CHAPTER 409
H.P. 1172 - L.D. 1649
An Act to Provide a Funding Mechanism for the E-9-1-1 System
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2927, as amended by PL 1995, c. 672, §§1-4, is further amended to read:
1-A. Statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge. The activities authorized under this chapter are funded through a special statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge to be levied on each residence and business telephone exchange line, including private branch exchange, or PBX, lines and Centrex lines, trunks serving cellular communications providers in the State cellular or wireless telecommunications service subscribers and semipublic coin and public access lines. The statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge may not be imposed on more than 25 lines or numbers per customer billing account. Through July 31, 1996 1998, the statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge is 2¢ 20¢ per month per line or number. Beginning August 1, 1996 1998, the statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge is 20¢ 32¢ per month per line or number. The statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge must be billed on a monthly basis by each local exchange telephone utility or cellular or wireless telecommunications service provider and be shown separately as a statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge on the customer's bill.
2-A. Surcharge remittance. Each local exchange telephone utility and cellular or wireless telecommunications service provider shall remit the statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge revenues collected from its customers pursuant to this section on a monthly basis to the Treasurer of State for deposit in a separate account known as the E-9-1-1 fund.
3. Expenditure of funds. The bureau may use the revenues in the E-9-1-1 fund to fund staff and to defray costs associated with the implementation, operation and management of E-9-1-1.
4. Unexpended funds; interest. Any amount of the E-9-1-1 fund not expended at the end of the fiscal year may not lapse but must be carried forward to be expended for the purposes specified in this chapter in succeeding fiscal years. The Treasurer of State shall credit all interest on fund balances to the fund.
5. Legislative annual report. The bureau shall report annually, before February 1st, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public utilities and energy matters on:
A. The bureau's planned expenditures for the year and use of funds for the previous year; and
B. The statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge collected under this section.;
C. The bureau's recommended statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge for the coming year; and
D. The bureau's recommendations for amending existing and enacting new law to improve the E-9-1-1 system.
5-A. Committee recommendations; budget. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters shall make recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs regarding all expenditures from the E-9-1-1 fund established in subsection 2-A.
6. Violations. A telephone utility or a cellular or wireless telecommunications service provider, subject to this section, that willfully intentionally and knowingly fails to remit the statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge revenues collected under this section commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not more than $500 may be adjudged for each day that payment is not made after the due date.
7. Repeal. Subsections 1 and 2 are repealed 90 days after the adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 117th Legislature.
7-A. Repeal. Subsections 1-A and 2-A are repealed August 1, 1998 90 days after the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 119th Legislature.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §7062 is enacted to read:
§7062. Enhanced 9-1-1 addressing
A plantation may enact an ordinance to establish enhanced 9-1-1 addressing standards and, pursuant to that ordinance, may:
1. Assign road names. Assign road names to existing and proposed roads;
2. Assign property numbers. Assign property numbers to existing and proposed year-round and seasonal dwellings or structures; and
3. Install signs. Install signs designating road names.
Sec. 3. Allocation. The following funds are allocated from Other Special Revenue to carry out the purposes of this Act.
1998-99
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
E-9-1-1 Fund
All Other $846,490
Capital Expenditures 15,000
Provides funds for the installation of E-9-1-1 equipment and ongoing maintenance costs.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ____________
TOTAL $861,490
Effective September 19, 1997, unless otherwise indicated.
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