SF 403 (LSB 1928SV (2) 86)

SENATE FILE 403

BY  COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1131)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to expenditures of moneys from the E911 emergency communications fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 34A.7A, subsection 2, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0b.  (1)  The program manager shall allocate to each joint E911 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 E911 service board that has submitted an annual written request to the program manager in a form approved by the program manager by May 15 of each year.
   (2)  The amount allocated under this paragraph “0b” shall be seventy-six 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 E911 calls taken at the public safety answering point in the service area to the total number of wireless E911 calls originating in this state.
   (c)  Notwithstanding subparagraph divisions (a) and (b), the minimum amount allocated to each joint E911 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 E911 service board.
   (3)  The funds allocated in this paragraph “0b” shall be used for communication equipment utilized for the receipt and disposition of 911 calls.
    Sec. 2.  Section 34A.7A, subsection 2, paragraph e, Code 2015, is amended by striking the paragraph.
    Sec. 3.  Section 34A.7A, subsection 2, paragraph f, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   f.  If moneys remain in the fund after fully paying all obligations under paragraphs “a”, “0b”, “b”, “c”, and “d”, and “e”, the remainder may be accumulated in the fund as a carryover operating surplus. This The program manager, in consultation with the E911 communications council, shall allocate an amount, not to exceed fifty thousand dollars per fiscal year, for development of public awareness and educational programs related to the use of 911 by the public. The remaining surplus shall be used to fund future network and public safety answering point improvements for the receipt and disposition of 911 calls, including hardware and software for an internet protocol-enabled next generation network, and wireless carriers’ transport costs related to wireless E911 services, if those costs are not otherwise recovered by wireless carriers through customer billing or other sources and approved by the program manager in consultation with the E911 communications council. 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.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the expenditure of moneys in the E911 emergency communications fund. The bill reprioritizes the expenditures from the fund by moving the allocations to the joint E911 service board and to the department of public safety from fifth in the list of priority to second in the list of priority after the amount appropriated to the director of the department of homeland security and emergency management and program manager for implementation, support, and maintenance of the functions of the director and program manager. The bill increases the percentage allocated from the total amount of surcharge generated per calendar quarter from 46 percent to 76 percent. The bill also adds that from any surplus in the E911 emergency communications fund remaining after payment of the priorities, the E911 program manager, in consultation with the E911 communications council, shall allocate an amount not to exceed $50,000 per fiscal year for development of public awareness and educational programs for the public. The bill further requires that the remaining surplus be used to fund future network and public safety answering point improvements that are for the receipt and disposition of 911 calls.