BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 510 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 510 (Rodriguez) - As Introduced February 23, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Governmental Organization |Vote:|21 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill requires the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to conduct, by January 1, 2017, a comprehensive review of the state's 911 emergency communications system, including all public safety answering points, available technology, funding needs, telephone and equipment limitations, and the accuracy of calls made by mobile devices, and provide a report on its findings and recommendations to the Legislature. FISCAL EFFECT: AB 510 Page 2 Minor and absorbable costs to OES as a similar report has already been commissioned. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. According to the author, there are two primary problems with the state's current 911 emergency call system resulting from the widespread use of mobile phones: (i) calls are misrouted to the incorrect public safety answering point, sometimes in another city or county; and (ii) caller location information provided to the public safety answering point is often inaccurate. The author claims approximately 70% to 80% of 911 calls are now made by wireless devices. These calls are typically forwarded to the California Highway Patrol, which ascertains the location of the call and transfers the caller to the appropriate local dispatch center, often causing delays in emergency response services. 2)Review Underway. The author believes it is imperative the state perform a review of its 911 emergency communications systems and procedures, and adopt new technologies to improve performance and accuracy. OES agrees, and has commissioned such a study, a copy of which would likely be sufficient to comply with the requirements of this bill. In addition, the Federal Communications Commission promulgated new rules requiring 911 systems to provide greater accuracy in locating wireless callers, phasing in the new requirements over the next 5 years. 3)Withering Fees. The state's 911 program is currently funded with a statewide 0.75% surcharge on intrastate telephone costs. Revenue from this surcharge has been declining for years as a result in reductions in intrastate telephone charges. In response, several other states have instituted flat monthly fees for all telephone customers to fund 911 AB 510 Page 3 program costs. Analysis Prepared by:Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916) 319-2081