Connecticut House Bill HB05175

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/4/17
• Refer: 1/4/17

Caption

An Act Concerning The Consolidation Of Public Safety Answering Points.

Impact

If passed, HB05175 would amend sections of the general statutes to allow eligible municipalities to apply for grants from the regional performance incentive program specifically aimed at supporting the consolidation of their PSAPs. This change could lead to a more streamlined emergency response framework across the state, allowing smaller towns to pool their resources and capabilities, potentially reducing costs associated with maintaining independent PSAPs.

Summary

House Bill HB05175, titled 'An Act Concerning The Consolidation Of Public Safety Answering Points', aims to enhance the efficiency of emergency services by encouraging smaller public safety answering points (PSAPs) to consolidate into regional telecommunications centers. The bill targets municipalities with populations under forty thousand or those processing fewer than twelve thousand 9-1-1 calls annually. By incentivizing consolidation through grants, the bill seeks to foster better resource allocation and improve emergency response times within smaller communities.

Contention

Despite the potential benefits, there may be points of contention surrounding this bill. Critics may argue that consolidating PSAPs could lead to longer response times for rural areas and diminish the personalized connection that smaller towns have with their local emergency services. Concerns might also be raised regarding the adequacy of funding and resources necessary to support such consolidations effectively. Furthermore, discussions would likely involve the balance between preserving local autonomy and promoting regional collaboration in emergency services.