CHAPTER 34A
911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEMS

Referred to in §16.161, 423.3
This chapter not enacted as a part of this 

title; transferred from chapter 477B in Code 1993

SUBCHAPTER I
LOCAL OPTION 911 SERVICE SURCHARGE

AND 911 SERVICE
Referred to in §34A.20

     
34A.1  Purpose.
  The general assembly finds that 911 emergency telephone communication systems and other emergency 911 notification devices further the public interest and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Iowa. The purpose of this chapter is to enable the orderly development, installation, and operation of 911 emergency telephone communication systems and other emergency 911 notification devices statewide. These systems are to be operated under governmental management and control for the public benefit.
88 Acts, ch 1177, §1
C89, §477B.1
C93, §34A.1
2004 Acts, ch 1175, §444; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §2

  
     
34A.2  Definitions.
  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
  1.  “911 call processing equipment” means equipment owned by the department of homeland security and emergency management that functions in a host remote environment, provides 911 call processing functionality to public safety answering points, and utilizes the next generation 911 network. “911 call processing equipment” includes but is not limited to computer aided dispatch, voice logging recorders, mapping, and emergency medical dispatch.
  2.  “911 call processing equipment provider” means a vendor or vendors selected by the department of homeland security and emergency management to provide 911 call processing equipment.
  3.  “911 call transport provider” means a vendor or vendors selected by the department of homeland security and emergency management to deliver aggregated wire-line 911 call traffic to the next generation 911 network and from the next generation 911 network to public safety answering points.
  4.  “911 service area” means the geographic area encompassing at least one entire county, and which may encompass a geographical area outside the one entire county not restricted to county boundaries, serviced or to be serviced under a 911 service plan.
  5.  “911 service plan” means a plan that includes the following information:
  a.  A description of the 911 service area.
  b.  A list of all public and private safety agencies within the 911 service area.
  c.  The number of public safety answering points within the 911 service area.
  d.  (1)  A statement of estimated costs to be incurred by the joint 911 service board or the department of public safety, including separate estimates of the following:
  (a)  Nonrecurring costs, including but not limited to public safety answering points, 911 call processing equipment, internet and telephone access, database, addressing, training, and other capital expenditures, including the purchase or lease of subscriber names, addresses, and telephone information from the local exchange service provider.
  (b)  Recurring costs, including but not limited to 911 call processing equipment, internet and telephone access, equipment, and database management, and maintenance, including the purchase or lease of subscriber names, addresses, and telephone information from the local exchange service provider. Recurring costs shall not include personnel costs for a public safety answering point.
  (2)  Funds deposited in a 911 service fund are appropriated and shall be used for the payment of costs that are limited to nonrecurring and recurring costs directly attributable to the receipt and disposition of the 911 call. Costs do not include expenditures for any other purpose, and specifically exclude costs attributable to other emergency services or expenditures for buildings or personnel, except for the costs of personnel for database management and personnel directly associated with addressing.
  e.  A schedule for implementation of the plan throughout the 911 service area. The schedule may provide for phased implementation.
  f.  The number of telephone access lines and voice over internet protocol service connections capable of access to 911 in the 911 service area.
  g.  The total property valuation in the 911 service area.
  h.  A plan to migrate to a next generation 911 network.
  6.  “Access line” means an exchange access line that has the ability to access dial tone and reach a public safety answering point.
  7.  “Communications service” means a service capable of accessing, connecting with, or interfacing with a 911 system by dialing, initializing, or otherwise activating the system exclusively through the digits 911 by means of a local telephone device, wireless communications device, or any other device capable of interfacing with the 911 system.
  8.  “Competitive local exchange service provider” means any person, including a municipal utility, that provides local exchange services, other than a local exchange carrier or a non-rate-regulated wireline provider of local exchange services under an authorized certificate of public convenience and necessity within a specific geographic area described in maps filed with and approved by the Iowa utilities commission as of September 30, 1992.
  9.  “Director” means the director of the department of homeland security and emergency management.
  10.  “Emergency communications service surcharge” means a charge established by the program manager in accordance with section 34A.7A.
  11.  “Emergency services internet protocol network” or “ESInet” means a system using broadband packet-switched technology that is capable of supporting the transmission of varying types of data to be shared by all public or private safety agencies that are involved in an emergency.
  12.  “Enhanced 911” or “E911” means a service that provides the user of a communications service with the ability to reach a public safety answering point by using the digits 911, and that has the following additional features:
  a.  Routes an incoming 911 call to the appropriate public safety answering point.
  b.  Automatically provides voice, displays the name, address or location, and telephone number of an incoming 911 call and public safety agency servicing the location.
  13.  “Geographic information system” or “GIS” means a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographical data.
  14.  “Local exchange carrier” means any person that was the incumbent and historical rate-regulated wireline provider of local exchange services or any successor to such person that provides local exchange services under an authorized certificate of public convenience and necessity within a specific geographic area described in maps filed with and approved by the Iowa utilities commission as of September 30, 1992.
  15.  “Local exchange service provider” means a vendor engaged in providing telecommunications service between points within an exchange and includes but is not limited to a competitive local exchange service provider and a local exchange carrier.
  16.  “Next generation 911 network” means an internet protocol-enabled system that enables the public to transmit digital information to public safety answering points and is responsible for the delivery of all 911 messages within the state. “Next generation 911 network” replaces enhanced 911 and includes but is not limited to 911 voice and nonvoice messages generated by originating service providers, ESInet, GIS, cybersecurity, and other system components.
  17.  “Next generation 911 network service provider” means a vendor or vendors selected by the department of homeland security and emergency management to provide next generation 911 network functionality. 
  18.  “Originating service provider” means a communications provider that allows its users or subscribers to originate 911 voice or nonvoice messages from the public to public safety answering points, including but not limited to wire-line, wireless, and voice over internet protocol services.
  19.  “Prepaid wireless telecommunications service” means a wireless communications service that provides the right to utilize mobile wireless service as well as other nontelecommunications services, including the download of digital products delivered electronically, content and ancillary services, which must be paid for in advance and that is sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the amount declines with use in a known amount.
  20.  “Program manager” means the 911 program manager appointed pursuant to section 34A.2A.
  21.  “Provider” means a vendor who provides, or offers to provide, 911 equipment, installation, maintenance, or exchange access services within the 911 service area.
  22.  “Public or private safety agency” means a unit of state or local government, a local emergency management agency as defined in section 29C.2, a special purpose district, or a private firm which provides or has the authority to provide fire fighting, police, ambulance, or emergency medical services, or hazardous materials response.
  23.  “Public safety answering point” means a twenty-four-hour public safety communications facility that receives 911 service calls and directly dispatches emergency response services or relays calls to the appropriate public or private safety agency.
  24.  “Voice over internet protocol service” means a service to which all of the following apply:
  a.  The service provides real-time two-way voice communications transmitted using internet protocol or a successor protocol.
  b.  The service is offered to the public, or such classes of users as to be effectively available to the public.
  c.  The service has the capability to originate traffic to, and terminate traffic from, the public switched telephone network or a successor network.
  25.  “Wireless communications service” means commercial mobile radio service. “Wireless communications service” includes any wireless two-way communications used in cellular telephone service, personal communications service, or the functional or competitive equivalent of a radio-telephone communications line used in cellular telephone service, a personal communications service, or a network access line. “Wireless communications service” does not include a service whose customers do not have access to 911 or 911-like service, a communications channel utilized only for data transmission, or a private telecommunications system. 
  26.  “Wireless communications service provider” means a company that offers wireless communications service to users of wireless devices including but not limited to cellular, personal communications services, mobile satellite services, and enhanced specialized mobile radio. 
  27.  “Wireless E911 phase 1” means a 911 call made from a wireless device in which the wireless communications service provider delivers the call-back number and address of the tower that received the call to the appropriate public safety answering point.
  28.  “Wireless E911 phase 2” means a 911 call made from a wireless device in which the wireless communications service provider delivers the call-back number and the latitude and longitude coordinates of the wireless device to the appropriate public safety answering point.
  29.  “Wire-line 911 service surcharge” means a charge set by the 911 service area operating authority and assessed on each wire-line access line which physically terminates within the 911 service area in accordance with section 34A.7.
88 Acts, ch 1177, §2
C89, §477B.2
92 Acts, ch 1139, §34
C93, §34A.2
93 Acts, ch 125, §1; 94 Acts, ch 1199, §45; 98 Acts, ch 1101, §3, 4, 16; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §445; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §201; 2012 Acts, ch 1111, §1; 2013 Acts, ch 29, §31, 32; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §3; 2018 Acts, ch 1076, §1 – 3, 11; 2021 Acts, ch 75, §5; 2021 Acts, ch 80, §16; 2022 Acts, ch 1021, §19; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §369
Referred to in §34A.7

