An Act To Improve the Safety and Survival of 9-1-1 Callers and First Responders

Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2927, sub-§3-C  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. Protocol phase-in. The Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau shall phase in over a 3-year period the required adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch protocols for answering fire 9-1-1 calls by all public safety answering points under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, section 2927, subsection 3-C. In developing criteria pursuant to section 2927, subsection 3-C to phase in over a 3-year period the adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch protocols for answering fire 9-1-1 calls, the bureau shall seek input from the management of all public safety answering points.

Sec. 3. Report. By January 15, 2019, the Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters that includes the cost to adopt and implement standardized dispatch protocols for answering police 9-1-1 calls, the time it would take to phase in the adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch protocols for answering police 9-1-1 calls based on available funding from the surcharge in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, section 2927, subsections 1-E and 1-F, whether there should be a certification and licensing requirement for all standardized dispatch protocols and any recommendations to ensure the efficient and effective oversight of the standardized dispatch protocols. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may submit legislation during the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature relating to the report.

Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Emergency Services Communication Bureau 0994

Initiative: Provides allocations in fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 to provide public safety answering points dispatcher training for answering fire 9-1-1 calls, software, printed support materials and quality assurance training.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2015-16	2016-17
All Other	$904,466	$616,329
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$904,466	$616,329