HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
FISCAL NOTE
HOUSE BILL NO. 453 PRINTER’ S NO. 435 PRIME SPONSOR: Benham
COST I (SAVINGS
FUND FY 2024/25 FY 2025/26
General Fund $0 $0
SUMMARY:
Amends several sections of Title 35 (Health and Safety) to include telecommunicators within the
definition of emergency responder.
ANALYSIS:
House Bill 453 adds a definition of telecommunicator to §7102 (Definitions) of Title 35 (Health and Safety).
Telecommunicator is defined as an individual employed by a public safety answering point (PSAP) whose
primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch emergency and nonemergency calls for
emergency medical, fire and rescue, law enforcement, or other public safety services via telephone, radio, or
other communication device.
The bill adds the term telecommunicator to the definition of emergency responder in §7332 of Title 35
dealing with intrastate mutual aid agreements and §75A01 dealing with Emergency Responder Mental
Wellness and Stress Management.
This legislation would take effect in 60 days upon enactment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Enactment of this legislation will have no impact on commonwealth funds. Section 75A01 requires the
Department of Health to provide health and wellness support to emergency responders. The existing
definition of Emergency Responder in this section already includes 911 dispatchers, which largely
encompasses those defined as telecommunicators.
PREPARED BY: Bradley Keen, Ph.D., Senior Budget Analyst
House Appropriations Committee (D)
DATE: April 8, 2025
Estimates are calculated using the best information available. Actual costs and revenue impact incurred
may vary from estimates.