     
34A.2A  Program manager — appointment — duties.
  1.  The director of the department of homeland security and emergency management shall appoint a 911 program manager to administer this chapter.
  2.  The 911 program manager shall act under the supervisory control of the director of the department of homeland security and emergency management, and in consultation with the 911 communications council, and shall perform the duties specifically set forth in this chapter and as assigned by the director.
98 Acts, ch 1101, §5, 16; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §446; 2013 Acts, ch 29, §33; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §4
Referred to in §16.161, 34A.2

  
     
34A.3  Joint 911 service board — 911 service plan — implementation — waivers.
  1.  Joint 911 service boards — plans.
  a.  The board of supervisors of each county shall maintain a joint 911 service board.
  (1)  Each political subdivision of the state having a public safety agency serving territory within the county and each local emergency management agency as defined in section 29C.2 operating within the area is entitled to voting membership on the joint 911 service board. For the purposes of this section, a township that operates a volunteer fire department providing fire protection services to the township, or a city which provides fire protection services through the operation of a volunteer fire department not financed through city government, shall be considered a political subdivision of the state having a public safety agency serving territory within the county. Each private safety agency operating within the area is entitled to nonvoting membership on the board.
  (2)  A township that does not operate its own public safety agency, but contracts for the provision of public safety services, is not entitled to membership on the joint 911 service board, but its contractor is entitled to membership according to the contractor’s status as a public or private safety agency.
  (3)  The sheriff of each county, or the sheriff’s designee, is entitled to voting membership on the joint 911 service board.
  (4)  The chief of police of each city operating a public safety answering point, or the chief of police’s designee, is entitled to voting membership on the joint 911 service board of the county where the city is located.
  b.  The joint 911 service board shall maintain a 911 service plan encompassing at minimum the entire county, unless an exemption is granted by the program manager permitting a smaller 911 service area.
  (1)  The program manager may grant a discretionary exemption from the single county minimum service area requirement based upon a joint 911 service board’s or other 911 service plan operating authority’s presentation of evidence which supports the requested exemption if the program manager finds that local conditions make adherence to the minimum standard unreasonable or technically infeasible and that the purposes of this chapter would be furthered by granting an exemption. The minimum size requirement is intended to prevent unnecessary duplication of public safety answering points and minimize other administrative, personnel, and equipment expenses.
  (2)  The program manager may order the inclusion of a specific territory not serviced by surrounding 911 service plan areas in an adjoining 911 service plan area upon request of the joint 911 service board representing the territory to avoid the creation by exclusion of a territory smaller than a single county.
  c.  The 911 service plan operating authority shall submit proposed changes to the plan to all of the following:
  (1)  The program manager.
  (2)  Public and private safety agencies in the 911 service area.
  (3)  Local exchange service providers affected by the 911 service plan.
  2.  Compliance waivers available in limited circumstances.
  a.  The program manager may extend the time period for plan implementation by issuing a compliance waiver.
  b.  The compliance waiver shall be based upon a joint 911 service board’s presentation of evidence which supports an extension if the program manager finds that local conditions make implementation financially unreasonable or technically infeasible by the originally scheduled plan of implementation.
  c.  The compliance waiver shall be for a set period of time, and subject to review and renewal or denial of renewal upon its expiration.
  d.  The waiver may cover all or a portion of a 911 service plan’s 911 service area to facilitate phased implementation when possible.
  e.  The granting of a compliance waiver does not create a presumption that the identical or similar waiver will be extended in the future.
  f.  Consideration of compliance waivers shall be on a case-by-case basis.
  3.  Chapter 28E agreement — alternative to joint 911 service board.
  a.  A legal entity created pursuant to chapter 28E by a county or counties, other political divisions, and public or private agencies to jointly plan, implement, and operate a countywide, or larger, 911 service system may be substituted for the joint 911 service board required under subsection 1. An alternative legal entity created pursuant to chapter 28E as a substitute for a joint 911 service board, as permitted by this subsection, may be created by either:
  (1)  Agreement of the parties entitled to voting membership on a joint 911 service board.
  (2)  Agreement of the members of a joint 911 service board.
  b.  An alternative chapter 28E entity has all of the powers of a joint 911 service board and any additional powers granted by the agreement. As used in this chapter, “joint 911 service board” includes an alternative chapter 28E entity created for that purpose, except as specifically limited by the chapter 28E agreement or unless clearly provided otherwise in this chapter. A chapter 28E agreement related to 911 service shall permit the participation of a private safety agency or other persons allowed to participate in a joint 911 service board, but the terms, scope, and conditions of participation are subject to the chapter 28E agreement.
  4.  Local emergency management commission — alternative to 911 service board.
  a.  Subject to section 29C.9, subsection 10, a local emergency management commission may be substituted for the joint 911 service board required under subsection 1 by the board of supervisors of the county in which the joint 911 service board is maintained.
  b.  A commission shall have all of the powers of a joint 911 service board if a commission is substituted for the joint 911 service board pursuant to paragraph “a”.
  c.  As used in this chapter, “joint 911 service board” includes a commission if a commission is substituted for the joint 911 service board pursuant to paragraph “a”.
  5.  Participation in joint 911 service board required.  A political subdivision having a public or private safety agency within its territory or jurisdiction shall participate in a joint 911 service board and cooperate in maintaining the 911 service plan.
88 Acts, ch 1177, §3
C89, §477B.3
89 Acts, ch 168, §1, 2
C93, §34A.3
93 Acts, ch 125, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1101, §6, 16; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §447; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §143; 2008 Acts, ch 1070, §1; 2012 Acts, ch 1111, §2; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §5; 2018 Acts, ch 1026, §15; 2019 Acts, ch 71, §1; 2022 Acts, ch 1073, §2
Referred to in §29C.9, 34A.11

