| Chapter 516 |
| 2016 -- H 7748 Enacted 07/26/2016 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - E-911 UNIFORM EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM DIVISION |
| Introduced By: Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty |
| Date Introduced: February 25, 2016 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Sections 39-21-1, 39-21-2 and 39-21-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 39- |
| 21 entitled "E-911 Uniform Emergency Telephone System Division" are hereby amended to read |
| as follows: |
| 39-21-1. Legislative findings. -- It is hereby found and disclosed that: |
| (1) E-911 uniform emergency telephone system is a feasible service and would be |
| beneficial for the citizens of Rhode Island. |
| (2) E-911 uniform emergency telephone system employs features that contribute to the |
| protection of life and property and add to the operational efficiency of various public safety |
| agencies. |
| (3) E-911 uniform emergency telephone system affords our residents a more simple and |
| faster means to request assistance in an emergency and, in addition, enables the various agencies |
| to process emergency calls in a more efficient manner than at present. |
| (4) E-911 uniform emergency telephone system benefits are extremely valuable and this |
| service would be an enhancement to the quality of life throughout our state. |
| (5) Changes in consumer habits require that the state E-911 uniform emergency telephone |
| system take the steps necessary to ensure that its operating capabilities are in line with new |
| technologies and practices. |
| 39-21-2. Establishment of the E-911 uniform emergency telephone system division. - |
| - There is hereby established within the department of public safety the E-911 uniform emergency |
| telephone system division with all powers and authority necessary for acquiring, planning, |
| designing, constructing, extending, improving, operating, and maintaining, and updating the |
| uniform emergency telephone system in this state to conform with national standards and support |
| national internetworking of 9-1-1 services. |
| 39-21-5. Other references to E-9-1-1 Uniform Emergency Telephone System -- |
| References to "the project" or to "9-1-1 system". -- (a) Wherever in the Rhode Island general |
| laws, chapters 21 and 21.1 of title 39, reference is made to the "E-911 uniform emergency |
| telephone system", or to "the E-9-1-1 Uniform Emergency Telephone System Authority", or to |
| "the E-9-1-1 authority", or to "the division" or to "E-9-1-1" or to "Next Generation 9-1-1", or |
| "NG 9-1-1" or "Text-to-9-1-1", as an entity, it shall be deemed to mean the E-911 uniform |
| emergency telephone system division within the executive department. |
| (b) Wherever in the Rhode Island general laws, chapters 21 and 21.1 of title 39, |
| reference is made to "the project" or to "911 system," it shall be deemed to mean the E-9-1-1 |
| uniform emergency telephone system and its respective functions and operations. |
| SECTION 2. Chapter 39-21 of the General Laws entitled "E-911 Uniform Emergency |
| Telephone System Division" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 39-21-17. Next generation 911. – The E-911 uniform emergency telephone system |
| division shall take all steps necessary to implement "Next Generation-9-1-1", "NG 9-1-1", or |
| "Text-to-9-1-1" technologies as soon as practicable, and report back to the general assembly no |
| later than March 30, 2017, a timeline that anticipates the date of completion. |
| SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
| ======== |
| LC004801 |
| ======== |