Bill > HB268

This bill authorizes the State 911 Board to monitor the "readiness" of local 911 districts, which refers to their ability to quickly answer, receive, and transfer 911 calls and texts to dispatch emergency services efficiently. The Board will establish a system using best practices from national organizations to collect data on various aspects of 911 operations, such as call volume, response times, and the number of answered versus unanswered calls. If a complaint about a district's performance is received by the Attorney General, the 911 Board will conduct a performance audit, which can involve interviews and on-site inspections of Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), the facilities that handle 911 calls. Following the audit, the Board will issue a report evaluating the district's readiness and identifying any operational deficiencies. If deficiencies are found, the report will include a remediation plan, which could involve training, hiring more staff, upgrading technology, or amending operating procedures. The 911 Board will then supervise the implementation of this plan, and the audit report will be made public. The bill also specifies that the State 911 Board will adopt necessary rules to implement these provisions and will become effective on October 1, 2026.