SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 487
As Amended by Senate Committee on Utilities
Brief*
SB 487, as amended, would update the Kansas 911 Act
and authorize the 911 Coordinating Council (Council) to allow
governing bodies to contract with another governing body of a
public safety answering point (PSAP) operated by a city or
county for the provision of 911 services.
911 Coordinating Council Term Length and Limits
The bill would remove certain Council membership
requirements and remove automatic reappointment to the
Council. The bill would clarify the service term of voting
Council members to be three years for a maximum of two
terms, with the exception of Council members who are
appointed by the Legislature, as determined by continuing
law.
Reporting Requirements
The bill would update the uniform reporting of how
moneys, including 911 fees, have been spent by the PSAPs
to include governing bodies that contract with another
governing body of a PSAP for the provision of 911 services.
Funds Distribution
[Note: A “local collection point administrator” (LCPA) is
defined in continuing law as a person designated by the
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org Council to collect and distribute 911 fees, 911 operations fund
moneys, and 911 state grant fund moneys.]
The bill would clarify that an LCPA would be required to
distribute moneys from 911 fees and prepaid wireless 911
fees to PSAPs or governing bodies that contract with another
governing body of a PSAP for the provision of 911 services.
The bill would also require specific fund distributions by
an LCPA under certain circumstances:
●If the calculated amount of funding distributed by
the LCPA to a county is less than $60,000, then
$60,000 would be distributed for services within
that county;
●If there is a single PSAP providing services within a
county, the PSAP would receive the governing
body’s distribution, if any; or
●If there are multiple PSAPs within a county, then
distributions to each PSAP would be split
proportionally between the PSAPs in the county,
based on the population of the area each PSAP
serves.
Contract or Memorandum of Agreement
The bill would allow a governing body to contract with
another governing body of a PSAP for the provision of some
or all PSAP services.
Contingency Plans and Overflow Arrangements
The bill would require that when a governing body
contracts with another governing body of a PSAP for
services, the contract or memorandum of agreement (MOA)
would contain provisions that address contingency plans and
overflow arrangements.
2- 487 These provisions would be reviewed by the Council, and
if the Council determines that any portion of the provisions
conflict with the function of the statewide 911 system or finds
the provisions not acceptable, the Council and governing
bodies would be required to collaborate and work to resolve
any concerns prior to the effective date of the contract or
MOA.
Funding Amounts
The bill would require that when a governing body
enters into a contract or MOA with another governing body of
a PSAP, an agreed upon percentage of the governing body’s
distribution amount for the LCPA to distribute must be
established.
Use of Moneys
The bill would add to the list of approved uses for the
funds to include maintenance and updates that are necessary
to maintain accurate GIS data.
[Note: “GIS” is defined in continuing law as a geographic
information system for capturing, storing, displaying,
analyzing, and managing data and associated attributes that
are spatially referenced.]
Technical Amendments
The bill would also make technical changes and remove
outdated provisions.
Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Federal and State Affairs at the request of Senator Petersen.
3- 487 Senate Committee on Utilities
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by Senator Francisco, Senator Petersen, and a
representative of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police,
Kansas Sheriffs Association, and Kansas Peace Officers
Association (Associations). The proponents stated the bill is a
result of a post audit conducted on the 911 system. They
noted the bill would clarify current law to specifically state
counties can contract with other counties or cities to
consolidate and provide PSAP services. The bill would
specify how the fee moneys for the 911 services are to be
distributed consistent with this clarification because the
moneys must be distributed and used in a statutorily defined
manner.
The representative of the Associations brought forward
recommendations to further clarify the bill:
●Replace the word “county” with “governing body of
the PSAP” throughout the bill; and
●Change the percentage of distribution to counties
from 50.0 percent to a percentage agreed upon by
the contracting parties for the purpose of PSAP
services.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to:
●Replace certain references of “county” with
“governing body” or “governing body of the PSAP”;
●Require an agreed-upon percentage of the
governing body’s distribution amount for the LCPA
to distribute; and
●Allow funds to be used to maintain and update
accurate GIS data.
4- 487 Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Kansas Association
of Counties states that because the bill would allow counties
to share resources, it could save counties money if they wish
to contract with other counties. However, the fiscal effect
cannot be estimated.
Utilities; Kansas 911 Act; public safety answering points; PSAPs; local collection
point administrator; LCPA
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