By: White, Stephenson (Senate Sponsor - Hancock) H.B. No. 2911
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2021;
May 13, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Business &
Commerce; May 21, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0;
May 21, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2911 By: Hancock
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to next generation 9-1-1 service and the establishment of
a next generation 9-1-1 service fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 771.001, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subdivisions (5-a) and (5-b) and amending
Subdivision (6) to read as follows:
(5-a) "Next generation 9-1-1 service" has the meaning
assigned by 47 U.S.C. Section 942.
(5-b) "Next generation 9-1-1 service fund" means the
next generation 9-1-1 service fund established under Section
771.0713.
(6) "9-1-1 service" means a communications service
that connects users to a public safety answering point through a
9-1-1 system. The term includes next generation 9-1-1 service.
SECTION 2. Section 771.059, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 771.059. TARGET DATE [DEADLINE] FOR STATEWIDE NEXT
GENERATION 9-1-1 SERVICE. Before September 1, 2025 [1995], all
parts of the state must be covered by next generation 9-1-1 service.
SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 771, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 771.0713 to read as follows:
Sec. 771.0713. NEXT GENERATION 9-1-1 SERVICE FUND. (a) The
next generation 9-1-1 service fund is created as a fund in the state
treasury outside the general revenue fund.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by
federal law, the comptroller shall transfer to the credit of the
next generation 9-1-1 service fund any amount available from
federal money provided to this state from the Coronavirus State and
Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under Section 9901 of the American
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) or from any other
federal governmental source for purposes of this chapter. The
comptroller shall transfer the money as soon as practicable
following the receipt by this state of a sufficient amount of
federal money for the transfer.
(c) Money deposited to the credit of the next generation
9-1-1 service fund may be used only for the purpose of supporting
the deployment and reliable operation of next generation 9-1-1
service, including the costs of equipment, operations, and
administration. Money in the fund may be distributed to only the
commission and emergency communication districts and must be used
in a manner that complies with federal law.
(d) Interest earned on money deposited to the credit of the
next generation 9-1-1 service fund is exempt from Section 404.071,
Government Code. Interest on money in the fund shall be retained in
the fund.
(e) The comptroller may issue guidelines for use by the
commission and emergency communication districts in implementing
this section.
(f) All money in the fund shall be distributed in accordance
with this section not later than December 31, 2022, and all money
distributed under this section shall be spent not later than
December 31, 2024, for the deployment and reliable operation of
next generation 9-1-1 service.
(g) This section expires September 1, 2025.
SECTION 4. Sections 771.0711(g) and (j), Health and Safety
Code, are repealed.
SECTION 5. Not later than December 1, 2021, the comptroller
of public accounts shall adopt rules necessary to establish and
administer the next generation 9-1-1 service fund established under
Section 771.0713, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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