H.B. 1771 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1771
By: Keel
County Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Under current law, 9-1-1 spending by a county that is part of the
statewide 9-1-1 system is limited to the expenses involved  in the
emergency call coming to the call center.  Authority for spending by these
jurisdictions does not include the cost of the person answering the call,
or any service or equipment beyond that point.  Since September 11, 2001,
the need for live backups or "redundancy" for communication equipment,
systems, and services has been identified as a priority to ensure
emergency operations can function in the event the primary emergency
operations center fails. House Bill 1771 will expand the definition of how
9-1-1 funds may be spent by authorizing a county with a population of at
least 700,000 to pay for the same costs allowed by current law for a
emergency communication district.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS
SECTION 1.  Amends Section 771.075, Health and Safety Code, to make a
conforming change.   

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 771, Health and Safety Code, by
adding Section 771.0751, as follows: 

Sec. 771.0751. USE OF REVENUE IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) Provides that this
section applies only to the use of fees and surcharges collected under
this subchapter (Financing State Emergency Communications) in a county
subject to this subchapter with a population of at least 700,000. 

(b)  In addition to the use authorized or required by Section 771.072(e)
or (f), 771.073(e), or 771.075, fees and surcharges collected under this
subchapter may be used for any costs considered necessary by the
Commission on State Emergency Communications and attributable to: 

   (1)    designing a 9-1-1 system; or
(2)  obtaining and maintaining equipment and personnel necessary to
establish and operate: 

    (A)  a public safety answering point and related operations; or
    (B)  other related answering points and operations.

SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of
two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by
Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive
the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September
1, 2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.