     
34A.4  Requirements of pay telephones and other telecommunications devices to allow 911 calls without depositing coins or other charge.
  In a 911 service area, a person shall not install or offer for use within the 911 service area a pay station telephone or other fixed device unless the telephone or device is capable of making a 911 call without prior insertion of a coin or payment of any other charge, and unless the telephone or device displays notice of free 911 service.
88 Acts, ch 1177, §4
C89, §477B.4
C93, §34A.4
2004 Acts, ch 1175, §448; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §6

     
34A.5  Private listing subscribers and 911 service.
  Private listing subscribers in a 911 service area waive the privacy afforded by nonlisted or nonpublished numbers to the extent that the name and address associated with the telephone number may be furnished to the 911 service system, for all routing, for automatic retrieval of location information, and for associated emergency services.
88 Acts, ch 1177, §5
C89, §477B.5
C93, §34A.5
2017 Acts, ch 136, §7
34A.6 and 34A.6ARepealed by 2013 Acts, ch 120, §92013 Acts, ch 120, §9.

  
     
34A.7  Funding — wire-line 911 service surcharge.
  When a 911 service plan is implemented, the costs of providing 911 service within a 911 service area are the responsibility of the joint 911 service board and the member political subdivisions. Costs in excess of the amount raised by imposition of the 911 service surcharge provided for under subsection 1 shall be paid by the joint 911 service board from such revenue sources allocated among the member political subdivisions as determined by the joint 911 service board. Funding is not limited to the surcharge, and surcharge revenues may be supplemented by other permissible local and state revenue sources. A joint 911 service board shall not commit a political subdivision to appropriate property tax revenues to fund a 911 service plan without the consent of the political subdivision. A joint 911 service board may approve a 911 service plan, including a funding formula requiring appropriations by participating political subdivisions, subject to the approval of the funding formula by each political subdivision. However, a political subdivision may agree in advance to appropriate property tax revenues or other moneys according to a formula or plan developed by an alternative chapter 28E entity.
  1.  Local wire-line 911 service surcharge imposition.
  a.  To encourage local implementation of 911 service, one source of funding for 911 emergency communication systems shall come from a surcharge per month, per access line on each access line subscriber, of one dollar.
  b.  The surcharge shall be imposed by order of the program manager as follows:
  (1)  The program manager shall notify a local exchange service provider scheduled to provide exchange access line service to a 911 service area that implementation of a 911 service plan has been approved by the joint 911 service board and that collection of the surcharge is to begin within sixty days.
  (2)  The program manager shall also provide notice to all affected public safety answering points.
  2.  Surcharge collected by local exchange service providers.
  a.  The surcharge shall be collected as part of the access line service provider’s periodic billing to a subscriber. In compensation for the costs of billing and collection, the local exchange service provider may retain one percent of the gross surcharges collected. If the compensation is insufficient to fully recover a local exchange service provider’s costs for billing and collection of the surcharge, the deficiency shall be included in the local exchange service provider’s costs for ratemaking purposes to the extent it is reasonable and just under section 476.6. The surcharge shall be remitted to the joint 911 service board for deposit into the 911 service fund quarterly by the local exchange service provider. The total amount for multiple exchanges may be combined.
  b.  A local exchange service provider is not liable for an uncollected surcharge for which the local exchange service provider has billed a subscriber but not been paid. The surcharge shall appear as a single line item on a subscriber’s periodic billing entitled, “911 emergency communications service surcharge”.
  c.  The joint 911 service board may request, not more than once each quarter, the following information from the local exchange service provider:
  (1)  The identity of the exchange from which the surcharge is collected.
  (2)  The number of lines to which the surcharge was applied for the quarter.
  (3)  The number of refusals to pay per exchange if applicable.
  (4)  Write-offs applied per exchange if applicable.
  (5)  The number of lines exempt per exchange.
  (6)  The amount retained by the local exchange service provider generated from the one percent administration fee.
  d.  Access line counts and surcharge remittances are confidential public records as provided in section 34A.8.
  3.  Maximum limit per subscriber billing for surcharge.  An individual subscriber shall not be required to pay on a single periodic billing the surcharge on more than one hundred access lines, or their equivalent, in a 911 service area. A subscriber shall pay the surcharge in each 911 service area in which the subscriber receives access line service.
  4.  911 service fund.  Each joint 911 service board shall establish and maintain as a separate account a 911 service fund. Any funds remaining in the account at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general funds of the member political subdivisions, except as provided in subsection 5, but shall remain in the 911 service fund. Moneys in a 911 service fund may only be used for nonrecurring and recurring costs of the 911 service plan as approved by the program manager, as those terms are defined by section 34A.2.
  5.  Use of moneys in fund — priority and limitations on expenditure.
  a.  Moneys deposited in a 911 service fund shall be used for the repayment of any bonds issued for the benefit of or loan made to the joint 911 service board pursuant to sections 34A.20 through 34A.22, and as long as any such bond or loan remains unpaid the surcharge shall not be reduced or eliminated. Moneys deposited in the fund shall be subject to such terms and conditions as may be contained in the relevant bond documents, trust indenture, resolution, loan agreement, or other instrument pursuant to which bonds are issued or a loan is made, without regard to any limitation otherwise provided by law. 
  b.  Moneys deposited in a 911 service fund shall be used for the following, in order of priority if paragraph “a” does not apply:
  (1)  Money shall first be spent for actual recurring costs of operating the 911 service plan.
  (2)  If money remains in the fund after fully paying for recurring costs incurred in the preceding year, the remainder may be spent to pay for nonrecurring costs, not to exceed actual nonrecurring costs as approved by the program manager.
  (3)  If money remains in the fund after fully paying obligations under subparagraphs (1) and (2), the remainder may be accumulated in the fund as a carryover operating surplus. 
  6.  Limitation of liability — provider not liable on cause of action related to provision of 911 services.  A claim or cause of action does not exist based upon or arising out of an act or omission in connection with a land-line or wireless provider’s participation in a 911 service plan or provision of 911 or local exchange access service, unless the act or omission is determined to be willful and wanton negligence.
88 Acts, ch 1177, §7
C89, §477B.7
89 Acts, ch 168, §4 – 6; 90 Acts, ch 1144, §2 – 4
C93, §34A.7
98 Acts, ch 1101, §8, 16; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §450 – 452; 2005 Acts, ch 140, §1; 2012 Acts, ch 1111, §5 – 8; 2013 Acts, ch 120, §1 – 4; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §8; 2018 Acts, ch 1076, §4, 11
Referred to in §34A.2, 34A.7B, 476.95

  
     
