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5/3/04-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on April 14 signed HSS SB153 into law charging mobile telephone users in the state fees to fund improvements in county 911 systems.
The new law, which takes effect July 1, will add 50 cents a month to wireless telephone bills. The funds will be used to upgrade emergency communications systems across the state to make it easier to locate someone making an emergency call on a wireless phone.
Enhanced 911 is a service that allows emergency dispatchers to pinpoint the location and phone number of a person without the caller having to say a word. Such service already is available to callers using land-line phones, who currently pay 75 cents a month to finance dispatch operations.
Under the new law, 25 cents will remain in a wireless phone customer’s home county and 25 cents will go to rural counties with relatively few wireless phone users.
At $6 a year, the fee is expected to bring in $7.2 million annually. The revenue can be used only to purchase, operate and maintain the enhanced 911 equipment used by law enforcement and emergency personnel.
4/1/04-The House and Senate agreed March 31 on the final version of a bill that would charge wireless telephone users in the state fees to fund improvements in county 911 systems.
The fee would add 50 cents a month to wireless telephone bills. The funds would be used to upgrade emergency communications systems across the state to make it easier to locate someone making an emergency call on a wireless phone.
Legislative negotiators drafted the final version of the bill. The House approved the compromise, 83-42, and the Senate passed it, 29-8.
The measure now heads to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. She is expected to sign it into law.
Enhanced 911 is a service that allows emergency dispatchers to pinpoint the location and phone number of a person without the caller having to say a word. Such service already is available to callers using land-line phones, who currently pay 75 cents a month to finance dispatch operations.
Under HSS SB153, the wireless fee would be collected starting July 1, with 25 cents remaining in a wireless phone customer’s home county and 25 cents going to rural counties with relatively few wireless phone users.
The revenue can be used only to purchase, operate and maintain the enhanced 911 equipment used by law enforcement and emergency personnel.
For bill status, call (785) 296-2149. In Kansas, call 1-800-432-3924.
3/31/04-State legislative negotiators agreed on the final version of a bill – SB153 – that would charge wireless telephone users in the state fees to fund improvements in county 911 systems.
The fee would add 50 cents a month to wireless telephone bills. The funds would be used to enact enhanced 911 services across the state to make it easier to locate someone making an emergency call on a wireless phone.
Three senators and three House members drafted the compromise measure. If both chambers approve the measure it would go to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
E911 is a service that allows emergency dispatchers to pinpoint the location and phone number of a person, without the caller having to say a word. Such service already is available to callers using land-line phones, who currently pay 75 cents a month to finance dispatch operations.
Under the House version of the bill – and negotiators’ final version – the wireless fee would be collected starting July 1, with 25 cents remaining in a wireless phone customer’s home county and 25 cents going to rural counties with relatively few wireless phone users.
Last year, the Senate approved a version imposing a 75-cent monthly fee on wireless bills, with the extra 25 cents going to wireless service providers.
The revenue only can be used to purchase, operate and maintain the enhanced 911 equipment used by law enforcement and emergency personnel.
For bill status, call (785) 296-2149. In Kansas, call 1-800-432-3924.
3/11/04-The House passed a bill that would charge wireless telephone users in the state fees to fund improvements in county 911 systems.
The fee would add 50 cents a month to wireless telephone bills. The funds would be used to enact e911 services across the state to make it easier to locate someone making an emergency call on a wireless phone.
The vote was 80-40 and came a day after House lawmakers debated the measure. The Senate passed a version a year ago and now must decide whether to accept the House version or seek a compromise.
Any compromise would first be submitted to the full House and Senate for approval. It then would go to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ desk.
E911 is a service that allows emergency dispatchers to pinpoint the location and phone number of a person, without the caller having to say a word. Such service already is available to callers using land-line phones, who currently pay 75 cents a month to finance dispatch operations.
Under the bill – HSS SB153 – the new fee would be collected starting July 1, with 25 cents remaining in a wireless phone customer’s home county and 25 cents going to rural counties with relatively few wireless phone users.
The Senate’s version would impose a 75-cent monthly fee on wireless bills, with the extra 25 cents going to wireless service providers. No such provision is included in the House version.
For bill status, call (785) 296-2149. In Kansas, call 1-800-432-3924.
1/23/04-A panel in the House has endorsed legislation that would charge wireless telephone users in the state fees to fund improvements in county 911 systems.
The House Utilities Committee’s unrecorded voice vote Jan. 21 sent the measure to the full House for debate.
The fee would add 50 cents a month to wireless telephone bills. The funds would be used to enact E911 services across the state.
E911 is a service that allows emergency dispatchers to pinpoint the location and phone number of a person, without the callers having to say a word. Such service already is available to callers using land-line phones, who currently pay 75 cents a month to finance dispatch operations.
Under HSS SB153, the new fee would be collected starting July 1, with 25 cents remaining in a wireless phone customer’s home county and 25 cents going to rural counties with relatively few wireless phone users.
In 2010, counties could set their own fees, but they would be capped at 75 cents in a county with fewer than 40,000 residents and at 50 cents in other counties. None of the money would be redistributed among counties.
The measure doesn’t include a subsidy for wireless service providers.
For bill status, call (785) 296-2149. In Kansas, call 1-800-432-3924.