77R10837 JD-D
By Turner of Coleman H.B. No. 1471
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1471:
By Turner of Coleman C.S.H.B. No. 1471
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the emergency highway call box system.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 771, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
1-5 adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
1-6 SUBCHAPTER E. EMERGENCY HIGHWAY CALL BOX SYSTEM
1-7 Sec. 771.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "emergency
1-8 response services" means:
1-9 (1) fire-fighting, law enforcement, or emergency
1-10 medical services that are provided by a public agency; or
1-11 (2) motorist assistance services.
1-12 Sec. 771.102. APPLICABILITY; LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES.
1-13 This subchapter does not:
1-14 (1) apply to a segment of a highway that the Texas
1-15 Transportation Commission has designated as a farm-to-market or
1-16 ranch-to-market road; or
1-17 (2) authorize the commission to make an expenditure of
1-18 money for the implementation, operation, or maintenance of the
1-19 emergency telephone call box system under this subchapter unless
1-20 the money was deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund.
1-21 Sec. 771.103. INSTALLATION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF
1-22 CALL BOX SYSTEM. (a) The commission shall provide for the
1-23 installment, operation, and maintenance of a system of emergency
1-24 telephone call boxes along those highways in this state that are
2-1 located in a county with a population of 20,000 or less and:
2-2 (1) are part of the national system of interstate and
2-3 defense highways; or
2-4 (2) have been designated as United States highways.
2-5 (b) The system must:
2-6 (1) be designed to enable users of those highways to
2-7 request emergency and nonemergency response services;
2-8 (2) include:
2-9 (A) wired or wireless telecommunications
2-10 services; and
2-11 (B) one or more motorist assistance answering
2-12 centers; and
2-13 (3) be capable of performing compatible Intelligent
2-14 Transportation System (ITS) functions.
2-15 (c) To minimize call processing loads in public safety
2-16 answering points established under this subchapter or Chapter 772,
2-17 the commission shall, to the extent practicable, contract with a
2-18 private entity to perform the functions of a motorist assistance
2-19 answering center under Subsection (b)(2)(B).
2-20 Sec. 771.104. FUNDING. (a) The commission shall implement
2-21 the emergency telephone call box system in accordance with the
2-22 General Appropriations Act.
2-23 (b) Revenue derived from fees, taxes, or other charges
2-24 imposed in connection with the sale or provision of services by
2-25 means of landline or wireless telecommunications infrastructure,
2-26 other than sales taxes imposed on taxable services, as defined by
2-27 Section 151.0101, Tax Code, may not be appropriated or used for the
3-1 implementation of the emergency telephone call box system.
3-2 (c) In implementing the emergency telephone call box system,
3-3 the commission may not spend money that is constitutionally
3-4 dedicated for another purpose.
3-5 Sec. 771.105. LOCATION OF AND DISTANCE BETWEEN CALL BOXES.
3-6 The location of the emergency call boxes shall be determined by the
3-7 commission in accordance with the design specifications of the
3-8 system.
3-9 Sec. 771.106. CONTRACTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND INSTALLATION
3-10 OF CALL BOX SYSTEM. (a) The commission shall:
3-11 (1) award one or more contracts to implement the
3-12 system not later than June 1, 2002;
3-13 (2) require that installation of the system begin not
3-14 later than September 1, 2002; and
3-15 (3) implement the system in each area of the state
3-16 that has cellular telephone coverage.
3-17 (b) A contract awarded under this subchapter shall be
3-18 awarded by the commission in the manner otherwise provided by law.
3-19 (c) The commission may solicit proposals for and enter into
3-20 one or more lease-purchase agreements under this subchapter.
3-21 Sec. 771.107. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION. (a) Agencies
3-22 of this state and each county and municipality in this state shall
3-23 cooperate with the commission in the design, establishment,
3-24 operation, and maintenance of the emergency telephone call box
3-25 system.
3-26 (b) Local governmental authorities shall support statewide
3-27 public relations efforts with local media.
4-1 Sec. 771.108. OVERSIGHT BY COMMISSION. (a) The commission
4-2 shall:
4-3 (1) provide technical and management oversight to
4-4 support the proper routing of a call made to an emergency response
4-5 services provider from an emergency telephone call box and any
4-6 emergency response to that call; and
4-7 (2) coordinate the operation and maintenance of the
4-8 emergency response system through local councils of governments and
4-9 9-1-1 districts.
4-10 (b) If the commission establishes standards for system
4-11 performance, the standards must be applicable throughout the state.
4-12 Sec. 771.109. ANNUAL REPORTS. (a) Not later than November 1
4-13 of each year, the commission shall file with the lieutenant
4-14 governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
4-15 Legislative Budget Board a report on the activities under this
4-16 subchapter during the preceding fiscal year.
4-17 (b) The report may include the commission's recommendations
4-18 for action by the legislature.
4-19 Sec. 771.110. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The emergency
4-20 telephone call box system and this subchapter are subject to
4-21 Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued
4-22 in existence as provided by that chapter, this subchapter expires
4-23 on September 1, 2011.
4-24 SECTION 2. Chapter 226, Transportation Code, is repealed.
4-25 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.