34A.7A  Emergency communications service surcharge — fund established — distribution and permissible expenditures.
  1.  a.  The director shall adopt by rule a monthly surcharge of one dollar to be imposed on each originating service number provided in this state. The surcharge shall be imposed uniformly on a statewide basis and simultaneously on all originating service numbers as provided by rule of the director. The surcharge shall not be imposed on wire-line-based communications or prepaid wireless telecommunications service.
  b.  The program manager shall provide no less than sixty days’ notice of the surcharge to be imposed to each originating service provider. 
  c.  (1)  The surcharge shall be collected as part of the originating service provider’s periodic billing to a subscriber. The surcharge shall appear as a single line item on a subscriber’s periodic billing indicating that the surcharge is for 911 emergency communications service. 
  (2)  In compensation for the costs of billing and collection, the originating service provider may retain one percent of the gross surcharges collected.
  (3)  The surcharges shall be remitted quarterly by the originating service provider to the program manager for deposit into the fund established in subsection 2.
  (4)  An originating service provider is not liable for an uncollected surcharge for which the originating service provider has billed a subscriber but which has not been paid.
  2.  Moneys collected pursuant to subsection 1 and section 34A.7B, subsection 2, shall be deposited in a separate 911 emergency communications fund within the state treasury under the control of the program manager. Section 8.33 shall not apply to moneys in the fund. Moneys earned as income, including as interest, from the fund shall remain in the fund until expended as provided in this section. Moneys in the fund shall be expended and distributed in the following priority order:
  a.  An amount as appropriated by the general assembly to the director shall be allocated to the director and program manager for implementation, support, and maintenance of the functions of the director and program manager and to employ the auditor of state to perform an annual audit of the 911 emergency communications fund.
  b.  (1)  The program manager shall allocate to each joint 911 service board and to the department of public safety a minimum of one thousand dollars per calendar quarter for each public safety answering point within the service area of the department of public safety or joint 911 service board.
  (2)  The amount allocated under this paragraph “b” shall be sixty percent of the total amount of surcharge generated per calendar quarter allocated as follows:
  (a)  Sixty-five percent of the total dollars available for allocation shall be allocated in proportion to the square miles of the service area to the total square miles in this state.
  (b)  Thirty-five percent of the total dollars available for allocation shall be allocated in proportion to the wireless 911 calls taken at the public safety answering point in the service area to the total number of wireless 911 calls originating in this state.
  (c)  Notwithstanding subparagraph divisions (a) and (b), the minimum amount allocated to each joint 911 service board and to the department of public safety shall be no less than one thousand dollars for each public safety answering point within the service area of the department of public safety or joint 911 service board.
  (3)  The funds allocated in this paragraph “b” shall be used by the public safety answering points for the receipt and disposition of 911 calls.
  c.  From July 1, 2013, until June 30, 2026, the program manager shall allocate ten percent of the total amount of surcharge generated to wireless carriers to recover their costs to deliver E911 phase 1 services. If the allocation in this paragraph is insufficient to reimburse all wireless carriers for such carrier’s eligible expenses, the program manager shall allocate a prorated amount to each wireless carrier equal to the percentage of such carrier’s eligible expenses as compared to the total of all eligible expenses for all wireless carriers for the calendar quarter during which such expenses were submitted. When prorated expenses are paid, the remaining unpaid expenses shall no longer be eligible for payment under this paragraph.
  d.  (1)  The program manager shall reimburse next generation 911 network service providers, 911 call processing equipment providers, 911 call transport providers, and third-party 911 automatic location identification database providers on a calendar quarterly basis for the costs of maintaining and upgrading the next generation 911 network functionality, 911 call processing equipment, 911 call transport from the next generation 911 network to public safety answering points and from the wireless originating service provider network to the next generation 911 network, and the automatic location identification database.
  (2)  The program manager may also provide grants to joint 911 service boards and the department of public safety for the purpose of developing and maintaining GIS data to be used in support of the next generation 911 network. The program manager shall provide guidelines, application forms, and notice of the availability of such grants on the department’s internet site.
  e.  The department of homeland security and emergency management may, in a reserve account established within the 911 emergency communications fund, credit each fiscal year an amount of up to twelve and one-half percent of the annual 911 emergency communications service surcharge collected pursuant to subsection 1 and the prepaid wireless 911 surcharge collected pursuant to section 34A.7B, subsection 2. However, the moneys contained in such reserve account shall not exceed twelve and one-half percent of the total surcharges collected for each fiscal year. Moneys credited to the reserve account shall only be used by the department for the purpose of repairing or replacing equipment in the event of a catastrophic equipment failure, as determined by the director.
  f.  (1)  If moneys remain in the fund after fully paying all obligations under paragraphs “a”, “b”, “c”, “d”, and “e”, remaining funds shall be expended and distributed in the following priority order:
