HCS HB 1143 -- EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS (Mays, 50)

This substitute makes all 911 service user telephone calls,
telephone call transmissions, and recorded tapes of calls closed
public records and permits them to be used solely for handling
emergency calls, public safety purposes, and law enforcement.  A
written consent or court order is required for the release of
the call to an otherwise unauthorized party.

The Wireless Service Provider Enhanced 911 Advisory Board is
created to advise the Office of Administration in implementing a
Federal Communications Commission order that outlines
requirements for wireless enhanced 911 service.  The Wireless
Service Provider Enhanced 911 Service Fund is also created.

The Commissioner of the Office of Administration is authorized
to establish a fee not to exceed 75 cents per wireless telephone
number per month.  Before a fee is established, the question of
the fee must be submitted to the voters and approved.  Wireless
service providers will collect the fee from wireless service
customers and remit the payments to the Department of Revenue
for deposit into the fund.  Wireless service providers may
retain 1% of surcharge moneys for billing and collection costs.

The substitute authorizes the Office of Administration to
administer the fund, to distribute the moneys in the fund for
approved expenditures, and to retain no more than 5% of moneys
in the fund for fund administration costs and board expenses.
The Office of Administration is required to review annually the
distribution formula and adjust the fee within the limit of 75
cents per month.  At least 10% of total funds allocated for
public safety answering points must be distributed equally among
all participating public safety answering points.

Wireless service providers are relieved from criminal liability
or civil damages resulting from the release of subscriber
information, unless gross negligence, recklessness, or
intentional misconduct is involved.

This substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Effect on Wireless Service Provider
Enhanced 911 Service Fund of $0 in FY 1999, FY 2000, and FY
2001.  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue of $56,442 in FY
1999, $27,000 in FY 2000, and $27,000 in FY 2001.

HCS HB 1143 -- WIRELESS EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS

SPONSOR:  Mays (50)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Utilities
Regulation by a vote of 11 to 4.

This substitute creates the Wireless Service Provider Enhanced
911 Advisory Board to advise the Office of Administration in
implementing a Federal Communications Commission order that
outlines requirements for wireless enhanced 911 service.  The
Wireless Service Provider Enhanced 911 Service Fund is also
created.

The Commissioner of the Office of Administration is authorized
to establish a fee not to exceed 50 cents per wireless telephone
number per month.  Before a fee is established, the question of
the fee must be submitted to the voters and approved.  Wireless
service providers will collect the fee from wireless service
customers and remit the payments to the Department of Revenue
for deposit into the fund.  Wireless service providers may
retain 1% of surcharge moneys for billing and collection costs.

The substitute authorizes the Office of Administration to
administer the fund, to distribute the moneys in the fund for
approved expenditures, and to retain no more than 5% of moneys
in the fund for fund administration costs and board expenses.
The Office of Administration is required to review annually the
distribution formula and adjust the fee within the limit of 50
cents per month.

Wireless service providers are relieved from criminal liability
or civil damages resulting from the release of subscriber
information, unless gross negligence, recklessness, or
intentional misconduct is involved.

This substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Effect on Wireless Service Provider
Enhanced 911 Service Fund of $0 in FY 1999, FY 2000, and FY
2001.  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue of $108,192 in FY
1999, $18,000 in FY 2000 and FY 2001.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that currently more calls are made
to 911 from wireless phones in cars than are made from wired
phones.  They say that this fee helps to update dispatch
equipment in order to provide a necessary emergency service not
only to wireless service subscribers but also to those who get
prompt emergency assistance.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Mays (50); Missouri
Highway Patrol; Sprint; Missouri National Emergency Number
Association; Missouri Fire Service Alliance; and Missouri
Sheriffs Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Donna Schlosser, Legislative Analyst

HB 1143 -- Wireless Emergency Telecommunications

Sponsor:  Mays (50)

This bill creates the Wireless Service Provider Enhanced 911
Advisory Board to advise the Office of Administration in
implementing a Federal Communications Commission order that
outlines requirements for wireless enhanced 911 service.  This
bill also creates the Wireless Service Provider Enhanced 911
Service Fund.

The bill authorizes the Commissioner of the Office of
Administration to establish a fee, if approved by voters, not to
exceed 50 cents per wireless telephone number per month.
Wireless service providers will collect the fee from wireless
service customers and remit the payments to the Department of
Revenue for deposit into the fund.

The bill authorizes the Office of Administration to administer
the fund and to distribute the moneys in the fund for approved
expenditures.  The Office of Administration may retain no more
than 5% of moneys in the fund for fund administration costs and
actual and necessary expenses of the board. The Office of
Administration is required to review annually the distribution
formula and adjust the fee within the limit of 50 cents per
month.  The bill also requires the question of the fee to be
submitted to the voters and approved before the Commissioner of
the Office of Administration may establish a fee.

This bill has an emergency clause.