Amended in Senate June 25, 2013

Amended in Assembly May 29, 2013

Amended in Assembly May 8, 2013

Amended in Assembly April 24, 2013

Amended in Assembly March 21, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 911

Introduced by Assembly Member Bloom

February 22, 2013

An act to add Section 53121 to the Government Code, relating to telephone systems.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 911, as amended, Bloom. Telephone systems: 911.

The Warren-911-Emergency Assistance Act requires every local public agency to establish and operate a telephone system that automatically connects a person dialing “911” to an established public safety answering point through normal telephone service facilities. Existing law prohibits the Public Safety Communications Division in the Department of Technology from delaying the implementation of the enhanced “911” emergency telephone system, as provided.

This bill would, commencing January 1, 2019, establish various requirements regarding 911 emergency call technology that would be applicable to begin insert operators of end insert multiline telephone systems (MLTS) begin delete and businesses with MLTS end delete . The bill would require an MLTS operator, as defined, begin delete in an area that has enhanced 911 capability end delete to maintain and operate the MLTS, as specified, to ensure that each emergency call placed from any telephone station on the MLTS is routed to begin delete a end delete begin insert the appropriate end insert public safety answering point and provides either automatic location information or automation number identification to the 911 network that connects to the public safety answering point. The bill would provide begin delete exemptions for buildings or structures under end delete begin insert an exemption for a multiline telephone system serving a building or structure with less than end insert 7,000 square feet of workspace begin delete or MLTS operators in areas where enhanced 911 service is not available end delete . The bill would authorize the assessment of civil penalties against an entity that sells or leases an MLTS system in violation of these requirements.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

begin delete

(a) There are gaps in public safety protection and accurate caller
location information is vital for 911 emergency calls and the safety
of Californians. Problem calls originate from large hospitals, public
schools, large businesses, large chain stores, local government
offices, and assisted living facilities.

(b) Problems with the current 911 systems include: (1)
misrouting a call to an entirely wrong public safety answering
point (PSAP), sometimes in a different city or region; (2) delivery
of wrong or inaccurate caller location information to the proper
PSAP.

(c) Enhancements to the 911 system typically enable the caller’s
telephone number and service address to be displayed to the PSAP.
As a result, when the caller is calling from a single-line telephone
or a multiline telephone system (MLTS) serving a compact area,
the address associated with the caller’s telephone number can be
retrieved and usually provides a reasonably precise identification
of the caller’s location.

(d) Public safety agencies increasingly rely on the enhanced
911 system to provide dependable and precise information about
the caller’s location and a reliable number to call back in order to
reach the caller. However, in some cases 911 emergency calls
made from telephones connected to an MLTS may not be precisely
located by the 911 system, eliminating some of the benefits of
enhanced 911. This lack of adequate location information can be
life threatening if the caller cannot supply the correct location.

(e) Related problems occur when the caller is remote from the
location supplied to the 911 system. In this instance not only is
response delayed but limited public safety resources are dispatched
where they are not needed. There may also be considerable
disruption in business operations as the response units attempt to
locate the caller.

(f) This act will address the issue of MLTS regarding the
installation of equipment and software necessary to provide specific
location information for a 911 emergency call.

end delete begin insert

(a) Public safety is threatened when 911 calls placed to public
safety dispatchers from telephone systems serving multiple stations
in large buildings or complexes do not identify the precise location
of the caller.

end insert begin insert

(b) The enhanced 911 system widely deployed today enables a
caller’s telephone number and service address to be displayed to
the public safety dispatcher who receives the 911 call. Public safety
agencies increasingly rely on this enhanced 911 system to provide
dependable and precise information about a caller’s location and
a reliable number to call back in order to reach the person who
called for emergency assistance.

end insert begin insert

(c) Even with the enhanced 911 system, however, emergency
calls may not provide precise caller location when made from one
station of a multiline telephone system commonly used in large
hospitals, public schools, government offices, assisted living
facilities, businesses, and chain stores. This lack of precise location
information can be life threatening if the person making the
emergency call cannot supply the correct location to the dispatcher.

end insert begin insert

(d) Emergency calls from a large building or campus with a
multiline telephone system also can be routed to the wrong public
safety dispatch office, sometimes in a different city or region.

end insert begin insert

(e) These limitations of multiline telephone systems not only
delay emergency response time, but also cause limited public safety
resources to be dispatched where they are not needed and disrupt
business operations as response units attempt to locate the caller.

end insert begin insert

(f) This act will enhance public safety through requirements to
ensure that 911 emergency calls made from individual stations of
multiline telephone systems provide specific location information
of the caller.

end insert

SEC. 2.  

