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An Act To Improve the Safety and Survival of 9-1-1 Callers and First Responders
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
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	

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 127th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.