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1998 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 215
Directing the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the wireline and wireless 911 and E-911 systems, the #77 service, and the effect of such calls on state and local public safety agencies.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 12, 1998
Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 1998

WHEREAS, the 911 and E-911 systems, and the #77 service play a significant role in the delivery of emergency and public safety services to the citizens of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, dialing 911 can summons emergency help when a quick response is critical; and

WHEREAS, the E-911 system, an advanced telecommunications system designed to gather pertinent information about an emergency call, automatically displays the caller's telephone number and location, and a list of the police, fire, and medical agencies serving the geographical area of the call; and

WHEREAS, the list of such police, fire, and medical agencies facilitates the dispatch of emergency services even more quickly; and

WHEREAS, although the 911 and E-911 systems are intended to report emergencies, a growing number of persons use these systems to notify authorities or request help for nonemergency situations, which has contributed to congested 911 and E-911 telephone lines; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of #77 to enable citizens to report urgent, but nonemergency problems would alleviate the burden on the 911 and E-911 systems, and improve the response time, effectiveness, and efficiency of the systems; and

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

WHEREAS, local governments do not have a dedicated revenue source to fund wireless (cellular) 911 calls and face critical financing issues as technology advances; and

WHEREAS, there is currently no uniform method of delivering wireless 911 calls to public safety agencies in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, changing technology requires public safety agencies to re-evaluate the means of delivering the services that are requested of them by citizens who call 911, E-911, and #77; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia State Crime Commission be directed to study the wireline and wireless 911 and E-911 systems, the #77 service, and the effect of such calls on state and local public safety agencies. The Commission shall determine (i) which jurisdictions in the Commonwealth do not have wireline and wireless E-911 services and what actions are necessary to provide such service in those jurisdictions; (ii) the impact of federal regulations in the Federal Communications Commission docket order 94-102 on localities; (iii) the impact of wireless 911 services on the Department of State Police; (iv) the management of wireless 911 calls in other states; (v) the impact of the wireless 911 and E-911 systems on the wireline 911 and E-911 systems; (vi) the most efficient funding mechanisms for wireline and wireless 911 and E-911 systems; (vii) the extent to which common management of the wireline and wireless 911 and E-911 systems can maximize the economic and operational efficiencies of both systems; and (viii) the current volume of 911, E-911, #77, and wireless 911 calls in the Commonwealth and the projected volume through the year 2005.

The Commission shall recommend (i) how to improve the 911 and E-911 systems, and ways to promote the use of #77 among citizens for nonemergency services, (ii) how to provide wireline and wireless E-911 services in jurisdictions that do not have such service, (iii) ways to mitigate the economic impact on localities of complying with the Federal Communications Commission docket order 94-102, (iv) how to fund most efficiently the wireline and wireless 911 and E-911 systems, and (v) how to manage any increased responsibility that the Department of State Police may incur due to an increase in the volume of 911, E-911, and #77 calls.

The Commission shall consult with the Department of State Police, the State Corporation Commission, the Department of Emergency Services, and the Office of the Attorney General in conducting this study.

The Commission shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2000 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.