25 LC 56 0308/AP
House Bill 423 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Wade of the 9
th
, Donatucci of the 105
th
, Reeves of the 99
th
, Silcox of the
53
rd
, Hilton of the 48
th
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 12 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 and Part 4 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 46
1
of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency communications authority2
and emergency telephone number 9-1-1 system, respectively, so as to provide for Next3
Generation 9-1-1 systems and services; to revise and provide for definitions; to revise the4
duties and responsibilities of the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority as relevant5
to Next Generation 9-1-1 systems and services; to add members to the board of directors of6
such authority; to require all new 9-1-1 systems conform to wireless enhanced 9-1-1 service7
or NG9-1-1 service standards; to revise the role of the executive director of the authority; to8
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
PART I11
SECTION 1-1.12
Article 12 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to13
emergency communications authority, is amended by revising Code Section 38-3-181,14
relating to definitions, as follows:15
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"38-3-181.
16
As used in this article, the term:17
(1) 'Authority' means the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority established18
pursuant to Code Section 38-3-182.19
(2) 'Board of directors' or 'board' means the governing body of the authority.20
(2.1) 'Commonly accepted standards' means the technical standards followed by the
21
communications industry for network, device, and internet protocol connectivity that22
enables interoperability. Such standards are developed and approved by a standards23
development organization that is accredited by an American standards body, such as the24
Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, the Internet Engineering Task25
Force, or the National Emergency Number Association.26
(2.2) 'Emergency medical dispatch' means the management of requests for emergency27
medical assistance by utilizing a system of:28
(A) A tiered response or priority dispatching of emergency medical resources based29
on the level of medical assistance appropriate for the victim; and30
(B) Prearrival first aid or other medical instructions given by trained31
telecommunicators responsible for receiving 9-1-1 calls and dispatching public safety32
agencies.33
(3) 'Emergency 9-1-1 system' or '9-1-1 system' has the same meaning as provided set34
forth in Code Section 46-5-122.35
(4) 'Enhanced ZIP Code' has the same meaning as provided set forth in Code Section36
46-5-122.37
(4.1) 'ESInet' means a state emergency services IP network which is an NG9-1-1 network38
contracted by the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority to one or more39
NG9-1-1 system providers for the purpose of securely receiving 9-1-1 requests for40
emergency assistance, transferring 9-1-1 requests for emergency assistance and all41
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associated data, providing centralized network management and security monitoring, and42
enabling call routing using GIS data.43
(4.2) 'Geographic information systems data' or 'GIS data' means digital geospatial44
information that can be used to assist in locating a person who places a 9-1-1 request for45
emergency assistance, including, but not limited to, mapped data sets, such as public46
safety answering point boundaries; boundaries; site structure address points; road47
centerlines; emergency service boundaries; and other additional data.48
(5) 'Local government' means a county, municipality, regional authority, or consolidated49
government in this state that operates or contracts for the operation of a public safety50
answering point and has adopted a resolution or ordinance pursuant to Code51
Section 46-5-133 to impose 9-1-1 charges under Code Section 46-5-134.52
(5.1) 'Next Generation core services' means services required to deliver secure,53
interoperable, multimedia-capable services to public safety answering points, seamlessly54
and without the need for proprietary interfaces.55
(6) 'Next Generation 9-1-1' or 'NG911' 'NG9-1-1' is a secure, nationwide, interoperable,56
standards-based, all Internet protocol emergency communications infrastructure enabling57
end-to-end transmission of all types of data, including, but not limited to, voice and58
multimedia communications from the public to a public safety answering point. means59
an internet protocol based system that:60
(A) Ensures interoperability;61
(B) Is secure;62
(C) Provides resiliency and redundancy;63
(D) Employs commonly accepted standards;64
(E) Enables 9-1-1 public safety answering points to receive, process, and analyze all65
types of 9-1-1 requests for emergency assistance;66
(F) Acquires and integrates additional information useful for handling 9-1-1 requests67
for emergency assistance; and68
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(G) Supports the sharing of information related to 9-1-1 requests for emergency69
assistance among public safety answering points and emergency response providers.70
(6.1) 'Next Generation 9-1-1 system provider' or 'NG9-1-1 system provider' means an71
entity that provides a Next Generation 9-1-1 system to a public safety answering point.72
(7) '9-1-1 charge' has the same meaning as provided set forth in Code Section 46-5-122.73
(7.1) '9-1-1 request for emergency assistance' means a communication, such as voice,74
text, picture, multimedia, or any other type of data, that is sent to a 9-1-1 public safety75
answering point for the purpose of requesting emergency assistance.76
(8) 'Primary public safety answering point' means the first point of reception of a 9-1-177
request for emergency assistance by a facility that has been designated to receive 9-1-178
requests for emergency assistance and route such requests to emergency service79
personnel as defined in 47 U.S.C.A. Section 222.80
(8)(8.1) 'Public safety answering point' has the same meaning as provided set forth in81
Code Section 46-5-122.82
(9) 'Service supplier' has the same meaning as provided set forth in Code Section83
46-5-122.84
(10) 'Telephone subscriber' has the same meaning as provided set forth in Code Section85
