PRINTER'S NO. 1970
No. 1615 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY SURRA, GEORGE, MELIO, BEBKO-JONES, STABACK,
GRUCELA, COY, S. H. SMITH, CORRIGAN, READSHAW, WALKO,
M. COHEN, SCHULER, HARHAI, SAINATO, ARGALL, BELFANTI, SHANER,
YOUNGBLOOD, LAUGHLIN, KIRKLAND, J. TAYLOR, TRELLO,
E. Z. TAYLOR, ROONEY, RAMOS, SERAFINI, TRUE, FLICK, SEYFERT,
COLAFELLA, WILLIAMS, THOMAS, BLAUM, HENNESSEY, MAHER AND
STEELMAN, JUNE 9, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, JUNE 9, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 9, 1990 (P.L.340, No.78), entitled "An
2 act providing for a Statewide emergency telephone number 911
3 system; providing for contributions from telephone
4 subscribers; providing a penalty; and making a repeal,"
5 further defining "contribution rate" and "telephone
6 subscriber"; and further providing for powers and duties of
7 counties.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. The definitions of "contribution rate" and
11 "telephone subscriber" in section 2 of the act of July 9, 1990
12 (P.L.340, No.78), known as the Public Safety Emergency Telephone
13 Act, amended February 12, 1998 (P.L.64, No.17), are amended to
14 read:
15 Section 2. Definitions.
16 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
17 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
1 context clearly indicates otherwise:
2 * * *
3 "Contribution rate." A fee assessed against a telephone
4 subscriber for the nonrecurring costs, maintenance and operating
5 costs of a 911 system. [Counties of the first through second
6 class A may impose a monthly contribution rate in an amount not
7 to exceed $1 per line on each local exchange access line.
8 Counties of the third through fifth class may impose monthly
9 contribution rates in an amount not to exceed $1.25 per line on
10 each local exchange access line. Counties of the sixth through
11 eighth class may impose a monthly contribution rate in an amount
12 not to exceed $1.50 per line on each local exchange access line.
13 The contribution rate may be used by counties for the expenses
14 of implementing, expanding or upgrading a 911 system. Expenses
15 eligible for reimbursement through the contribution rate shall
16 include telephone terminal equipment, trunk line service
17 installation, network changes, building of initial data base and
18 any other nonrecurring costs to establish a 911 system. The
19 contribution rate may also be used to fund recurring costs
20 pursuant to section 8(b). Expenses not eligible for
21 reimbursement through the contribution rate shall include
22 purchase of real estate, cosmetic remodeling, central office
23 upgrades, hiring of dispatchers, ambulances, fire engines or
24 other emergency vehicles, utilities, taxes and other expenses as
25 determined by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.]
26 * * *
27 "Telephone subscriber." A person who contracts with a
28 telephone company within this Commonwealth for local exchange
29 telephone service, either residential or commercial. [When the
30 same person has several telephone dial tone access lines, each
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1 dial tone access line shall constitute a separate subscription.]
2 For purposes of the contribution rate, the term shall not
3 include pay stations owned or operated by a regulated public
4 utility.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. Section 4(a) of the act, amended February 12,
7 1998 (P.L.64, No.17), is amended to read:
8 Section 4. Counties.
9 (a) Powers and duties.--Counties of the first through second
10 class A may impose a monthly contribution rate in an amount not
11 to exceed $1 per line on each local exchange access line.
12 Counties of the third through fifth class may impose monthly
13 contribution rates in an amount not to exceed $1.25 per line on
14 each local exchange access line. Counties of the sixth through
15 eighth class may impose a monthly contribution rate in an amount
16 not to exceed $1.50 per line on each local exchange access line.
17 When the same person has several telephone dial tone access
18 lines, each dial tone access line shall constitute a separate
19 subscription. However, a county may waive such charge on the
20 individual local exchange access lines of residents in health
21 care facilities as that term is defined under the act of July
22 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities
23 Act. The contribution rate may be used by counties for the
24 expenses of implementing, expanding or upgrading a 911 system.
25 Expenses eligible for reimbursement through the contribution
26 rate shall include telephone terminal equipment, trunk line
27 service installation, network changes, building of initial data
28 base and any other nonrecurring costs to establish a 911 system.
29 The contribution rate may also be used to fund recurring costs
30 pursuant to section 8(b). Expenses not eligible for
19990H1615B1970 - 3 -
1 reimbursement through the contribution rate shall include
2 purchase of real estate, cosmetic remodeling, central office
3 upgrades, hiring of dispatchers, ambulances, fire engines or
4 other emergency vehicles, utilities, taxes and other expenses as
5 determined by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The
6 board of county commissioners, or, in a home rule county, the
7 appropriate body according to the home rule charter, shall have
8 the following powers and duties in relation to a 911 system:
9 (1) To designate a member of county government as a
10 county 911 coordinator who shall serve as a point of contact
11 with the agency and shall develop a county plan for the
12 implementation, operation and maintenance of a 911 system.
13 Where technologically feasible, the county plan shall be
14 adequate to provide service for the entire county.
15 (2) To make arrangements with each telephone company
16 providing local exchange telephone service within the
17 county's jurisdiction to provide 911 service.
18 (3) To send a copy of the proposed county plan to the
19 appropriate telephone company upon submission of the plan to
20 the agency.
21 (4) To cooperate with the agency, the council and the
22 commission in preparation and submission of the county plan
23 and contribution rate.
24 (5) To execute all contracts, mutual aid agreements,
25 cross-service agreements and all other necessary documents
26 which may be required in the implementation of the county
27 plan.
28 (6) To annually request from each telephone service
29 provider who shall provide a list of the provider's local
30 telephone exchanges within the county and the addresses of
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1 that provider's central offices serving those exchanges.
2 (7) To notify the agency and all adjacent counties of
3 all local telephone exchanges which provide telephone service
4 to residents within the county, specifically noting any such
5 exchanges known to provide telephone service to residents of
6 more than one county. Such notice shall be provided at the
7 time the county plan is submitted to the agency and when
8 local telephone service is newly initiated for local
9 telephone exchange within the county.
10 * * *
11 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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