Bill Text: CA AB911 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Telephone systems: 911.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-08-30 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB911 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB911-Amended.html
Bill Title: Telephone systems: 911.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-08-30 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB911 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB911-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 911 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 24, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 21, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bloom FEBRUARY 22, 2013 An act to add Section 53121 to the Government Code, relating to telephone systems. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 911, as amended, Bloom. Telephone systems: 911. The Warren-911-Emergency Assistance Act requires every local public agency to establish and operate a telephone system that automatically connects a person dialing "911" to an established public safety answering point through normal telephone service facilities. Existing law prohibits the Public Safety Communications Division in the Department of Technology from delaying the implementation of the enhanced "911" emergency telephone system, as provided. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2019, establish various requirements regarding 911 emergency call technology that would be applicable to multiline telephone systems (MLTS), providers of shared telecommunication services, and businesses withaMLTS. The bill would requireaan MLTSprovideroperator, as defined, in an area that has enhanced 911 capability to maintain and operate the MLTS, as specified, to ensure that each emergency call placed from any telephone station on the MLTS is routed to a public safety answering point and provides either automatic location information or automation number identification to the 911 network that connects to the public safety answering point. The bill would provide exemptions for buildings or structures under 7,000 square feet or where enhanced 911 service is not available. The bill would authorize the assessment of civil penalties againsta MLTS provider that violatesan entity that sells a n MLTS sy stem in violation of these requirements. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) There are gaps in public safety protection and accurate caller location information is vital for 911 emergency calls and the safety of Californians. Problem calls originate from large hospitals, public schools, large businesses, large chain stores, local government offices, and assisted living facilities. (b) Problems with the current 911 systems include: (1) misrouting a call to an entirely wrong public safety answering point (PSAP), sometimes in a different city or region; (2) delivery of wrong or inaccurate caller location information to the proper PSAP. (c) Enhancements to the 911 system typically enable the caller's telephone number and service address to be displayed to the PSAP. As a result, when the caller is calling from a single-line telephone or a multiline telephone system (MLTS) serving a compact area, the address associated with the caller's telephone number can be retrieved and usually provides a reasonably precise identification of the caller's location. (d) Public safety agencies increasingly rely on the enhanced 911 system to provide dependable and precise information about the caller' s location and a reliable number to call back in order to reach the caller. However, in some cases 911 emergency calls made from telephones connected toaan MLTS may not be precisely located by the 911 system, eliminating some of thebenefitbenefits of enhanced 911. This lack of adequate location information can be life threatening if the caller cannot supply the correct location. (e) Related problems occur when the caller is remote from the location supplied to the 911 system. In this instance not only is response delayed but limited public safety resources are dispatched where they are not needed. There may also be considerable disruption in business operations as the response units attempt to locate the caller. (f) This act will address the issue of MLTS regarding the installation of equipment and software necessary to provide specific location information for a 911 emergency call. SEC. 2. Section 53121 is added to the Government Code, to read: 53121. (a) A multiline telephone system (MLTS)provideroperator shall maintain and operate the MLTS in such a manner that a telephone call made by dialing the digits "911" and, if applicable, any additional digit that must be dialed in order to permit the user to access the public switch telephone network from any telephone on the MLTS is routed to a public safety answering point (PSAP) and provides automatic location information or automatic number identification to the 911 network that connects to the PSAP. (b) Enhanced 911 MLTS support service is deemed to be available if all of the following features are operating: (1) The PSAP can accept emergency location identification number information from the MLTS using generally accepted industry standard interfaces. (2) The PSAP has customer premise equipment in place to accept and store the emergency response locations information provided by the MLTS. (3) The PSAP is equipped to utilize the emergency response locations information. (c) Foraan MLTS serving business locations, the MLTSprovideroperator shall deliver the 911 call with an emergency location identification number which will result in either of the following: (1) An emergency response location which provides a minimum of the building and floor location of the caller. (2) An ability to direct response through an alternate and adequate means of signaling by the establishments of a private answering point. (d)A MLTS providerAn entity that sells an MLTS system shall provide, at the time of sale, to the purchaser and to each new user, either a demonstration of how to place an emergency call from a telephone station or provide written instructions at each telephone station that informs an individual how to place an emergency call from the telephone station. (e) (1) Where applicable,aan MLTSprovideroperator shall arrange to update the automatic location information database with appropriate master street address guide valid address and callback information for each MLTS telephone, such that the location information specifies the emergency response location of the caller. These updates shall be downloaded or made available to the automatic location information database provider as soon as practicable for new MLTS installation, or within one business day of the record of completion of the actual changes for previously installed systems. The information is subject to all federal and state privacy and confidentiality laws. (2) The MLTSprovideroperator shall audit accuracy of information contained in the automatic location information database at least once annually. (f)A MLTS providerAn MLTS operator shall be considered to be in compliance with this section when the MLTS complies with the enhanced 911 system generally accepted industry standards as adopted by the Federal Communications Commission. The telecommunication local exchange carriers and Internet service providers are responsible for providing interconnectivity through the use of generally accepted industry standards. (g) Providers of shared telecommunications services shall ensure that the MLTS is connected to the public switch network such that 911 calls from any telephone result in automatic location information for each emergency response location. (h) A business providing temporary structures or facilities, regardless of size, withaan MLTS shall permit the dialing of 911 and the MLTSprovideroperator shall ensure that the MLTS is connected to the public switched telephone network. Where automatic location information records are not provided for each individual station , the MLTSprovideroperator of the temporary structure or facility shall provide specific location information of the caller to the PSAP. (i) (1)A MLTS provider,An MLTS operator, itsemployeesemployees, or its agents shall not be liable to any person for damages incurred as the result of any act or omission by it, except for gross negligence or intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct, in connection with maintaining or operating the MLTS in a manner required by this section. (2) A telecommunications service provider, its employees, or agents shall not be liable to any person for damages incurred as the result of the release of information not in the public record, including, but not limited to, unpublished or unlisted telephone numbers, to a PSAP, its employees or agents, or to emergency responders, made in connection with an emergency call. (j)AAn MLTS serving multiple buildings or structures with a combined total of 7,000 square feet or less shall not be required to provide more than one emergency response location.AAn MLTS serving a single building with less than 7,000 square feet or less shall not be required to provide more than one emergency response location. In the event of a dispute over the total amount of square footage, the State Fire Marshal shall determine whether the exemption applies to the building or structures. (k) Key Telephone Systems, which serve only small workspace areas, are not required to comply with this section. Other MLTS, such as PBX or Hybrids (systems that incorporate the functionality of both Key Telephone Systems and PBX), shall comply with this section. (l) This section shall not apply to MLTSprovidersoperators in areas without enhanced 911 service. (m)A MLTS provider whoAn entity that sellsaan MLTS system in violation of this section after January 1, 2019, may be assessed a fine from five hundred dollars ($500) to five thousand dollars ($5,000) per system sold. (n) For purposes of this section, "MLTS operator" means the entity responsible for ensuring that a 911 emergency call placed from an MLTS is transmitted and received in accordance with this section, regardless of the type of MLTS technology used to generate the call.(n)(o) The provisions of this section shall become operative on January 1, 2019. In areas where enhanced 911 service first becomes available after January 1, 2019, MLTS providers shall have 12 months from the date enhanced 911 service became available to comply with these provisions.