  (a)  (i)  The director, in consultation with the program manager and the 911 communications council, may provide grants to any public safety answering point agreeing to consolidate. For purposes of this subparagraph division, “consolidate” means the consolidation of all public safety answering point systems, functions, 911 service areas, and physical facilities of two or more public safety answering points, resulting in the consolidated public safety answering point being responsible for all call answering and dispatch functions for the combined 911 service area. Such a grant to a public safety answering point shall not exceed one-half of the projected cost of consolidation, or two hundred thousand dollars, whichever is less.
  (ii)  Grants provided under this subparagraph may, subject to available funding, be provided until June 30, 2022.
  (iii)  The director, in consultation with the program manager and the 911 communications council, shall adopt rules governing the eligibility for and the 911 communications council’s distribution of grants to public safety answering points pursuant to this subparagraph division.
  (b)  The program manager, in consultation with the 911 communications council, shall allocate an amount, not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars per fiscal year, for development of public awareness and educational programs related to the use of 911 by the public, educational programs for personnel responsible for the maintenance, operation, and upgrading of local 911 systems, and the expenses of members of the 911 communications council for travel, monthly meetings, and training, provided, however, that the members have not received reimbursement funds for such expenses from another source.
  (c)  The program manager shall allocate an equal amount of moneys to each public safety answering point for costs related to the receipt and disposition of 911 calls, including hardware and software for the next generation 911 network and local costs related to accessing the state’s interoperable communications system.
  (2)  Notwithstanding section 8.33, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state but shall remain available for the purposes of the fund.
  g.  The director, in consultation with the program manager and the 911 communications council, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A governing the distribution of the surcharge collected and distributed pursuant to this subsection. The rules shall include provisions that all joint 911 service boards and the department of public safety which answer or service wireless 911 calls are eligible to receive an equitable portion of the receipts.
  3.  a.  The program manager shall submit an annual report by January 15 of each year to the general assembly’s standing committees on government oversight advising the general assembly of the status of 911 implementation and operations, including both wire-line and wireless services, the distribution of surcharge receipts, and an accounting of the revenues and expenses of the 911 program.
  b.  The program manager shall submit a calendar quarter report of the revenues and expenses of the 911 program to the fiscal services division of the legislative services agency.
  c.  The general assembly’s standing committees on government oversight shall review the priorities of distribution of funds under this chapter at least every two years.
  4.  The amount collected from an originating service provider and deposited in the fund, pursuant to section 22.7, subsection 6, information provided by an originating service provider to the program manager consisting of trade secrets, pursuant to section 22.7, subsection 3, and other financial or commercial operations information provided by an originating service provider to the program manager, shall be kept confidential as provided under section 22.7. This subsection does not prohibit the inclusion of information in any report providing aggregate amounts and information which does not identify numbers of accounts or customers, revenues, or expenses attributable to an individual originating service provider.
  5.  a.  The program manager, in consultation with the 911 communications council and the auditor of state, shall establish a methodology for determining and collecting public safety answering point cost and expense data through the county joint 911 service boards. The methodology shall include the collection of data for direct costs and expenses related to the operation of a public safety answering point and account for the extent to which identified costs and expenses are compensated for or addressed through 911 surcharges versus other sources of funding. 
  b.  Data collection pursuant to paragraph “a” shall commence no later than January 1, 2014, and shall be subject to an audit by the auditor of state beginning July 1, 2014. The program manager shall prepare a report detailing the methodology developed and the data collected after such data has been collected for a two-year period. The report and the results of the initial audit shall be submitted to the general assembly by March 1, 2016. A new report regarding data collection and the results of an ongoing audit for each successive two-year period shall be submitted by March 1 every two years thereafter. Expenses associated with the audit shall be paid to the auditor of state by the program manager from the 911 emergency communications fund established in subsection 2.
  c.  A county joint 911 service board which fails to submit expenses and costs pursuant to the methodology developed pursuant to paragraph “a” by March 31 of each year shall be allocated sixty-five cents out of the one dollar 911 emergency communications service surcharge until March 31 of the following year. Remaining funds shall be held in the carryover operating surplus fund until the expenses and cost report is submitted by the county joint 911 service board. If the county joint 911 service board submits the expense and cost report before March 30 of the following year, the set aside funds shall be provided to the county joint 911 service board. If the county joint 911 service board fails to submit the expense and cost report within one year, funds shall revert to the carryover operating surplus fund and be used in accordance with subsection 2, paragraph “f”.
98 Acts, ch 1101, §9, 16; 99 Acts, ch 96, §5; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §453 – 455; 2005 Acts, ch 140, §2; 2007 Acts, ch 213, §21; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §263; 2009 Acts, ch 86, §4; 2012 Acts, ch 1111, §9; 2013 Acts, ch 29, §35, 36; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §13; 2013 Acts, ch 120, §5 – 8; 2015 Acts, ch 129, §3, 5, 7, 8; 2016 Acts, ch 1100, §1; 2016 Acts, ch 1103, §2 – 4; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §9; 2018 Acts, ch 1076, §5 – 8, 11; 2022 Acts, ch 1031, §1
Referred to in §34A.2, 34A.7B, 34A.12, 34A.15