Section 53121 is added to the Government Code, to
read:

begin delete

53121.  

(a) A multiline telephone system (MLTS) operator

end delete

begin insert

begin insert 53121. end insert   

end insert begin insert

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms
have the following meanings:

end insert begin insert

(1) “Automatic location identification (ALI)” means the
automatic display at the PSAP of a caller’s telephone number,
address or location of the telephone, and supplementary emergency
services information.

end insert begin insert

(2) “Automatic number identification (ANI)” means the
automatic display at the PSAP of the telephone number associated
with the access line from which a 911 call originates.

end insert begin insert

(3) “Centrex” means a business telephone service offered by
some local exchange carriers that provides PBX-type features over
access lines.

end insert begin insert

(4) “Emergency location identification number (ELIN)” means
a valid North American numbering plan format telephone number
(assigned to the MLTS operator by the appropriate authority),
that is used to route the call to a PSAP and used to retrieve the
ALI for the PSAP. The ELIN may be the same number as the ANI.
In some cases, the number may not be a dialable number.

end insert begin insert

(5) “Emergency response location (ERL)” means a location
that provides a minimum of the building and floor location of the
caller to which a 911 emergency response team may be dispatched.

end insert begin insert

(6) “Master street address guide (MSAG)” means a database
of street names and house number ranges within their associated
communities defining emergency service zones and their associated
emergency service numbers to enable proper routing of 911 calls.

end insert begin insert

(7) “Multiline telephone system (MLTS)” means a system
comprised of a common control unit or units, telephone sets, and
control hardware and software. This includes, but is not limited
to, network and premises based systems, such as Centrex and PBX,
Hybrid, and Key Telephone Systems.

end insert begin insert

(8) “MLTS operator” means the entity that purchases, leases,
or otherwise contracts for the entity’s use of the MLTS and
therefore is responsible for ensuring that a 911 emergency call
placed from an MLTS is transmitted in accordance with this
section, regardless of the type of MLTS technology used to generate
the call.

end insert begin insert

(9) “Private emergency answering point (PEAP)” means an
answering point operated by nonpublic safety entities with
alternative and adequate means of signaling and directing a
response to emergencies.

end insert begin insert

(10) “Private branch exchange (PBX)” means a private
telephone switch that is connected to the public switched telephone
Network or successor network.

end insert begin insert

(11) “Public switched telephone network (PSTN)” means the
network of equipment, lines, and controls assembled to establish
communication paths between calling and called parties in North
America.

end insert begin insert

(12) “Public safety answering point (PSAP)” means a facility
equipped and staffed to receive 911 calls.

end insert begin insert

(13) “Workspace” means the physical building area where
work is normally performed. This is a net square footage
measurement that includes hallways, conference rooms, restrooms,
and break rooms, but does not include wall thickness, shafts,
heating, ventilating, or air conditioning equipment spaces,
mechanical electrical spaces, or similar areas where employees
do not normally perform work activities.

end insert

begin delete end delete
begin insert (b) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert A multiline telephone system (MLTS) operator end insert shall maintain
and operate the MLTS in such a manner that a telephone call made
by dialing the digits “911” and, if applicable, any additional digit
that must be dialed in order to permit the user to access the begin delete public
switched telephone network end delete begin insert PSTN end insert from any telephone on the
MLTS is routed to begin delete a public safety answering point (PSAP) end delete begin insert the
appropriate PSAP end insert and provides begin delete automatic location information end delete
begin insert ALI end insert or begin delete automatic number identification end delete begin insert ANI end insert to the 911 network
that connects to the PSAP.

begin delete

(b) Enhanced 911 MLTS support service is deemed to be
available if all of the following features are operating:

(1) The PSAP can accept emergency location identification
number information from the MLTS using generally accepted
industry standard interfaces.

(2) The PSAP has customer premise equipment in place to
accept and store the emergency response location information
provided by the MLTS.

(3) The PSAP is equipped to utilize the emergency response
location information.

end delete

(c)  begin delete For an MLTS serving business locations, the end delete begin insert An end insert MLTS
operator shall program the MLTS equipment to begin delete deliver the end delete begin insert transmit
with any end insert 911 call begin delete with an emergency location identification number
which will result in either of the following: end delete begin insert the ELIN and
emergency response location of the caller either directly to the
PSAP, or in a manner that enables a direct response through an
alternate and adequate means of signaling by the establishment
of a private point. end insert

begin delete

(1) An emergency response location which provides a minimum
of the building and floor location of the caller.

end delete begin delete

(2) An ability to direct response through an alternate and
adequate means of signaling by the establishments of a private
answering point.

