arcnav.gif (3459 bytes)

Back to legislation in Council period 13

District of Columbia Emergency and Nonemergency Telephone Calling System Trust Fund Act of 1999
Bill 13-200

DC Watch Home

Council Period 12

Council Period 13

Council Period 14

Council Period 15

Election 1998

Election 2000

Election 2002

themail

Search DCWatch

Chairman Linda W. Cropp, at the request of the Mayor

A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Chairman Linda W. Cropp, at the request of the Mayor, introduced the following bill, which was referred to the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and Committee on Finance and Revenue.

To provide for the orderly installation, and operation and maintenance, of an emergency and nonemergency telephone system in the District of Columbia to replace the present emergency calling system, which is inadequate to meet the needs of the public health and safety.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this Act may be cited as the "District of Columbia Emergency and Nonemergency Telephone Calling System Trust Fund Act of 1999".

Sec. 2. Findings and Purpose.

(1) The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes the paramount importance of the safety and well being of the citizens of the District of Columbia and further recognizes that when the lives or property of its citizens are in imminent danger, timely and appropriate assistance must be rendered.

(2) Further the Council recognizes that the emergency telephone system in the District of Columbia is burdened with nonemergency telephone calls.

(3) It is the purpose of this bill to provide for access to emergency and nonemergency number telephone systems and to provide for the orderly installation, and operation and maintenance, of such systems within the District of Columbia.

Sec. 3. Definitions. For purposes of this Act, the term:

(a) 9-1-1 System.

(1) "9-1-1 System" means a telephone service that automatically connects an individual dialing the digits 9-1-1 to a public safety answering point.

(2) 9-1-1 System includes:

(A) Equipment for connecting and out-switching a 9-1-1 telephone call within a telephone company central office;

(B) Trunking facilities from the central office to a public safety answering point;

(C) Equipment to connect a 9-1-1 telephone call to the appropriate agency.

(D) Facilities and staff needed to operate a 9-1-1 call answering center

(3) 9-1-1 System will include a 3-1-1 system

(b) 3-1-1 System.

(1) "3-1-1 System" means a nonemergency telephone system that is used to reduce 9-1-1 system congestion by diverting nonemergency calls from the emergency telephone lines.

Sec. 4. Establishment of Emergency and Nonemergency Number Telephone Systems.

(a) Establishment

There is established within the District of Columbia an Emergency Number Telephone System (9-1-1). This system will include a Nonemergency Number Telephone System (3-1-1).

(b) Included Emergency Services.

Service available through the Emergency Number Telephone System shall include police, fire fighting, and emergency ambulance services. Other emergency and civil defense services may be incorporated into the Emergency Number Telephone System at the discretion of the Mayor.

(c) Included Nonemergency Services.

Service available through the Nonemergency Number Telephone System shall include nonemergency police, fire fighting, and ambulance services. The Nonemergency Number Telephone System shall be available for use as the primary, nonemergency, contact telephone number by other District Government agencies at the discretion of the Mayor.

(d) Funding.

The Emergency and Nonemergency Number Telephone Systems will be funded through an Emergency/Nonemergency Number Telephone System Trust Fund in accordance with section 5.

Sec. 5. The Emergency/Nonemergency Number Telephone System Trust Fund.

(a) Establishment of The Trust Fund.

(1) There is a Special Fund ("Trust Fund") created for the purpose of paying the costs for installing, maintaining, and operating the Emergency and Nonemergency Number Telephone Systems.

(2) The Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of the District of Columbia shall be responsible for approving and directing the payment of monies from the Trust Fund in a manner consistent with the purposes for which it was established, subject to an available appropriation by Congress..

(b) The Emergency/Nonemergency Number Telephone System User Fee.

For the purpose of this subtitle, there is an Emergency/Nonemergency Number Telephone System User Fee ("Fee") to be paid by the subscribers to switched local exchange telephone access service, wireless telephone service, or any other service that has access to the Emergency/Nonemergency Number Telephone Systems services. The Mayor shall establish the amount of the Fee.

(c) Collection of the Fee.

A fee is to be paid by subscribers to any local exchange company providing switched access local service or wireless service within the District of Columbia. The local exchange companies shall add the Fee to all current bills rendered for switched local exchange access service, wireless service or any other telephone service that provides access to the Emergency/Nonemergency Number Telephone System within the District of Columbia.

The Fee is payable at the time when the bills for subscriber service are due. The local exchange companies providing the access to the Emergency/Nonemergency Number Telephone Systems shall act as collection agents for the Trust Fund with respect to the Fee, and shall remit all proceeds to the District of Columbia Treasurer on a monthly basis.

The CFO shall deposit the funds in the Emergency/Nonemergency Number Telephone System Trust Fund. The Mayor may adjust the Fee when necessary to cover the costs of maintaining and operating the Emergency and Nonemergency Number Telephone Systems. The local exchange companies providing access to the systems shall be entitled to credit an amount not to exceed 1-1/2% of the Fee to cover the expenses of billing, collecting, and remitting the Fee and any additional charges. The Mayor may adjust the amount of the credit against proceeds of the Fee when necessary to cover the expenses of billing, collecting, and remitting the Fee. The Fee shall continue in effect until repealed or modified by a subsequent Act.

(d) Administration of Trust Fund.

The CFO shall administer the Trust Fund.

(e) Fee Is Not Applicable to Intermediate Service Line.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the Fee authorized under this section does not apply to an intermediate service line used exclusively to connect wireless telephone service or other Emergency or Nonemergency Number Telephone System accessible by other than a switched local access service to another telephone system or switching device.

Sec. 6. The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code § 1-233(c)(3)).

Sec. 7. This act shall take effect upon its approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3(a)), and a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code § 1-233(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

Back to top of page


Send mail with questions or comments to webmaster@dcwatch.com
Web site copyright ©DCWatch (ISSN 1546-4296)