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Senate Resolution 282
By: Senators Bearden of the 30th, Albers of the 56th, Hodges of the 3rd, Williams of the
25th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others
A RESOLUTION
Creating the Joint Study Committee on Funding for Next Generation 9-1-1 Sustainability;
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and for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia's current 9-1-1 funding model was created and authorized3
by the Georgia General Assembly in 1977, at a time when almost every home and business4
had landline telephone service; and5
WHEREAS, the current telecommunications landscape has changed substantially since 19776
and now the number of mobile phones and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) accounts7
outnumber the landline telephones in service in this state; and8
WHEREAS, in 1977, the General Assembly established a maximum fee of $1.50 per landline9
telephone to be used for funding 9-1-1 centers; and10
WHEREAS, the number of telephones in use statewide, regardless of the technology utilized,11
has increased significantly since 1977; and12
WHEREAS, technologies are on the horizon that will allow 9-1-1 centers to be contacted by13
data sessions and text messages originating from mobile telephones and other devices; and14
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WHEREAS, Part 4 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia
15
Annotated, the "Georgia Emergency Telephone Number 9-1-1 Service Act of 1977," which16
provides for 9-1-1 funding, has been amended several times since 1977 in an attempt to keep17
up with changes in technology; and18
WHEREAS, most of the calls to 9-1-1 centers today originate from mobile telephones and19
other devices; and20
WHEREAS, the funding mechanism for 9-1-1 centers may need to be updated to reflect21
today's environment; and22
WHEREAS, a comprehensive review of this state's 9-1-1 funding provisions is needed in23
order to study and identify any reforms necessary to provide adequate funding for24
maintaining effective and efficient 9-1-1 centers in order to ensure the public safety of all25
citizens of Georgia.26
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF27
GEORGIA:28
(1) Creation of joint study committee. There is created the Joint Study Committee on29
Funding for Next Generation 9-1-1 Sustainability.30
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of the following31
members:32
(A) The President of the Senate shall appoint five members of the Senate as members33
of the committee, one of whom shall be a member of the Senate Regulated Industries34
and Utilities Committee and one of whom shall be a member of the Senate Public35
Safety Committee. The President of the Senate shall also designate one of such36
members as cochairperson;37
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(B) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint five members of the
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House of Representatives as members of the committee, one of whom shall be a39
member of the House Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications and40
one of whom shall be a member of the House Committee on Public Safety and41
Homeland Security. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall also designate42
one of such members as cochairperson;43
(C) The executive director of the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority, or44
his or her designee;45
(D) The director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security46
Agency, or his or her designee;47
(E) The commissioner of the Department of Revenue, or his or her designee; 48
(F) The president of the Georgia Municipal Association, or his or her designee; and 49
(E) The president of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, or his or her50
designee.51
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,52
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or53
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.54
(4) Meetings. The cochairpersons shall call all meetings of the committee. The55
committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem56
necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform57
its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.58
(5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.59
(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided60
for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.61
(B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,62
or state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee,63
but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their64
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duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for
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expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.66
(C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state67
employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that68
specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia69
Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state70
employees.71
(D) The allowances and expenses authorized by this resolution shall not be received72
by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are73
authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come74
from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives and Senate; except that funds75
for the reimbursement of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative members,76
and state employees shall come from funds appropriated to or otherwise available to77
their respective agencies.78
(6) Report.79
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that80
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file a report of the81
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to82
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.83
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for84
proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file the report, subject to85
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.86
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of87
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 88
A report so approved shall be signed by the cochairpersons of the committee and filed89
with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.90
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(D) In the absence of an approved report, the cochairpersons may file with the
91
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives copies of the92
minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.93
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.94
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