Bill Text: VA HB40 | 2016 | Regular Session | Prefiled

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Bill Title: Public safety answering points; deployment of text-to-9-1-1.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-11 - Continued to 2017 in Commerce and Labor by voice vote [HB40 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2016-HB40-Prefiled.html

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16100406D
HOUSE BILL NO. 40 Offered January 13, 2016 Prefiled November 23, 2015 A BILL to amend and reenact §56-484.16 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public safety answering points; processing requests for emergency services sent via text message. ---------- Patron-- Kory ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §56-484.16 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§56-484.16. Local emergency telecommunications requirements; PSAP deployment of text-to-9-1-1; use of digits "9-1-1."

A. On or before July 1, 2003, every county, city, or town in the Commonwealth shall be served by an E-911 system, unless an extension of time has been granted by the Board.

B. On or before July 1, 2019, each PSAP in the Commonwealth shall deploy equipment, products, and services necessary or appropriate to enable the PSAP to receive and process calls for emergency assistance sent via Short Message Service (SMS) text messages in a manner consistent with FCC Order 14-118 and any other FCC order that affects the deployment of SMS text-to-9-1-1. Upon such deployment, the PSAP shall notify the FCC's PSAP Text-to-911 Readiness and Certification Registry.

C. The digits "9-1-1" shall be the designated emergency telephone number in Virginia. No public safety agency shall advertise or otherwise promote the use of any number for emergency response service other than "9-1-1".