An Act relating to enhanced 911 surcharges and to emergency services dispatch systems of municipalities, certain villages, and public corporations established by municipalities.

Senate Bill 335, and its companion House Bill 461, provide local municipalities more flexibility with respect to recovering direct costs associated with operating a 911 dispatch center.

Several years ago the Fairbanks North Star Borough transitioned into a new generation of emergency response capabilities by adopting the ubiquitous "911" telephone technology. Since then the system has been upgraded to the newer "Enhanced 911" technology. Now emergency dispatchers are able to identify callers and pinpoint the calling location thereby saving valuable response time.

Over the years this vital service has been provided to the residents of the FNSB at a relatively cheap flat monthly rate of 65 cents per phone line. That amounts to $7.80 annually - less than the cost of two lattes. That's a bargain any way you look at it. There is literally no telling how much money - and how many lives - this system has saved borough residents over the years.

But it is important to understand that the components making up an effective 911 emergency response system consist of much more than simply specialized software working in concert with somewhat ordinary computer hardware. In fact, no 911 system can work in the absence of a well trained dispatch staff. So it really is a package deal. One does not work without the other.

Current state law recognizes the important public interest served through the use of 911 technology by allowing municipalities to directly charge phone customers for its use. However, the law does not currently allow the recovery of costs associated with the concomitant dispatch function. Senate Bill 335 solves this.

Furthermore, Senate Bill 335 allows municipalities needed flexibility in terms of recovering a greater amount of the direct costs associated with operating a 911 dispatch center. Current monthly cost recovery is limited to 85 cents per phone line. This would be increased to a maximum of $3.00 with revenues dedicated to 911 services only. In this manner, municipalities would be able to assign costs in a more direct relationship to the beneficial user of the system. This, in fact, is the norm nationwide.

We have all heard the old business axiom, "Time is money." But in the emergency response business, time is not only money but it could also be a life. The 911 dispatch service is recognized as being of vital importance to many communities throughout the state. And for less than 10 cents a day, it's a bargain too.

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