MD
Maryland House Bill HB421

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB421 Compare Versions

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1- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 13
21
3-– 1 –
4-Chapter 13
5-(House Bill 421)
62
7-AN ACT concerning
3+EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4+ [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5+ Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6+ Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7+amendment.
8+ *hb0421*
89
9-Public Safety – 9–1–1 Trust Fund – 9–8–8 Suicide Prevention Hotline
10+HOUSE BILL 421
11+E4 5lr0831
12+ CF SB 36
13+By: Delegates S. Johnson, A. Johnson, Kerr, McComas, and Taveras
14+Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025
15+Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
16+Committee Report: Favorable
17+House action: Adopted
18+Read second time: February 22, 2025
1019
11-FOR the purpose of authorizing the use of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund for certain expenditures
12-that support the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline; altering a certain restriction on
13-the use of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund to prohibit funds from being used for expenses solely
14-related to the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline, instead of preventing the use of funds
15-for any costs associated with the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline; and generally
16-relating to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund and the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline.
20+CHAPTER ______
1721
18-BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
19- Article – Public Safety
20- Section 1–308(a) and 1–309(a) and (c)(1)
21- Annotated Code of Maryland
22- (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
22+AN ACT concerning 1
2323
24-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
25- Article – Public Safety
26-Section 1–308(b) and 1–309(c)(6)
27- Annotated Code of Maryland
28- (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
24+Public Safety – 9–1–1 Trust Fund – 9–8–8 Suicide Prevention Hotline 2
2925
30- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
31-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
26+FOR the purpose of authorizing the use of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund for certain expenditures 3
27+that support the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline; altering a certain restriction on 4
28+the use of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund to prohibit funds from being used for expenses solely 5
29+related to the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline, instead of preventing the use of funds 6
30+for any costs associated with the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline; and generally 7
31+relating to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund and the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline. 8
3232
33-Article – Public Safety
33+BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
34+ Article – Public Safety 10
35+ Section 1–308(a) and 1–309(a) and (c)(1) 11
36+ Annotated Code of Maryland 12
37+ (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
3438
35-1–308.
39+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
40+ Article – Public Safety 15
41+Section 1–308(b) and 1–309(c)(6) 16
42+ Annotated Code of Maryland 17
43+ (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
3644
37- (a) There is a 9–1–1 Trust Fund.
45+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
46+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
3847
39- (b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to §
40-1–309.1 of this subtitle, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund are to:
48+Article – Public Safety 21 2 HOUSE BILL 421
4149
42- (i) reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system;
4350
44- (ii) pay contractors in accordance with § 1–306(b)(12) of this subtitle;
45-and
4651
47- (iii) fund the coordinator position and staff to handle the increased
48-duties related to wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service under § 1–305 of this subtitle, as an
49-administrative cost. Ch. 13 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
52+1–308. 1
5053
51-– 2 –
54+ (a) There is a 9–1–1 Trust Fund. 2
5255
53- (2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, in addition to the purposes
54-described under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund
55-include funding:
56+ (b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to § 3
57+1–309.1 of this subtitle, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund are to: 4
5658
57- (i) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced
58-9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including:
59+ (i) reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system; 5
5960
60- 1. equipment and software utilized directly for providing
61-9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point;
61+ (ii) pay contractors in accordance with § 1–306(b)(12) of this subtitle; 6
62+and 7
6263
63- 2. protocol systems and software utilized directly for
64-providing 9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point;
64+ (iii) fund the coordinator position and staff to handle the increased 8
65+duties related to wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service under § 1–305 of this subtitle, as an 9
66+administrative cost. 10
6567
66- 3. interpretation services provided for a public safety
67-answering point;
68+ (2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, in addition to the purposes 11
69+described under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund 12
70+include funding: 13
6871
69- 4. services provided for a public safety answering point to
70-ensure improved access to individuals with disabilities and other individuals who use
71-assistive technology; and
72+ (i) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 14
73+9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including: 15
7274
73- 5. voice, data, and call log recorders utilized to capture
74-information from 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1
75-services;
75+ 1. equipment and software utilized directly for providing 16
76+9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point; 17
7677
77- (ii) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced
78-9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services connectivity and infrastructure
79-equipment, including:
78+ 2. protocol systems and software utilized directly for 18
79+providing 9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point; 19
8080
81- 1. automatic number and location identification; and
81+ 3. interpretation services provided for a public safety 20
82+answering point; 21
8283
83- 2. Primary Rate Interface and Session Initiation Protocol
