HB 5351
Relating to modernization of fees generated from emergency communication service users
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to update the fees associated with emergency communication services (911) in West Virginia. It allows counties to establish enhanced emergency telephone systems and modernize the 911 fee to account for technological advancements. Specifically, the bill expands the scope of fees to include Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscribers, ensuring they contribute to the cost of these essential services. Counties can also contract with telephone companies to handle billing for these fees.
Key provisions
- Allows counties to establish enhanced emergency telephone systems instead of traditional systems.
- Expands the 911 fee to include Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscribers.
- Establishes minimum standards for emergency communications centers and equipment.
- Permits counties to contract with telephone companies for billing of the 911 fee.
- Requires annual examination of county answering point records by the State Auditor.
- Allows counties to set standards for alarm systems.
- Defines criteria for determining whether a VoIP subscriber is considered ‘in-state’ for fee purposes.
- Specifies that fee revenues can only be used for system costs and related conversions.
Who is affected
- West Virginia residents
- VoIP subscribers
- County commissions
- Telephone companies
- Emergency service providers
Notable changes
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