House Bill 394

Chair's Name: David Ralston

Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil

House Sponsor: John Lunsford

HB 394 accomplishes the following:

• creates the crime of unlawful conduct during 9-1-1 calls and punishes it as a misdemeanor with a fine of not more than $500 and up to 12 months in jail or both.
• Provides and amends definitions to account for changes in communications systems to include wireless phones and voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) systems. 
• Provides that the 9-1-1 Advisory Committee will meet at least three times per year to determine recipients of grants, study and evaluate statewide 9-1-1 systems, identify any changes necessary to make the system more effective, make recommendations as to training and to provide an annual report to the Georgia General Assembly by December 1 of each year. 
• Authorizes telephone service suppliers to collect a $1.50 charge per service provided per month on behalf of local governments � but this does not apply to wireless service subscribers or providers of such services. 
• Creates a new Code section (OCGA 46-5-134.2) to authorize wireless service providers to charge a fee to each subscriber to support the Emergency 9-1-1 Assistance Fund. The wireless fee will be assessed as follows: 3% of the wholesale price divided by 0.7 of each block of prepaid wireless service; or 3% of the suggested retail price of each block of prepaid wireless service; or divide the total wireless revenue earned in a calendar month by $50.00 and multiply that number by $1.50 � whichever is greater. 
• Requires uniform training of at least 16 hours for directors of public safety answering points.

The Committee Substitute received a Do Pass recommendation from the Judy Non Civil Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Modified Structured Rule. 

Chairman Ralston�s opinion of this legislation:

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

Unlawful and abusive conduct during 911 emergency calls; the evaluation statewide of 911 systems; the collection of fees to support the Emergency 911 Assistance Fund; the enactment of the Wireless Communications Security Act

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Provides for the collection of fees to support the 911 Assistance Fund