summary
Introduced
01/20/2025
01/20/2025
In Committee
02/17/2025
02/17/2025
Crossed Over
02/12/2025
02/12/2025
Passed
04/07/2025
04/07/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/10/2025
04/10/2025
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act To Create The Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority Act; To Define Terms; To Establish The Mississippi Communications Authority Within The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency; To Create An Advisory Board To Advise The Authority; To Require The Authority To Administer, Receive, And Audit Emergency Communications Service Charges; To Require The Authority To Develop, Establish, And Publish A State Ng911 Plan; To Require The Authority To Publish Minimum Standards, Specifications, And Requirements For Each Ecd Ng911 Plan; To Prescribe The Authority's Duties And Responsibilities; To Establish The Ng911 Cmrs Grant Fund; To Describe The Authority's Powers; To Stipulate That All Monies Received By The Authority Pursuant To This Act Shall Be Deemed Trust Funds; To Stipulate That This Act Shall Be Liberally Construed To Effect The Purposes Of This Act For The Welfare Of The State And Its Inhabitants; To Establish Confidentiality For Information Submitted To The Authority Or The Department; To Stipulate That The Attorney General Shall Provide Legal Services To The Authority; To Outline Emergency Communications Service Charges; To Stipulate That Charges Collected By Service Providers Shall Be Remitted To The Department According To Chapter 65 Of Title 27; To Create Certain Provisions For The Remittance Of Charges; To Provide For The Application Of The Emergency Communication Service Charge; To Establish Liability For The Emergency Communications Service Charge; To Account For Prepaid Wireless Communications Service; To Provide For Audit And Appeal Procedures; To Create A Timeline For Introducing The New System; To Stipulate That Wireless Emergency Telephone Service Shall Not Be Used For Personal Use; To Account For Deposit And Disbursement Of Funds Collected Under This Act; To Require Ecds To Submit Financial And Program Reports To The Authority Advisory Board On An Annual Basis; To Require Each Ecd To Adopt An Ng911 Plan No Later Than December 31, 2030; To Amend Section 19-5-305, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide For The Creation Of An Ecd; To Amend Section 19-5-307, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; To Amend Section 19-5-315, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; To Amend Section 19-5-317, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; To Amend Section 33-15-14, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Agency To Serve As The Statewide Coordinator For Emergency Communications; To Repeal Sections 19-5-303, 19-5-311, 19-5-313, 19-5-331, 19-5-333, 19-5-335, 19-5-337, 19-5-339, 19-5-341, 19-5-343, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Related To The Emergency Telephone Service; And For Related Purposes.
AI Summary
This bill creates the Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority (MECA) to modernize and standardize emergency communication services across the state, transitioning from traditional 911 systems to Next Generation 911 (NG911). The bill establishes an authority within the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) that will be responsible for developing a statewide NG911 plan, which is a secure, internet protocol-based system designed to handle various types of emergency communications including voice, text, and multimedia data. The authority will be governed by a director appointed by MEMA's Executive Director and advised by a diverse 13-member board representing public safety, local government, and telecommunications interests. The bill introduces a $2 monthly emergency communications service charge on various communication services to fund the transition, with funds distributed to local emergency communications districts (ECDs) through a carefully designed formula. Key provisions include requiring each ECD to develop an NG911 implementation plan by December 31, 2030, creating grant programs to support technological upgrades, establishing financial oversight mechanisms, and ensuring that at least 30% of received funds are dedicated to NG911 implementation. The bill also amends existing laws to support the new system, repeals outdated statutes, and aims to improve emergency communication capabilities and interoperability across Mississippi.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Approved by Governor (on 04/10/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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