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1998 SESSION

983185298
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 168
Offered January 26, 1998
Requesting the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the enhanced 911 system and the effect on state and local public safety agencies.
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Patrons-- Ingram, Barlow, Councill, Dudley, Harris, Ruff, Spruill, Wagner and Ware; Senators: Marsh and Quayle
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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WHEREAS, "911" plays a significant role in the delivery of public safety services to the citizens of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, changing technology requires public safety agencies to revisit the means of delivering the services that are requested of them by citizens who call 911; and

WHEREAS, the increased use of cellular phones and other technology changes affecting the use of 911 services by citizens of the Commonwealth may ultimately result in increased economic impact on localities; and

WHEREAS, there is currently no uniform method of delivering wireless (cellular) 911 calls to public safety agencies in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia State Crime Commission be directed to conduct a statewide study of 911 services. The study shall determine (i) which jurisdictions in the Commonwealth do not have wireline 911 services and what actions are necessary to provide such service in those jurisdictions; (ii) the impact on localities of federal regulations in the Federal Communications Commission docket order 94-102; (iii) the impact of wireless 911 services on the Department of State Police; (iv) how wireless 911 calls are managed in other states; and (v) the current volume of wireless 911 calls in the Commonwealth and the projected volume through the year 2005.

The study shall recommend (i) how to provide wireline 911 services in jurisdictions that do not have such service, (ii) ways to mitigate the economic impact on localities of complying with the Federal Communications Commission docket order 94-102, and (iii) how to manage any increased responsibility that the Department of State Police may incur due to an increase in the volume of 911 calls.

In conducting this study, the Crime Commission shall appoint a committee consisting of three Crime Commission members who are also members of the House of Delegates; two Crime Commission members who are also members of the Senate; and at least one representative from each of the following groups: the Virginia Telecommunications Industry Association; the Virginia Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials; the Virginia Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association; the Department of State Police; the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police; the Virginia Sheriffs Association; the Virginia Association of Fire Chiefs; the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads; and the Office of the Attorney General. The Crime Commission shall also appoint a personal communications services provider, a wireless cellular provider, and a wireline provider to serve on the committee.

The Crime Commission shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1999 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.