaning as provi ded set forth in81 Code Section 46-5-122.82 (9) 'Service supplier' has the same meaning as provided s e t f o r t h in Code Section83 46-5-122.84 (10) 'Telephone subscriber' has the same meaning as provided set forth in Code Section85 46-5-122.86 (11) 'Wireless enhanced 9-1-1 charge' has the same meaning as provided set forth in87 Code Section 46-5-122."88 SECTION 1-2.89 Said article is further amended by revising subsection (c) and paragraph (1) of subsection (d)90 of Code Section 38-3-182, relating to establishment of the Geor gia Emergency91 Communications Authority, purpose, duties and responsibilities, board of directors, perpetual92 existence, power and authority, operation, and regulation, as follows:93 H. B. 423 - 4 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP "(c) In addition to the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this Code section, the94 authority shall have the duties and responsibilities to:95 (1) Apply for, receive, and use federal grants or state grants or both;96 (2) Study, evaluate, and recommend, and enforce technology standards commonly97 accepted standards for a state-wide NG9-1-1 system the regional and state-wide provision98 of a public safety communications network and 9-1-1 system;99 (3) Identify any changes necessary to accomplish more effectiv e and efficient 9-1-1100 service across this state, including consolidation and interoperability of 9-1-1 systems;101 (4) Identify any changes necessary in the assessment and collection of fees under Part 4102 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 46;103 (5) Develop, offer, or make recommendations to the Georgia Pub lic Safety Training104 Center, Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, and other state agencies105 as to training that should be provided to telecommunicators, tr ainers, supervisors, and106 directors of public safety answering points;107 (6) Recommend minimum standards for operation of public safety answering points;108 (7) Collect data and statistics regarding the performance of p ublic safety answering109 points;110 (8) Identify any necessary changes or enhancements to develop and deploy NG911111 NG9-1-1 statewide state wide; and112 (9) Upon request by a public safety answering point, provide assistance to such public113 safety answering point with its locally managed processes to be regarded as Logan's List:114 the collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information voluntarily submitted115 to a public safety answering point which indicates an individual has a physical, mental,116 or neurological condition which impedes his or her ability to communicate with any law117 enforcement officer or emergency responder.;118 H. B. 423 - 5 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP (10) Administer the deployment of a 9-1-1 service for emerging communications119 technologies, including, but not limited to, the state ESInet a nd Next Generation core120 services;121 (11) Establish and operate a network management center in coor dination with122 cybersecurity subject matter experts to protect the state ESIne t, Next Generation core123 services, and public safety answering points;124 (12) Monitor the state ESInet performance and service provider adherence to commonly125 accepted standards;126 (13) Establish cooperative purchasing agreements or other contracts for the procurement127 of goods and services, including, but not limited to, call-handling equipment, computer128 aided dispatch, data management, and logging recorders;129 (14) Coordinate, adopt, and communicate all necessary technica l standards and130 requirements to ensure an effective state-wide interconnected a nd interoperable state131 ESInet;132 (15) Coordinate, adopt, and communicate all necessary technica l standards and133 requirements for GIS data related to NG9-1-1;134 (16) Collect, manage, and analyze 9-1-1 requests for emergency assistance data delivered135 to the state ESInet for the purpose of monitoring state ESInet and Next Generation core136 services performance;137 (17) Coordinate outreach and education programs on how the pub lic and emergency138 response providers can best use NG9-1-1 and the capabilities and usefulness of NG9-1-1;139 (18) Coordinate with rural and urban 9-1-1 public safety answe ring points, regional140 authorities, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to develop a plan for the141 implementation of NG9-1-1;142 (19) Coordinate with rural and urban 9-1-1 public safety answe ring points, regional143 authorities, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to prepare and submit144 applications for eligible grant funding related to NG9-1-1;145 H. B. 423 - 6 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP (20) Promote interoperability between 9-1-1 public safety answ ering points that are146 deploying or have deployed Next Generation 9-1-1 and emergency response providers,147 including users of the nation-wide public safety broadband network;148 (21) Coordinate with adjoining states, Native American tribes, and federal entities to149 establish and maintain NG9-1-1; and150 (22) Develop recommendations for the most efficient and effect ive short-term and151 long-term implementation and maintenance of NG9-1-1.152 (d)(1) Control and management of the authority shall be vested in a board of directors153 which shall consist of the following:154 (A) The commissioner of public safety or his or her designee;155 (B) The commissioner of revenue or his or her designee;156 (C) The director of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center or his or her designee;157 (D) Three members appointed by the Governor who shall be 9-1-1 directors, each of158 whom shall be currently employed by a public safety answering p oint. The159 Georgia 9-1-1 Directors Association, the Georgia Chapter of the Association of Public160 Safety Communications Officials, and the Georgia Chapter of the National Emergency161 Number Association may provide recommendations to the Governor for such162 appointments;163 (E) One member appointed by the Governor who shall be an elect ed member of a164 county governing authority that operates or contracts for the operation of a public safety165 answering point. The Association County Commissioners of Georg ia may provide166 recommendations to the Governor for such appointment;167 (F) One member appointed by the Governor who shall be a county manager, county168 administrator, or finance officer from a county that operates o r contracts for the169 