  
     
34A.7B  Prepaid wireless 911 surcharge.
  1.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
  a.  “Consumer” means a person who purchases prepaid wireless telecommunications service in a retail transaction.
  b.  “Department” means the department of revenue.
  c.  “Prepaid wireless 911 surcharge” means the surcharge that is required to be collected by a seller from a consumer in the amount established under this section.
  d.  “Provider” means a person who provides prepaid wireless telecommunications service pursuant to a license issued by the federal communications commission.
  e.  “Retail transaction” means the purchase of prepaid wireless telecommunications service from a seller for any purpose other than resale.
  f.  “Seller” means a person who sells prepaid wireless telecommunications service to another person.
  2.  There is imposed a prepaid wireless 911 surcharge of thirty-three cents on each retail transaction or, on or after the determination of an adjusted rate as determined pursuant to subsection 7, the adjusted rate.
  3.  The prepaid wireless 911 surcharge shall be collected by the seller from the consumer with respect to each retail transaction occurring in this state. The amount of the prepaid wireless 911 surcharge shall be either separately stated on an invoice, receipt, or other similar document that is provided to the consumer by the seller, or otherwise disclosed to the consumer.
  4.  For purposes of subsection 3, a retail transaction that is effected in person by a consumer at a business location of the seller shall be treated as occurring in this state if that business location is in this state, and any other retail transaction shall be treated as occurring in this state if the retail transaction is treated as occurring in this state for purposes of section 423.20 as that section applies to sourcing of a prepaid wireless calling service.
  5.  The prepaid wireless 911 surcharge is the liability of the consumer and not of the seller or of any provider, except that the seller shall be liable to remit all prepaid wireless 911 surcharges that the seller collects from consumers as provided in subsection 3, including all such surcharges that the seller is deemed to collect where the amount of the surcharge has not been separately stated on an invoice, receipt, or other similar document provided to the consumer by the seller.
  6.  The amount of the prepaid wireless 911 surcharge that is collected by a seller from a consumer, if such amount is separately stated on an invoice, receipt, or other similar document provided to the consumer by the seller, shall not be included in the base for measuring any tax, fee, other surcharge, or other charge that is imposed by this state, any political subdivision of this state, or any intergovernmental agency.
  7.  The prepaid wireless 911 surcharge shall be increased or reduced, as applicable, in an amount proportionate to any change to the surcharge imposed under section 34A.7A, subsection 1. The proportional increase or reduction shall be effective on the first day of the calendar month after the effective date of the change to the surcharge imposed under section 34A.7A, subsection 1. The department shall provide not less than thirty days’ advance notice of such increase or reduction on the department’s internet site. 
  8.  If a minimal amount of prepaid wireless telecommunications service is sold with a prepaid wireless device for a single, nonitemized price, the seller may elect not to apply the prepaid wireless 911 surcharge to the retail transaction. For purposes of this subsection, an amount of service denominated as ten minutes or less, or five dollars or less, shall be regarded as a minimal amount of service.
  9.  Prepaid wireless 911 surcharges collected by sellers shall be remitted to the department at the times and in the manner provided by chapter 423 with respect to the sales and use tax. The department shall establish registration and payment procedures that substantially coincide with the registration and payment procedures that apply to sellers under chapter 423.
  10.  A seller may deduct and retain three percent of prepaid wireless 911 surcharges that are collected by the seller from consumers.
  11.  The audit, appeal, collection, and enforcement procedures and other pertinent provisions applicable to the sales and use tax imposed under chapter 423 shall apply to prepaid wireless 911 surcharges.
  12.  The department shall establish procedures by which a seller of prepaid wireless telecommunications service may document that a sale is not a retail transaction, which procedures shall substantially coincide with the procedures for documenting sale for resale transactions under chapter 423.
  13.  The department shall transfer all reported prepaid wireless 911 surcharges to the treasurer of state for deposit in the 911 emergency communications fund created under section 34A.7A, subsection 2, within thirty days of receipt after deducting an amount, not to exceed two percent of collected surcharges, that shall be retained by the department to reimburse its direct costs of administering the collection and remittance of prepaid wireless 911 surcharges.
  14.  The limitation of actions provisions under section 34A.7, subsection 6, shall apply to providers and sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service. In addition, a provider or seller of prepaid wireless telecommunications service shall not be liable for damages to any person resulting from or incurred in connection with the provision of any lawful assistance to any investigative or law enforcement officer of the United States, this or any other state, or any political subdivision of this or any other state, in connection with any lawful investigation or other law enforcement activity by such investigative or law enforcement officer.
  15.  The prepaid wireless 911 surcharge imposed pursuant to this section shall be the only 911 funding obligation imposed with respect to prepaid wireless telecommunications service in this state, and no tax, fee, surcharge, or other charge shall be imposed by this state, any political subdivision of this state, or any intergovernmental agency, for 911 funding purposes, upon any provider, seller, or consumer with respect to the sale, purchase, use, or provision of prepaid wireless telecommunications service.
2012 Acts, ch 1111, §10, 13, 14; 2013 Acts, ch 70, §16, 27, 28; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §10; 2018 Acts, ch 1161, §21
Referred to in §34A.7A

  
     
