Bill > SB1898

This bill directs the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), a state agency that studies issues affecting local governments, to conduct a comprehensive study of Tennessee's emergency communications system, which is how 911 calls are handled and dispatched to emergency services. The study will examine the current funding for these systems, compare them to other states, analyze different organizational structures of Emergency Communications Districts (ECDs) – the entities responsible for managing emergency communications – and create an organizational chart of these districts. It will also explore ways to make ECD operations and finances more consistent across the state, consider consolidating ECDs, analyze call sharing, and evaluate the benefits of a single statewide system versus maintaining multiple ECDs. Furthermore, the study will assess the feasibility of requiring direct dispatch at all Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), which are the locations where 911 calls are answered, and include any other relevant topics and legislative recommendations TACIR deems important. The findings and recommendations are to be submitted to the leaders of the Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives by January 31, 2027.