HB 369 Summary

• Establishes the Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority as a state entity within the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to administer emergency communications service charges and implement statewide Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) services.

• Authorizes counties to levy an emergency communications service charge not exceeding $4.00 per month on Voice over Internet Protocol accounts, commercial telephone lines, CMRS connections, and prepaid wireless telecommunications services.

• Creates three funds: Emergency Communications Service Charge Fund (at least 70% distributed to local emergency communications districts), NG911 Fund (up to 30% for statewide NG911 implementation), and NG911 Implementation Fund (from existing CMRS provider accounts).

• Establishes a 13-member Board of Governance appointed by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor from various organizations including GIS Council, 911 Coordinators Association, emergency management officials, and local government representatives, with initial meetings to commence by August 1, 2021.

• Repeals seven existing sections of Mississippi Code related to the Commercial Mobile Radio Service Board and replaces them with comprehensive provisions for service provider registration, collection procedures, and confidentiality protections; requires all emergency communications districts to adopt an NG911 Plan by December 31, 2027, to receive NG911 funding.