CS/CS/HB 175 - Emergency Communication System

• Establishes a prepaid wireless E911 fee effective January 1, 2015, collected per retail transaction at the rate of 40 cents per service identifier (maximum 50 cents), with Department of Revenue administering collection and remittance.

• Creates three-category E911 System Fund (wireless, nonwireless, and prepaid wireless) with specified distribution percentages: 67% of wireless revenues to counties, 97% of nonwireless to counties, and 61% of prepaid wireless to counties based on fee amounts reported.

• Authorizes the E911 Board to adjust fee rates and allocation percentages based on wireless provider costs, rural grant program funding needs, and statewide E911 system grants, with a two-thirds board vote requirement for any fee adjustment.

• Specifies authorized E911 expenditures including PSAP equipment, call-taking systems, training, database management, and next-generation 911 services, while prohibiting use of fees for post-call emergency response costs.

• Appropriates $250,000 nonrecurring and $190,713 recurring from state funds to the Department of Revenue for administering the prepaid wireless E911 fee collection system.