operation of a public safety answering point. The Association County Commissioners170 of Georgia may provide recommendations to the Governor for such appointment;171 H. B. 423 - 7 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP (G) One member appointed by the Governor who shall be an elected member of a city172 governing authority that operates or contracts for the operatio n of a public safety173 answering point. The Georgia Municipal Association may provide recommendations174 to the Governor for such appointment;175 (H) One member appointed by the Governor who shall be a city m anager, city176 administrator, or finance officer from a city that operates or contracts for the operation177 of a public safety answering point. The Georgia Municipal Association may provide178 recommendations to the Governor for such appointment;179 (I) Two members from the telecommunications industry who shall be appointed by the180 Governor;181 (J) One member appointed by the Governor who is a sheriff responsible for managing182 a public safety answering point. The Georgia Sheriffs' Associa tion may provide183 recommendations to the Governor for such appointment;184 (K) One police chief appointed by the Governor who is serving a local government.185 The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police may provide recomme ndations to the186 Governor for such appointment; and187 (L) One fire chief appointed by the Governor who is serving a local government. The188 Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs may provide recommendations to the Governor for189 such appointment.;190 (M) The executive director of the Georgia Technology Authority or his or her191 designee;192 (N) One member who is a subject matter expert in cybersecurity who shall be193 appointed by the Governor; and194 (O) One member who is a subject matter expert in geographic in formation systems195 data who shall be appointed by the Governor."196 H. B. 423 - 8 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP SECTION 1-3.197 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 38-3-183, relating to appointment198 of executive director, role, and additional staffing, as follows:199 "38-3-183.200 The director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency shall201 appoint an executive director, subject to approval by the board , who shall be the202 administrative head of the authority, and shall establish the salary of the executive director.203 The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of such director. The executive director204 shall be considered the state 9-1-1 administrator for the purpo ses of relevant state and205 federal law and program requirements. The executive director, with the concurrence and206 approval of such director, shall hire officers, agents, and employees; prescribe their duties,207 responsibilities, and qualifications; set their salaries; and perform such other duties as may208 be prescribed by the authority. Such officers, agents, and emp loyees shall serve at the209 pleasure of the executive director."210 PART II211 SECTION 2-1.212 Part 4 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 46 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,213 relating to emergency telephone number 9-1-1 system, is amended by adding a new214 paragraph to Code Section 46-5-122, relating to definitions, to read as follows:215 "(10.1) 'Next Generation 9-1-1' or 'NG9-1-1' shall have the same meaning as set forth in216 Code Section 38-3-181."217 H. B. 423 - 9 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP SECTION 2-2.218 Said part is further amended by revising paragraph (1) of subse ction (a) of Code Section219 46-5-124, relating to guidelines for implementing state-wide emergency 9-1-1 system and220 training and equipment standards, as follows:221 "(1) Steps of action necessary for public agencies to effect the necessary coordination,222 regulation, and development preliminary to a 9-1-1 system that shall incorporate the223 requirements of each public service safety agency in each local government of Georgia;"224 SECTION 2-3.225 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 46-5-126, relating to cooperation by226 commission and telephone industry, as follows:227 "46-5-126.228 The authority shall coordinate its activities with those of the Public Service Commission,229 commission which shall encourage the Georgia telephone industry to activa te facility230 modification plans for a timely 9-1-1 support the timely implementation of NG9-1-1."231 SECTION 2-4.232 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 46-5-127, relating to approval of 9-1-1233 systems by agency and written confirmation by authority require d for 9-1-1 systems234 established on or after January 1, 2019, as follows:235 "46-5-127.236 (a) After January 1, 1978, and prior to January 1, 2019, no emergency 9-1-1 system shall237 be established, and no existing system shall be expanded to pro vide wireless238 enhanced 9-1-1 service, without written confirmation by the Geo rgia Emergency239 Management and Homeland Security Agency that the local plan conforms to the guidelines240 and procedures provided for in Code Section 46-5-124.241 H. B. 423 - 10 - 25 LC 56 0308/AP (b) On or after January 1, 2019, and prior to July 1, 2025, no emergency 9-1-1 system shall242 be established, and no existing system shall be expanded to pro vide wireless243 enhanced 9-1-1 service, without written confirmation by the authority that the local plan244 conforms to the guidelines and procedures provided for in Code Section 46-5-124. The245 authority shall not deny the establishment of a new system or an expansion to provide246 wireless enhanced 9-1-1 service if the local plan conforms to the guidelines and procedures247 provided for in Code Section 46-5-124.248 (c) On or after July 1, 2025, no emergency 9-1-1 system shall be established, and no249 existing system shall be expanded to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 service or NG9-1-1250 service, without written confirmation by the authority that the local plan conforms to the251 guidelines and procedures provided for in Code Section 46-5-124. The authority shall not252 deny establishment of a new system or an expansion to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1253 service or NG9-1-1 service if the local plan conforms to the gu idelines and procedures254 provided for in Code Section 46-5-124."255 PART III256 SECTION 3-1.257 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.258 H. B. 423 - 11 -