84-trucking for 10–digit emergency and nonemergency lines;
84+ 4. services provided for a public safety answering point to 22
85+ensure improved access to individuals with disabilities and other individuals who use 23
86+assistive technology; and 24
8587
86- (iii) geographical information systems hardware, software, data
87-development, and data management costs incurred for the effective operation of 9–1–1
88-systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including:
88+ 5. voice, data, and call log recorders utilized to capture 25
89+information from 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 26
90+services; 27
8991
90- 1. mapping equipment;
92+ (ii) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 28
93+9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services connectivity and infrastructure 29
94+equipment, including: 30
9195
92- 2. interfaces to computer–aided dispatch; and
96+ 1. automatic number and location identification; and 31
97+ HOUSE BILL 421 3
9398
94- 3. geographical information systems base layer development
95-and management;
96- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 13
9799
98-– 3 –
99- (iv) public safety answering point facilities costs, including access
100-control, security systems, and standby power;
100+ 2. Primary Rate Interface and Session Initiation Protocol 1
101+trucking for 10–digit emergency and nonemergency lines; 2
101102
102- (v) costs for public education materials;
103+ (iii) geographical information systems hardware, software, data 3
104+development, and data management costs incurred for the effective operation of 9–1–1 4
105+systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including: 5
103106
104- (vi) the training of county personnel working in or directly
105-supporting a public safety answering point;
107+ 1. mapping equipment; 6
106108
107- (vii) the provision of tuition reimbursement for 9–1–1 specialists for
108-educational programs related to the 9–1–1 specialist career field;
109+ 2. interfaces to computer–aided dispatch; and 7
109110
110- (viii) costs to maintain the cybersecurity of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced
111-9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services;
111+ 3. geographical information systems base layer development 8
112+and management; 9
112113
113- (ix) costs of 9–1–1 specialist recruitment activities as described in §
114-1–306(b)(17) of this subtitle; [and]
114+ (iv) public safety answering point facilities costs, including access 10
115+control, security systems, and standby power; 11
115116
116- (x) costs of telecommunications cardiopulmonary resuscitation
117-training; AND
117+ (v) costs for public education materials; 12
118118
119- (XI) COSTS RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE 9–8–8 SUICIDE
120-PREVENTION HOTLINE T HAT MAY BE SHARED WI TH 9–1–1 ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING
121-SOFTWARE INTERFACES AND JOINT TRAINING .
119+ (vi) the training of county personnel working in or directly 13
120+supporting a public safety answering point; 14
122121
123- (3) Funding allocated in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection
124-may not be utilized for any [purpose associated with] COSTS THAT SOLELY SU PPORT the
125-9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline.
122+ (vii) the provision of tuition reimbursement for 9–1–1 specialists for 15
123+educational programs related to the 9–1–1 specialist career field; 16
126124
127-1–309.
125+ (viii) costs to maintain the cybersecurity of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 17
126+9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services; 18
128127
129- (a) On recommendation of the Board, each year the Secretary shall request an
130-appropriation from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund in an amount sufficient to:
128+ (ix) costs of 9–1–1 specialist recruitment activities as described in § 19
129+1–306(b)(17) of this subtitle; [and] 20
131130
132- (1) carry out the purposes of this subtitle;
131+ (x) costs of telecommunications cardiopulmonary resuscitation 21
132+training; AND 22
133133
134- (2) pay the administrative costs chargeable to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund; and
134+ (XI) COSTS RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE 9–8–8 SUICIDE 23
135+PREVENTION HOTLINE THAT MAY BE SHARED WITH 9–1–1 ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING 24
136+SOFTWARE INTERFACES AND JOINT TRAINING . 25
135137
136- (3) reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system.
138+ (3) Funding allocated in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection 26
139+may not be utilized for any [purpose associated with] COSTS THAT SOLELY SU PPORT the 27
140+9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline. 28
137141
138- (c) (1) Money accruing to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund may be used as provided in
139-this subsection.
142+1–309. 29
140143
141- (6) Money accruing to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund may not be used for:
144+ (a) On recommendation of the Board, each year the Secretary shall request an 30
145+appropriation from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund in an amount sufficient to: 31 4 HOUSE BILL 421
142146
143- (i) the maintenance or operation of communications centers other
144-than public safety answering points; or Ch. 13 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
145147
146-– 4 –
147148
148- (ii) any [purpose associated with] COSTS THAT SOLELY SU PPORT
149-the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline.
149+ (1) carry out the purposes of this subtitle; 1
150150
151- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
152-October 1, 2025.
151+ (2) pay the administrative costs chargeable to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund; and 2
153152
154-Approved by the Governor, April 8, 2025.
153+ (3) reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system. 3
154+
155+ (c) (1) Money accruing to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund may be used as provided in 4
156+this subsection. 5
157+
158+ (6) Money accruing to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund may not be used for: 6
159+
160+ (i) the maintenance or operation of communications centers other 7
161+than public safety answering points; or 8
162+
163+ (ii) any [purpose associated with] COSTS THAT SOLELY SU PPORT 9
164+the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline. 10
165+
166+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
167+October 1, 2025. 12
168+
169+
170+
171+
172+Approved:
173+________________________________________________________________________________
174+ Governor.
175+________________________________________________________________________________
176+ Speaker of the House of Delegates.
177+________________________________________________________________________________
178+ President of the Senate.