bill indexing the 50-cent wireless 9-1-1 fee to inflation

The text as introduced · 590 words

By: Miles
S.B. No. 2860

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the emergency service fee collected by a wireless

service provider

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

SECTION 1. Section 771.0711, Health and Safety, is amended

by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding subsections

(c-1), (c-2), and (c-3) to read as follows:

(a) To provide for automatic number identification an

automatic location identification of wireless 9-1-1 calls and to

support the deployment and reliable operation of next generation

9-1-1 service , the commission shall impose on each wireless

telecommunications connection a 9-1-1 emergency service fee. A

political subdivision may not impose another fee on a wireless

service provider or subscriber for 9-1-1 emergency service.

(b) A wireless service provider shall collect the fee in an

amount equal to 50 cents a month with an adjustment on January 1 of

each odd numbered year of not more than one half of the actual total

percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban

Consumers (CPI-U), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

of the United States Department of Labor, from the effective date

of this subsection for each wireless telecommunications connection

from its subscribers and shall pay the money collected to the

comptroller not later than the 30th say after the last day of the

month during which the fees were collected. The comptroller may

establish alternative dates for payment of fees under this section.

The wireless service provider may retain an administrative fee of

one percent of the amount collected. The comptroller shall deposit

the money from the dees to the credit of the 9-1-1 services fee

account. Until deposited to the credit of the 9-1-1 services fee

account as required by Subsection (c), money the comptroller

collects under this subsection remains in a trust fund in the state

treasury.

(c) Money collected under Subsection (b) may be used only :

(1) for services related to 9-1-1 services, including

automatic number identification and automatic location information

services ;

(2) to support the deployment and reliable operation

of next generation 9-1-1 service; [ , ] or

(3) as authorized by Section 771.079(c).

(c-1) Except as provided by Subsection (c-2), not [ Not ] later

than the 15th day after the end of the month in which the money is

collected under Subsection (b) , the commission shall distribute to

each emergency communication district that does not participate in

the state system a portion of the money that bears the same

proportion to the total amount collected that the population of the

area served by the district bears to the population of the state.

(c-2) For each emergency communication district created

under Chapter 772 entitled to a portion of the money distributed

under Subsection (c-1), the commission shall:

(1) reduce the portion to which the district is

entitled by an amount equal to three percent of the portion and

distribute that amount in equal shares to all the emergency

communication districts created under Chapter 772; and

(2) distribute to the district the remainder of the

portion to which the district is entitled under Subsection (c-1)

that is not distributed under Subdivision (1).

(c-3) The remaining money collected under Subsection (b)

that is not otherwise distributed under Subsection (c-1) or (c-2)

shall be deposited to the 9-1-1 services fee account.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply

beginning with the state fiscal biennium that begins September 1,

2025.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.