end delete

(d) (1) An entity that is the seller or lessor of an MLTS system
shall provide, at the time of sale or lease, to the purchaser or lessee
begin delete and to each new user, end delete either a demonstration of begin insert , or written
instructions as to, end insert how to place an emergency call from a telephone begin delete station or provide written instructions at each telephone station on
how to do so. end delete begin insert station. end insert

(2) An MLTS operator shall begin delete either end delete provide each new user of
the MLTS with begin insert either end insert a demonstration of begin insert , or written instructions
at each station as to, end insert how to place an emergency call from a
telephone begin delete station or provide written instructions at each station on
how to do so. end delete begin insert station. end insert

(e) (1)  begin delete Where applicable, an end delete begin insert An end insert MLTS operator shall arrange
to update the begin delete automatic location information end delete begin insert ALI end insert database with
appropriate begin delete master street address guide end delete begin insert MSAG or an appropriate
equivalent end insert valid address and callback information for each MLTS
telephone, such that the location information specifies the
emergency response location of the caller. These updates shall be
downloaded or made available to the automatic location
information database provider as soon as practicable for begin insert a end insert new
MLTS installation, or within one business day of the record of
completion of the actual changes for previously installed systems.
The information is subject to all federal and state privacy and
confidentiality laws.

(2) The MLTS operator shall review and verify the accuracy of
the number and location information provided by the MLTS at
least once annually.

(f)  begin delete An MLTS operator shall be considered to be in compliance
with this section when the MLTS complies with applicable end delete
begin insert Applicable end insert Federal Communications Commission rules and orders
regarding enhanced 911 systems begin insert shall take precedence over any
provision contained in this section end insert .

(g)  begin delete A business providing temporary structures or facilities,
regardless of size, with an MLTS shall permit the dialing of 911
and the MLTS operator end delete begin insert The MLTS operator that provides voice
communication services to temporary structures or facilities,
regardless of the size, end insert shall ensure that the MLTS is connected to
the begin delete public switched telephone network end delete begin insert PSTN end insert . Where automatic
location information records are not provided for each individual
station, the MLTS operator of the temporary structure or facility
shall provide specific location information of the caller to the
PSAP.

(h) (1) An MLTS operator begin insert , service provider end insert , its employees, or
its agents shall not be liable to any person for damages incurred
as the result of any act or omission by it, except for gross
negligence or intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct, in
connection with maintaining or operating the MLTS in a manner
required by this section.

(2) A begin delete telecommunications end delete voice service provider, begin insert or end insert its affiliates,
directors, officers, employees, or agents shall not be liable to any
person for damages incurred as the result of the release of
information not in the public record, including, but not limited to,
unpublished or unlisted telephone numbers, to a PSAP, its
employees or agents, or to emergency responders, made in
connection with an emergency call.

(i)  begin delete An end delete begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert This section shall not apply to an end insert MLTS serving begin insert a
building or end insert multiple buildings or structures with a combined total
workspace of 7,000 square feet or less begin delete shall not be required to
provide more than one emergency response location. An MLTS
serving a single building with 7,000 square feet of workspace or
less shall not be required to provide more than one emergency
response location end delete . In the event of a begin delete dispute over the total amount
of end delete begin insert dispute, the State Fire Marshal shall determine the end insert square
begin delete footage, the State Fire Marshal shall determine whether the
exemption applies to the building or structures end delete begin insert footage of a
workspace end insert .

begin delete

(j) Key Telephone Systems, which serve only small workspace
areas, are not required to comply with this section. Other MLTS,
such as PBX or Hybrids (systems that incorporate the functionality
of both Key Telephone Systems and PBX), shall comply with this
section.

end delete begin delete

(k) This section shall not apply to MLTS operators in areas
without enhanced 911 service.

end delete begin insert

(2) This exemption does not apply to temporary structures or
facilities with MLTS.

end insert begin delete

(l)

end delete

begin insert (j) end insert  An entity that is a seller or lessor of an MLTS system in
violation of this section after January 1, 2019, may be assessed a
fine from five hundred dollars ($500) to five thousand dollars
($5,000) per system sold or leased.

begin delete

(m) For purposes of this section, “MLTS operator” means the
entity that purchases, leases, or otherwise contracts for the entity’s
use of the MLTS equipment.

(n) For purposes of this section, “emergency response location”
means a location that provides, at a minimum, the location of the
building and floor number of the caller to which a 911 emergency
response team may be dispatched.

end delete begin delete

(o)

end delete

begin insert (k) end insert  The provisions of this section shall become operative on
January 1, 2019. In areas where enhanced 911 service first becomes
available after January 1, 2019, MLTS providers shall have 12
months from the date enhanced 911 service became available to
comply with these provisions.