46-5-122.86
(11) 'Wireless enhanced 9-1-1 charge' has the same meaning as provided set forth in87
Code Section 46-5-122."88
SECTION 1-2.89
Said article is further amended by revising subsection (c) and paragraph (1) of subsection (d)90
of Code Section 38-3-182, relating to establishment of the Georgia Emergency91
Communications Authority, purpose, duties and responsibilities, board of directors, perpetual92
existence, power and authority, operation, and regulation, as follows:93
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"(c) In addition to the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this Code section, the
94
authority shall have the duties and responsibilities to:95
(1) Apply for, receive, and use federal grants or state grants or both;96
(2) Study, evaluate, and
recommend, and enforce technology standards commonly97
accepted standards for a state-wide NG9-1-1 system the regional and state-wide provision98
of a public safety communications network and 9-1-1 system;99
(3) Identify any changes necessary to accomplish more effective and efficient 9-1-1100
service across this state, including consolidation and interoperability of 9-1-1 systems;101
(4) Identify any changes necessary in the assessment and collection of fees under Part 4102
of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 46;103
(5) Develop, offer, or make recommendations to the Georgia Public Safety Training104
Center, Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, and other state agencies105
as to training that should be provided to telecommunicators, trainers, supervisors, and106
directors of public safety answering points;107
(6) Recommend minimum standards for operation of public safety answering points;108
(7) Collect data and statistics regarding the performance of public safety answering109
points;110
(8) Identify any necessary changes or enhancements to develop and deploy NG911111
NG9-1-1 statewide state wide; and112
(9) Upon request by a public safety answering point, provide assistance to such public113
safety answering point with its locally managed processes to be regarded as Logan's List:114
the collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information voluntarily submitted115
to a public safety answering point which indicates an individual has a physical, mental,116
or neurological condition which impedes his or her ability to communicate with any law117
enforcement officer or emergency responder.;118
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(10) Administer the deployment of a 9-1-1 service for emerging communications119
technologies, including, but not limited to, the state ESInet and Next Generation core120
services;121
(11) Establish and operate a network management center in coordination with122
cybersecurity subject matter experts to protect the state ESInet, Next Generation core123
services, and public safety answering points;124
(12) Monitor the state ESInet performance and service provider adherence to commonly125
accepted standards;126
(13) Establish cooperative purchasing agreements or other contracts for the procurement127
of goods and services, including, but not limited to, call-handling equipment, computer128
aided dispatch, data management, and logging recorders;129
(14) Coordinate, adopt, and communicate all necessary technical standards and130
requirements to ensure an effective state-wide interconnected and interoperable state131
ESInet;132
(15) Coordinate, adopt, and communicate all necessary technical standards and133
requirements for GIS data related to NG9-1-1;134
(16) Collect, manage, and analyze 9-1-1 requests for emergency assistance data delivered135
to the state ESInet for the purpose of monitoring state ESInet and Next Generation core136
services performance;137
(17) Coordinate outreach and education programs on how the public and emergency138
response providers can best use NG9-1-1 and the capabilities and usefulness of NG9-1-1;139
(18) Coordinate with rural and urban 9-1-1 public safety answering points, regional140
authorities, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to develop a plan for the141
implementation of NG9-1-1;142
(19) Coordinate with rural and urban 9-1-1 public safety answering points, regional143
authorities, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to prepare and submit144
applications for eligible grant funding related to NG9-1-1;145
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(20) Promote interoperability between 9-1-1 public safety answering points that are146
deploying or have deployed Next Generation 9-1-1 and emergency response providers,147
including users of the nation-wide public safety broadband network;148
(21) Coordinate with adjoining states, Native American tribes, and federal entities to149
establish and maintain NG9-1-1; and150
(22) Develop recommendations for the most efficient and effective short-term and151
long-term implementation and maintenance of NG9-1-1.152
(d)(1) Control and management of the authority shall be vested in a board of directors153
which shall consist of the following:154
(A) The commissioner of public safety or his or her designee;155
(B) The commissioner of revenue or his or her designee;156
(C) The director of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center or his or her designee;157
(D) Three members appointed by the Governor who shall be 9-1-1 directors, each of158
whom shall be currently employed by a public safety answering point. The159
Georgia 9-1-1 Directors Association, the Georgia Chapter of the Association of Public160
Safety Communications Officials, and the Georgia Chapter of the National Emergency161
Number Association may provide recommendations to the Governor for such162
appointments;163
(E) One member appointed by the Governor who shall be an elected member of a164
county governing authority that operates or contracts for the operation of a public safety165
answering point. The Association County Commissioners of Georgia may provide166
recommendations to the Governor for such appointment;167
(F) One member appointed by the Governor who shall be a county manager, county168
administrator, or finance officer from a county that operates or contracts for the169
operation of a public safety answering point. The Association County Commissioners170
of Georgia may provide recommendations to the Governor for such appointment;171
