Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2309

Introduced
2/6/23  
Refer
2/6/23  

Caption

Making the 911 coordinating council subject to the Kansas governmental operations accountability law and reducing the fees imposed on telecommunications services and prepaid wireless services under the Kansas 911 act.

Impact

The bill is significant as it establishes the 911 coordinating council as subject to the Kansas governmental operations accountability law, enhancing oversight and accountability in the management of 911 funds. This change is expected to provide greater transparency regarding how 911 funds are utilized and can lead to more efficient allocation of resources, potentially improving the effectiveness of public safety communication systems. The council will now be responsible for monitoring telecommunications providers and ensuring compliance with the new fee structure.

Summary

House Bill 2309 aims to amend the Kansas 911 Act, primarily focusing on reducing fees associated with telecommunications services and prepaid wireless services. The bill proposes a reduction in the monthly 911 fee from $0.90 to $0.72, which consumers pay for traditional telecommunications services, while also lowering the prepaid wireless 911 fee from 2.06% to 1.65% per retail transaction. This initiative is an effort to ease the financial burden on consumers while ensuring that funding for essential 911 services remains adequate.

Conclusion

Ultimately, HB2309 represents an important shift in how Kansas manages 911 service fees and the corresponding state oversight of these funds. The legislative changes could set a precedent for future reforms in public safety financing, with the potential to balance consumer costs with the needs of emergency services.

Contention

Discussion around the bill highlights a tension between cost reduction for consumers and the sustainability of funding for 911 operations. Proponents argue that lowering fees will benefit consumers, especially in a time of economic strain, while opponents express concerns about the potential impact on the revenue available for maintaining and upgrading critical 911 infrastructure. Some community members and emergency services advocates worry that reduced funding could adversely affect response capabilities, especially in rural areas where resources are already limited.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2690

Abolishing the 911 coordinating council and establishing the state 911 board; abolishing the 911 operations fund, 911 state fund and 911 state grant fund outside of the state treasury and establishing the state 911 operations fund, state 911 fund and state 911 grant fund in the state treasury; increasing the minimum county distribution of 911 moneys; and authorizing counties to contract with other counties for the provision of 911 PSAP services.

KS SB487

Authorizing counties to contract with other counties to share 911 public safety answering point services and authorizing the distribution of 911 fee moneys to counties for such purposes.

KS HB2110

Eliminating the requirement that the state 911 board shall contract with a local collection point administrator for services, rescheduling the date on which the state 911 operations fund, state 911 grant fund and state 911 fund shall be established, requiring certain transfers to be made to the state 911 operations fund and rescheduling the date for transferring all 911 fee moneys currently held outside the state treasury to the state treasury.

KS HB3359

Relating to a uniform and statewide 9-1-1 emergency services fee on the retail sale of prepaid wireless telecommunications services to consumers.

KS SB1587

Relating to a uniform and statewide 9-1-1 emergency services fee on the retail sale of prepaid wireless telecommunications services to consumers.

KS HB4282

Relating to establishing next generation 911 services in this state

KS SB3028

Relating To 911 Services.

KS HB2339

Relating To 911 Services.

KS HB1854

In 911 emergency communication services, further providing for definitions, for telecommunications management and for counties, providing for addressing authorities and for next generation 911 call delivery, further providing for 911 system plan, for fund, for payment, collection and remittance of surcharge by providers of 911 communications services, for payment, collection and remittance of surcharge by sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service, for telephone records, for penalty, for immunity and for shared residential MLTS service, repealing provisions relating to business MLTS, to shared communications services, to temporary residence and to local notification, further providing for ALI database maintenance, repealing provisions relating to dialing instructions and further providing for MLTS signaling, for termination and for prohibited release of information.

KS HB414

Boards and commissions, state 911 Board, certification of public safety telecommunications, duties of telecommicators further provided, reasonable alternative method for responding to emergency calls, further provided, Sec. 11-98-11 am'd.

Similar Bills

NJ A1497

Removes requirement that local units may only provide broadband telecommunication service via wireless community service.

NJ S4192

Removes requirement that local units may only provide broadband telecommunication service via wireless community service.

NJ S744

Removes requirement that local units may only provide broadband telecommunication service via wireless community network.

NJ A5858

Removes requirement that local units may only provide broadband telecommunication service via wireless community service.

CA AB1693

Public utilities: contracting.

NJ A160

Allows local units to offer broadband telecommunications service under certain circumstances.

CA SB599

Public Utilities Commission: proceedings, reports, and public utility procurement.

CA AB1552

Large public utilities: timely payment of subcontractors: women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprise procurement: late payment penalties.