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Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2927, sub-§3-C  is enacted to read:
 
3-C.  Payment for standardized dispatch protocols for fire 9-1-1 calls.     To assist public safety answering points in the adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch protocols for answering fire 9-1-1 calls, the bureau shall use up to 5¢ of each surcharge collected under subsections 1-E and 1-F to provide public safety answering points dispatcher training consistent with the protocols, necessary software and printed support materials. The bureau shall provide quality assurance training and software to assist public safety answering points in ensuring compliance with the protocols.
 
A.  The bureau shall adopt rules related to the adoption, implementation and administration of standardized dispatch protocols for answering fire 9-1-1 calls. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. Protocol phase-in. The Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau shall phase in over a 3-year period the required adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch protocols for answering fire 9-1-1 calls by all public safety answering points under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, section 2927, subsection 3-C. In developing criteria pursuant to section 2927, subsection 3-C to phase in over a 3-year period the adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch protocols for answering fire 9-1-1 calls, the bureau shall seek input from the management of all public safety answering points.
Sec. 3. Report. By January 15, 2019, the Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters that includes the cost to adopt and implement standardized dispatch protocols for answering police 9-1-1 calls, the time it would take to phase in the adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch protocols for answering police 9-1-1 calls based on available funding from the surcharge in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, section 2927, subsections 1-E and 1-F, whether there should be a certification and licensing requirement for all standardized dispatch protocols and any recommendations to ensure the efficient and effective oversight of the standardized dispatch protocols. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may submit legislation during the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature relating to the report.
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
 
Emergency Services Communication Bureau 0994
 
Initiative: Provides allocations in fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 to provide public safety answering points dispatcher training for answering fire 9-1-1 calls, software, printed support materials and quality assurance training.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2015-16	2016-17	
All Other	$904,466	$616,329	
			
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$904,466	$616,329	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment changes the adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch protocols from voluntary to mandatory and limits those protocols to only fire calls, instead of police and fire as in the bill. This amendment phases in adoption and implementation over a 3-year period and requires the Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau to adopt routine technical rules, with input from all public safety answering point managing entities, that identify the phase-in process and address program administration. Lastly, this amendment directs the Emergency Services Communication Bureau to submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters that includes cost estimates for the adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch protocols for answering police 9-1-1- calls, the time it would take to phase in these protocols based on available funding from the surcharge in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, section 2927, subsections 1-E and 1-F, whether there should be a certification and licensing requirement for all standardized dispatch protocols and any other recommendations to ensure efficient and effective oversight of the standardized dispatch protocols. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may submit legislation during the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature relating to the report.
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section.