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(G) One member appointed by the Governor who shall be an elected member of a city
172
governing authority that operates or contracts for the operation of a public safety173
answering point. The Georgia Municipal Association may provide recommendations174
to the Governor for such appointment;175
(H) One member appointed by the Governor who shall be a city manager, city176
administrator, or finance officer from a city that operates or contracts for the operation177
of a public safety answering point. The Georgia Municipal Association may provide178
recommendations to the Governor for such appointment;179
(I) Two members from the telecommunications industry who shall be appointed by the180
Governor;181
(J) One member appointed by the Governor who is a sheriff responsible for managing182
a public safety answering point. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association may provide183
recommendations to the Governor for such appointment;184
(K) One police chief appointed by the Governor who is serving a local government.185
The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police may provide recommendations to the186
Governor for such appointment; and
187
(L) One fire chief appointed by the Governor who is serving a local government. The188
Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs may provide recommendations to the Governor for189
such appointment.;190
(M) The executive director of the Georgia Technology Authority or his or her191
designee;192
(N) One member who is a subject matter expert in cybersecurity who shall be193
appointed by the Governor; and194
(O) One member who is a subject matter expert in geographic information systems195
data who shall be appointed by the Governor."196
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SECTION 1-3.
197
Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 38-3-183, relating to appointment198
of executive director, role, and additional staffing, as follows:199
"38-3-183.200
The director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency shall201
appoint an executive director, subject to approval by the board, who shall be the202
administrative head of the authority, and shall establish the salary of the executive director.203
The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of such director. The executive director
204
shall be considered the state 9-1-1 administrator for the purposes of relevant state and205
federal law and program requirements. The executive director, with the concurrence and206
approval of such director, shall hire officers, agents, and employees; prescribe their duties,207
responsibilities, and qualifications; set their salaries; and perform such other duties as may208
be prescribed by the authority. Such officers, agents, and employees shall serve at the209
pleasure of the executive director."210
PART II211
SECTION 2-1.212
Part 4 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,213
relating to emergency telephone number 9-1-1 system, is amended by adding a new214
paragraph to Code Section 46-5-122, relating to definitions, to read as follows:215
"(10.1) 'Next Generation 9-1-1' or 'NG9-1-1' shall have the same meaning as set forth in216
Code Section 38-3-181."217
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SECTION 2-2.
218
Said part is further amended by revising paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section219
46-5-124, relating to guidelines for implementing state-wide emergency 9-1-1 system and220
training and equipment standards, as follows:221
"(1) Steps of action necessary for public agencies to effect the necessary coordination,222
regulation, and development preliminary to a 9-1-1 system that shall incorporate the223
requirements of each public service
safety agency in each local government of Georgia;"224
SECTION 2-3.225
Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 46-5-126, relating to cooperation by226
commission and telephone industry, as follows:227
"46-5-126.228
The authority shall coordinate its activities with those of the Public Service Commission,229
commission which shall encourage the Georgia telephone industry to activate facility230
modification plans for a timely 9-1-1 support the timely implementation of NG9-1-1."231
SECTION 2-4.232
Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 46-5-127, relating to approval of 9-1-1233
systems by agency and written confirmation by authority required for 9-1-1 systems234
established on or after January 1, 2019, as follows:235
"46-5-127.236
(a) After January 1, 1978, and prior to January 1, 2019, no emergency 9-1-1 system shall237
be established, and no existing system shall be expanded to provide wireless238
enhanced 9-1-1 service, without written confirmation by the Georgia Emergency239
Management and Homeland Security Agency that the local plan conforms to the guidelines240
and procedures provided for in Code Section 46-5-124.241
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(b) On or after January 1, 2019, and prior to July 1, 2025, no emergency 9-1-1 system shall242
be established, and no existing system shall be expanded to provide wireless243
enhanced 9-1-1 service, without written confirmation by the authority that the local plan244
conforms to the guidelines and procedures provided for in Code Section 46-5-124. The245
authority shall not deny the establishment of a new system or an expansion to provide246
wireless enhanced 9-1-1 service if the local plan conforms to the guidelines and procedures247
provided for in Code Section 46-5-124.248
(c) On or after July 1, 2025, no emergency 9-1-1 system shall be established, and no249
existing system shall be expanded to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 service or NG9-1-1250
service, without written confirmation by the authority that the local plan conforms to the251
guidelines and procedures provided for in Code Section 46-5-124. The authority shall not252
deny establishment of a new system or an expansion to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1253
service or NG9-1-1 service if the local plan conforms to the guidelines and procedures254
provided for in Code Section 46-5-124."255
PART III256
SECTION 3-1.257
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.258
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