34A.8  Local exchange service information — penalty.
  1.  A local exchange service provider shall furnish to the next generation 911 network service provider, designated by the department of homeland security and emergency management, all names, addresses, and telephone number information concerning its subscribers which will be served by the next generation 911 network and shall periodically update the local exchange service information. The 911 service provider shall furnish the addresses and telephone number information received from the local exchange service provider to the director for use in the mass notification and emergency messaging system as defined in section 29C.2. The local exchange service provider shall receive as compensation for the provision of local exchange service information charges according to its tariffs on file with and approved by the Iowa utilities commission. The tariff charges shall be the same whether or not the local exchange service provider is designated as the next generation 911 network service provider by the department of homeland security and emergency management.
  2.  a.  Subscriber information remains the property of the local exchange service provider.
  b.  The director, program manager, joint 911 service board, local emergency management commission established pursuant to section 29C.9, the designated next generation 911 network service provider, and the public safety answering point, and their agents, employees, and assigns shall use local exchange service information provided by the local exchange service provider solely for the purposes of providing 911 emergency telephone service or providing related mass notification and emergency messaging services as described in section 29C.17A utilizing only the subscriber’s information, and local exchange service information shall otherwise be kept confidential. A person who violates this paragraph is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
  c.  This chapter does not require a local exchange service provider to sell or provide its subscriber names, addresses, or telephone number information to any person other than the designated next generation 911 network service provider.
88 Acts, ch 1177, §8
C89, §477B.8
C93, §34A.8
2004 Acts, ch 1175, §456; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §201; 2009 Acts, ch 32, §1; 2015 Acts, ch 40, §1, 2; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §11; 2018 Acts, ch 1026, §16; 2018 Acts, ch 1076, §9, 11; 2022 Acts, ch 1021, §20; 2023 Acts, ch 66, §8; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §369
Referred to in §34A.7

     
34A.9  Telecommunications devices for persons with speech disorders and the deaf and hard of hearing.
  Each public safety answering point shall provide for the installation and use of telecommunications devices for persons with speech disorders and for the deaf and hard of hearing.
89 Acts, ch 157, §1
CS89, §477B.9
C93, §34A.9
2004 Acts, ch 1175, §457; 2020 Acts, ch 1102, §2

     
34A.10  Next generation 911 network access.
  On and after July 1, 2017, only the program manager shall approve access to the next generation 911 network.
2004 Acts, ch 1175, §458; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §12

     
34A.11  Communications — single point-of-contact.
  1.  The joint 911 service board in each 911 service area shall designate a person to serve as a single point-of-contact to facilitate the communication of needs, issues, or concerns regarding emergency communications, interoperability, and other matters applicable to emergency 911 communications and migration to the next generation 911 network. The person designated as the single point-of-contact shall be responsible for facilitating the communication of such needs, issues, or concerns between public or private safety agencies within the service area, the 911 program manager, the 911 communications council, the statewide interoperable communications system board established in section 80.28, and any other person, entity, or agency the person deems necessary or appropriate. The person designated shall also be responsible for responding to surveys or requests for information applicable to the service area received from a federal, state, or local agency, entity, or board. 
  2.  In the event a joint 911 service board fails to designate a single point-of-contact by November 1, 2013, the chairperson of the joint 911 service board shall serve in that capacity. The 911 service board shall submit the name and contact information for the person designated as the single point-of-contact to the 911 program manager by January 1 annually.
  3.  The provisions of this section shall be equally applicable to an alternative legal entity created pursuant to chapter 28E if such an entity is established as an alternative to a joint 911 service board as provided in section 34A.3. If such an entity is established, the governing body of that entity shall designate the single point-of-contact for the entity, and the chairperson or representative official of the governing body shall serve in the event a single point-of-contact is not designated.
2013 Acts, ch 129, §59; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §13

     
34A.12  Delivery of 911 calls — reimbursement.
  The program manager may request reimbursement from each joint 911 service board for reasonable costs under section 34A.7A related to the delivery of 911 call traffic to public safety answering points. Upon request, each joint 911 service board shall reimburse the department of homeland security and emergency management for such costs within thirty days.
2025 Acts, ch 159, §42
NEW section
34A.13 and 34A.14Reserved.

  
     
34A.15  911 communications council established — duties.
  1.  A 911 communications council is established. The council consists of the following fourteen members:
  a.  One person appointed by the commissioner of public safety.
  b.  One person appointed by the Iowa state sheriffs’ and deputies’ association.
  c.  One person appointed by the Iowa peace officers association.
  d.  One person appointed by the Iowa emergency medical services association.
  e.  One person appointed by the Iowa professional fire fighters.
  f.  One person appointed by the Iowa firefighters association.
  g.  One person appointed by the Iowa chapter of the national emergency number association.
  h.  One person appointed by the Iowa chapter of the association of public-safety communications officials—international, inc.
  i.  One person appointed by the Iowa emergency management directors association.
  j.  Two persons appointed by the Iowa telephone association, with one person appointed to represent telephone companies having fifteen thousand or more customers and one person appointed to represent telephone companies having less than fifteen thousand customers.
  k.  Two persons appointed by the Iowa wireless industry. One appointee shall represent cellular companies and the other appointee shall represent personal communications services companies.
  l.  One person appointed by the Iowa geographic information council established by executive order of the governor.
  2.  The auditor of state or the auditor of state’s designee shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member.
  3.  The council shall advise and make recommendations to the director and program manager regarding the implementation of this chapter. Such advice and recommendations shall be provided on issues at the request of the director or program manager or as deemed necessary by the council.
  4.  The council may provide grants, subject to available moneys in the 911 emergency communications fund, to public safety answering points agreeing to consolidate pursuant to section 34A.7A, subsection 2, paragraph “f”.
  5.  A member of the council shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the member’s duties, if such member is not otherwise reimbursed for such expenses.
  6.  The authority of the council is limited to the issues specifically identified in this section and does not preempt the authority of the utilities commission, created in section 474.1, to act on issues within the jurisdiction of the utilities commission.
96 Acts, ch 1219, §64; 98 Acts, ch 1101, §10 – 13, 16; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §459, 460; 2011 Acts, ch 25, §9; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §9; 2012 Acts, ch 1111, §11; 2013 Acts, ch 29, §37; 2016 Acts, ch 1100, §2; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §14, 15; 2018 Acts, ch 1026, §181, 182; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §369

  
     
