HF 1131

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/14/2011 11:20am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; allocating proceeds of public safety service fee;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 403.11, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 403.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

deleted text begin Emergency telecommunications deleted text end new text begin Public safety new text end service fee;
account.

(a) Each customer of a wireless or wire-line switched or packet-based
telecommunications service provider connected to the public switched telephone network
that furnishes service capable of originating a 911 emergency telephone call is assessed a
new text begin public safety service new text end fee based upon the number of wired or wireless telephone lines, or
their equivalent, new text begin which is allocated:
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end to cover the costs of ongoing maintenance and related improvements for trunking
and central office switching equipment for 911 emergency telecommunications service deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (2) new text end to deleted text begin offset deleted text end new text begin pay new text end administrative and staffing costs of the commissioner related
to managing the 911 emergency telecommunications service program, new text begin including the
salaries and benefits of department employees who support the program such as deputy
commissioners, directors, and legislative liaisons;
new text end

new text begin (3) new text end to make distributions provided for in section 403.113, and to offset the costs,
including administrative and staffing costs, incurred by the State Patrol Division of the
Department of Public Safety in handling 911 emergency calls made from wireless phones new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (4) to fund law enforcement emergency response training reimbursement grants;
new text end

new text begin (5) to fund the collection, analysis, and maintenance of criminal evidence, records,
and data; and
new text end

new text begin (6) for any other public safety purpose that relies upon, uses, or involves the efficient
operation of the emergency telecommunications system in the state new text end .

(b) Money remaining in the 911 emergency telecommunications service account
after all other obligations are paid must not cancel and is carried forward to subsequent
years and may be appropriated from time to time to the commissioner to provide financial
assistance to counties for the improvement of local emergency telecommunications
services. The improvements may include providing access to 911 service for
telecommunications service subscribers currently without access and upgrading existing
911 service to include automatic number identification, local location identification,
automatic location identification, and other improvements specified in revised county
911 plans approved by the commissioner.

(c) The fee may not be less than eight cents nor more than 65 cents a month until
June 30, 2008, not less than eight cents nor more than 75 cents a month until June 30, 2009,
not less than eight cents nor more than 85 cents a month until June 30, 2010, and not less
than eight cents nor more than 95 cents a month on or after July 1, 2010, for each customer
access line or other basic access service, including trunk equivalents as designated by
the Public Utilities Commission for access charge purposes and including wireless
telecommunications services. With the approval of the commissioner of management and
budget, the commissioner of public safety shall establish the amount of the fee within the
limits specified and inform the companies and carriers of the amount to be collected. When
the revenue bonds authorized under section 403.27, subdivision 1, have been fully paid or
defeased, the commissioner shall reduce the fee to reflect that debt service on the bonds is
no longer needed. The commissioner shall provide companies and carriers a minimum of
45 days' notice of each fee change. The fee must be the same for all customers.

(d) The fee must be collected by each wireless or wire-line telecommunications
service provider subject to the fee. Fees are payable to and must be submitted to the
commissioner monthly before the 25th of each month following the month of collection,
except that fees may be submitted quarterly if less than $250 a month is due, or annually if
less than $25 a month is due. Receipts must be deposited in the state treasury and credited
to a 911 emergency telecommunications service account in the special revenue fund. The
money in the account may only be used for 911 telecommunications services.

(e) This subdivision does not apply to customers of interexchange carriers.

(f) The installation and recurring charges for integrating wireless 911 calls into
enhanced 911 systems are eligible for payment by the commissioner if the 911 service
provider is included in the statewide design plan and the charges are made pursuant to
contract.

(g) Competitive local exchanges carriers holding certificates of authority from the
Public Utilities Commission are eligible to receive payment for recurring 911 services.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end