BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS
Senator Ben Hueso, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 1564 Hearing Date: 6/21/2016
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|Author: |Williams |
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|Version: |3/17/2016 As Amended |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Nidia Bautista |
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SUBJECT: Emergency services: wireless 911 calls: routing
DIGEST: This bill requires the Office of Emergency Services
(OES), working with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and
county coordinators to review and ensure the most efficient
routing of mobile calls to the 911 system.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Establishes the Warren-911 Emergency Assistance Act and
provides a local public agency to adopt a plan to implement a
9-1-1 emergency telephone response system, and establishes the
State 9-1-1 Advisory Board. (Government §Code 53100, et seq.)
2)Requires a provider of mobile telephone service to provide
access to the local emergency telephone systems described in
the Warren-911 Act. (Public Utilities Code §2892)
3)Authorizes a 9-1-1 call from a mobile phone service to be
routed to a local public safety access point (PSAP) other than
the CHP, if the alternate routing meets specified criteria.
(Public Utilities Code §2892)
This bill:
1)Requires the OES to take all necessary actions to maximize the
efficiency of the "911" system.
2)Requires OES to require the Public Safety Communications
AB 1564 (Williams) Page 2 of ?
Division (PSCD) to work with the CHP and county coordinators
to review call data to determine the most efficient routing
for wireless 911 calls based on annual comprehensive statewide
review and routing decisionmaking process.
3)Provides that after completion of annual comprehensive
statewide review and routing decisionmaking process, a local
fire, police, sheriff, or emergency medical services agency,
or a local public safety answering point, may submit a written
requires for a review of a specific cell sector based on
specified criteria.
4)Requires OES to require PSCD to work with the wireless
carriers to verify that all cell sector routing decisions have
been implemented.
Background
California's 9-1-1 system. The OES Public Safety Communications
Division is tasked with administering the 9-1-1 emergency
telephone response system in the state, including reviewing PSAP
equipment and operations. PSCD is responsible for design,
installation, maintenance and repair of the statewide microwave
network and public safety radio communications systems used by
the State's public safety agencies' first responders on a 24
hours/7 days a week/365 days a year basis. PSC is responsible
for the administration and oversight of the State Emergency
Telephone Number Account (SETNA) used to fund 9-1-1 in
California, and for the design development of the statewide
network that supports delivery of 9-1-1 calls to the State's 452
PSAPs, with over 400 that are non-CHP.
Growth of wireless telephones. When the 9-1-1 system was first
established in the 1970s, the majority of emergency calls were
made from landlines. The emergency response system receives a
call which is routed to a PSAP and the dispatcher dispatches
emergency services to the location. With the advent of mobile
phones, 9-1-1 calls from mobile phones were routed to a CHP
dispatcher in recognition that most of the early mobile phones
were in cars, and it was assumed that most of the calls related
to issues experienced on the roads. However, as mobile phone
use has grown and devices have become smaller, more 9-1-1 calls
are coming from locations that aren't necessarily near the CHP
patrolled freeways and roadways. Yet, the current dispatch
system still largely relies on the CHP to dispatch the call,
AB 1564 (Williams) Page 3 of ?
potentially delaying on-the-ground emergency response.
According to numbers from 2013, there were over 25 million 9-1-1
calls placed with about 75 percent coming from wireless phones.
Misrouting of calls. According to the author, in January of
2014, a 23 year old woman was found by her brother to be
unresponsive. He called 911 from his mobile phone and his call
was first routed to the CHP, delaying the emergency response
time. The City of Santa Barbara dispatched emergency response
to a location 10 minutes from initial dispatch to arrive at the
correct location. According to the author, as a result of the
delay, the woman died.
Need to improve efficiency. This bill would require OES to
conduct a statewide comprehensive assessment of the 9-1-1
routing system and adjust the routing to improve the response
times and locations. While currently allowed under law, this
bill would require OES to conduct this assessment and make
routing decision on an annually basis, thereby continuously
improving the routing system. These changes have the potential
to shave minutes from on-the-ground emergency response which
could help save lives and improve health outcomes.
Prior/Related Legislation
AB 510 (Rodriguez, 2016) would have increased the membership of
the State 9-1-1 Advisory Board from 11 members to 15. Held in
Assembly Committee on Appropriation.
AB 510 (Rodriguez, 2016) would have required Cal OES to conduct
a comprehensive review of the California's 9-1-1 emergency
communication systems. Held by author in this committee.
SB 1211 (Padilla, Chapter 926, Statutes of 2014) required Cal
OES to develop a plan and timeline for testing, implementation,
and operation of a Next Generation 9-1-1 (Next Gen 9-1-1)
emergency communication system, including text, throughout
California.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT:
AB 1564 (Williams) Page 4 of ?
Fire Chiefs Association of Santa Barbara County (Source)
American Heart Association
American Medical Response
American Stroke Association
California Ambulance Association
California Chapter of the American College of Emergency
Physicians
California Fire Chiefs Association
California Peace Officers' Association
California Professional Firefighters
California State Sheriffs' Association
County of Santa Barbara
Emergency Medical Directors Association of California
Emergency Medical Administrators' Association of California
Emergency Medical Services Administrators Association
Fire Districts Association of California
League of California Cities
OPPOSITION:
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The author states: "By clarifying the
process by which an alternate PSAP is selected, people in
emergency situations will reach the most efficient emergency
responders the first time, shaving minutes from response times.
This will dramatically improve lifesaving outcomes for the
public who call 9-1-1."
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