34A.16  Request for call location.
  1.  A wireless communications service provider shall provide call location information concerning a device to a law enforcement agency or officer or a public safety answering point upon a request for that information if the law enforcement agency or public safety answering point determines the information is needed in an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or serious physical harm.
  2.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, nothing in this section prohibits a wireless communications service provider from establishing protocols by which the provider could voluntarily disclose call location information to a law enforcement agency or officer or a public safety answering point upon a request for that information.
  3.  A claim or cause of action may not be brought against any wireless communications service provider or employee for providing call location information while acting reasonably and in good faith and in accordance with the provisions of this section.
  4.  a.  Wireless communications service providers authorized to do business in the state of Iowa, or submitting to the jurisdiction of Iowa, shall submit contact information to the department of public safety in order to facilitate requests from law enforcement agencies or public safety answering points pursuant to this section. Wireless communications service providers shall submit this contact information annually by June 15 or immediately upon any change in contact information.
  b.  The department of public safety shall maintain a database containing emergency contact information for all wireless communications service providers authorized to do business in the state and shall make the information immediately available upon request to any law enforcement agency or public safety answering point in the state.
  5.  A person filing a false report with, or providing false information to, a law enforcement agency or a public safety answering point that results in a request for call location information under this section may be subject to criminal penalty pursuant to section 718.6.
  6.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a wireless communications service provider to act in a manner inconsistent with or in violation of federal law.
2015 Acts, ch 89, §1, 3
34A.17 through 34A.19Reserved.
SUBCHAPTER II
911 PROGRAM FINANCING
Referred to in §16.161

     
34A.20  911 financing program — definitions — funding — bonds and notes.
  1.  As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires, “authority” means the Iowa finance authority.
  2.  The authority shall cooperate with the director in the creation, administration, and funding of the 911 program established in subchapter I.
  3.  The authority may issue its bonds and notes for the purpose of funding 911 nonrecurring and recurring costs of one or more 911 service areas.
  4.  The authority may issue its bonds and notes for the purposes of this chapter and may enter into one or more lending agreements or purchase agreements with one or more bondholders or noteholders containing the terms and conditions of the repayment of and the security for the bonds or notes. The authority and the bondholders or noteholders or a trustee agent designated by the authority may enter into agreements to provide for any of the following:
  a.  That the proceeds of the bonds and notes and the investments of the proceeds may be received, held, and disbursed by the authority or by a trustee or agent designated by the authority.
  b.  That the bondholders or noteholders or a trustee or agent designated by the authority may collect, invest, and apply the amount payable under the loan agreements or any other instruments securing the debt obligations under the loan agreements.
  c.  That the bondholders or noteholders may enforce the remedies provided in the loan agreements or other instruments on their own behalf without the appointment or designation of a trustee. If there is a default in the principal of or interest on the bonds or notes or in the performance of any agreement contained in the loan agreements or other instruments, the payment or performance may be enforced in accordance with the loan agreement or other instrument.
  d.  Other terms and conditions as deemed necessary or appropriate by the authority.
  5.  The powers granted the authority under this section are in addition to other powers contained in chapter 16. All other provisions of chapter 16, except section 16.28, subsection 4, apply to bonds or notes issued and powers granted to the authority under this section, except to the extent they are inconsistent with this section.
  6.  All bonds or notes issued by the authority in connection with the program are exempt from taxation by this state and the interest on the bonds or notes is exempt from state income tax, both personal and corporate.
90 Acts, ch 1144, §6
C91, §477B.20
C93, §34A.20
98 Acts, ch 1101, §14, 16; 2013 Acts, ch 29, §38; 2017 Acts, ch 136, §16
Referred to in §16.161, 34A.7, 34A.21, 422.7(2)(i)

     
34A.21  Security — reserve funds — pledges — nonliability — irrevocable contracts.
  1.  The authority may provide in the resolution, trust agreement, or other instrument authorizing the issuance of its bonds or notes pursuant to section 34A.20 that the principal of, premium, and interest on the bonds or notes are payable from any of the following and may pledge the same to its bonds and notes:
  a.  The income and receipts or other moneys derived from the projects financed with the proceeds of the bonds or notes.
  b.  The income and receipts or other money derived from designated projects whether or not the projects are financed in whole or in part with the proceeds of the bonds or notes.
  c.  The amounts on deposit in the 911 service fund of a joint 911 service board, including, but not limited to revenues from a local option 911 service surcharge.
  d.  The amounts payable to the authority by jurisdictions within service areas pursuant to loan agreements with service areas.
  e.  Any other funds or accounts established by the authority in connection with the program or the sale and issuance of its bonds or notes.
  2.  The authority may establish reserve funds to secure one or more issues of its bonds or notes. The authority may deposit in a reserve fund established under this subsection, the proceeds of the sale of its bonds or notes and other money which is made available from any other source.
  3.  A pledge made in respect of bonds or notes is valid and binding from the time the pledge is made. The money or property so pledged and received after the pledge by the authority is immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without physical delivery or further act. The lien of the pledge is valid and binding as against all persons having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the authority whether or not the parties have notice of the lien. Neither the resolution, trust agreement, or any other instrument by which a pledge is created needs to be recorded, filed, or perfected under chapter 554, to be valid, binding, or effective against all persons.
  4.  The members of the authority or persons executing the bonds or notes are not personally liable on the bonds or notes and are not subject to personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of the bonds or notes.
  5.  The state pledges to and agrees with the holders of bonds or notes issued under this subchapter that the state will not limit or alter the rights and powers vested in the authority to fulfill the terms of a contract made by the authority with respect to the bonds or notes, or in any way impair the rights and remedies of the holders until the bonds or notes, together with the interest on them including interest on unpaid installments of interest, and all costs and expenses in connection with an action or proceeding by or on behalf of the holders, are fully met and discharged. The authority is authorized to include this pledge and agreement of the state, as it refers to holders of bonds or notes of the authority, in a contract with the holders.
90 Acts, ch 1144, §7
C91, §477B.21
C93, §34A.21
2017 Acts, ch 136, §17
Referred to in §16.161, 34A.7

     
34A.22  Rules.
  The authority shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this subchapter.
90 Acts, ch 1144, §8
C91, §477B.22
C93, §34A.22
Referred to in §16.161, 34A.7