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An Act To Clarify That the Telephone Number 9-1-1 Is the Primary Number Advertised or Promoted for Emergency Response Services
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2932, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 651, §3, is amended to read:
 
1. Designated emergency telephone number.   The primary telephone number to be used in a telephone exchange to request emergency services following the activation of E-9-1-1 services for that exchange, including the number for telecommunications devices for communication for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired, is 9-1-1. The telephone number 9-1-1 must be the primary telephone number advertised or promoted for emergency response services. The advertisement or promotion of the exclusive use of a telephone number other than 9-1-1 for emergency response services is prohibited.
Sec. 2. 25 MRSA §2932, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 651, §3, is amended to read:
 
2. Publishing of 9-1-1.   A publisher of a directory of Maine telephone numbers for use by telephone subscribers in Maine must include in a conspicuous portion of the directory:
 
A.   For any area within the directory in which E-9-1-1 has not been activated, the emergency numbers of the State Police and any sheriffs' departments that serve the area; and
 
B. For any area within the directory in which E-9-1-1 has been activated, theThe telephone number 9-1-1 as the primary telephone number to request emergency services. The number "9-1-1" must be accompanied by words indicating it is accessible by teletypewriter device, or TTY, such as "TTY/Voice." A publisher is not required to update a directory following an activation of E-9-1-1 within the directory area until the next regular printing of the directory.
 
SUMMARY
This bill clarifies that the telephone number 9-1-1 is the primary number advertised or promoted for emergency response services. The bill also eliminates certain outdated language regarding the publication of the 9-1-1 number in telephone directories.