EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0421*
HOUSE BILL 421
E4 5lr0831
CF SB 36
By: Delegates S. Johnson, A. Johnson, Kerr, McComas, and Taveras
Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 22, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Safety – 9–1–1 Trust Fund – 9–8–8 Suicide Prevention Hotline 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing the use of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund for certain expenditures 3
that support the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline; altering a certain restriction on 4
the use of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund to prohibit funds from being used for expenses solely 5
related to the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline, instead of preventing the use of funds 6
for any costs associated with the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline; and generally 7
relating to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund and the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Public Safety 10
Section 1–308(a) and 1–309(a) and (c)(1) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Public Safety 15
Section 1–308(b) and 1–309(c)(6) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Public Safety 21 2 HOUSE BILL 421
1–308. 1
(a) There is a 9–1–1 Trust Fund. 2
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to § 3
1–309.1 of this subtitle, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund are to: 4
(i) reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system; 5
(ii) pay contractors in accordance with § 1–306(b)(12) of this subtitle; 6
and 7
(iii) fund the coordinator position and staff to handle the increased 8
duties related to wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service under § 1–305 of this subtitle, as an 9
administrative cost. 10
(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, in addition to the purposes 11
described under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund 12
include funding: 13
(i) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 14
9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including: 15
1. equipment and software utilized directly for providing 16
9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point; 17
2. protocol systems and software utilized directly for 18
providing 9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point; 19
3. interpretation services provided for a public safety 20
answering point; 21
4. services provided for a public safety answering point to 22
ensure improved access to individuals with disabilities and other individuals who use 23
assistive technology; and 24
5. voice, data, and call log recorders utilized to capture 25
information from 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 26
services; 27
(ii) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 28
9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services connectivity and infrastructure 29
equipment, including: 30
1. automatic number and location identification; and 31
HOUSE BILL 421 3
2. Primary Rate Interface and Session Initiation Protocol 1
trucking for 10–digit emergency and nonemergency lines; 2
(iii) geographical information systems hardware, software, data 3
development, and data management costs incurred for the effective operation of 9–1–1 4
systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including: 5
1. mapping equipment; 6
2. interfaces to computer–aided dispatch; and 7
3. geographical information systems base layer development 8
and management; 9
(iv) public safety answering point facilities costs, including access 10
control, security systems, and standby power; 11
(v) costs for public education materials; 12
(vi) the training of county personnel working in or directly 13
supporting a public safety answering point; 14
(vii) the provision of tuition reimbursement for 9–1–1 specialists for 15
educational programs related to the 9–1–1 specialist career field; 16
(viii) costs to maintain the cybersecurity of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 17
9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services; 18
(ix) costs of 9–1–1 specialist recruitment activities as described in § 19
1–306(b)(17) of this subtitle; [and] 20
(x) costs of telecommunications cardiopulmonary resuscitation 21
training; AND 22
(XI) COSTS RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE 9–8–8 SUICIDE 23
PREVENTION HOTLINE THAT MAY BE SHARED WITH 9–1–1 ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING 24
SOFTWARE INTERFACES AND JOINT TRAINING . 25
(3) Funding allocated in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection 26
may not be utilized for any [purpose associated with] COSTS THAT SOLELY SU PPORT the 27
9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline. 28
1–309. 29
(a) On recommendation of the Board, each year the Secretary shall request an 30
appropriation from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund in an amount sufficient to: 31 4 HOUSE BILL 421
(1) carry out the purposes of this subtitle; 1
(2) pay the administrative costs chargeable to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund; and 2
(3) reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system. 3
(c) (1) Money accruing to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund may be used as provided in 4
this subsection. 5
(6) Money accruing to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund may not be used for: 6
(i) the maintenance or operation of communications centers other 7
than public safety answering points; or 8
(ii) any [purpose associated with] COSTS THAT SOLELY SU PPORT 9
the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline. 10
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
October 1, 2025. 12
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.