911 and 988 Bills Advance in Pa., Though Critics Raise Cost Complaints
Pennsylvania House committees passed bills on 911 and 988 funding Wednesday, though some lawmakers voiced concerns about the state's means of funding of the emergency call services.
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In testimony before the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee members before the 911 surcharge bill vote, Lisa Schaefer, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania executive director, said counties' share of 911 expenses has increased since the state's last 911 authorization in 2015, with them covering more than 30% of the cost of 911 through county property taxes. HB-1304 would hike the $1.65 surcharge to $1.97 in 2024, with it going up each year after based on the Consumer Price Index. Schaefer said based on inflation alone, $1.65 in 2015 would be $2.14 in 2023 dollars. She said the surcharge needs to be even higher than that to keep pace with the expected growth in expenses through 2027.
Some lawmakers said HB-1304 would be a step toward further Next Generation 911 rollout in Pennsylvania. The state's current 911 technology is less precise than what Uber drivers use for geolocating callers, said Rep. Greg Scott (D). Rep. Joe Webster (D) said the local 911 call center in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, has 31 openings, and an increased surcharge "is urgent" to help it and other centers face staffing issues.
Rep. Mark Gillen (R) at one point moved to postpone the vote on the 911 surcharge bill to allow for more testimony about such issues as whether the surcharge should be extended to services like OnStar, as well as to tackle issues like whether the proposed surcharge is sufficient. The motion failed.
Before the 988 vote by Human Services Committee members, some said they support the service itself, but HB-1305 puts too big a financial burden on fee payers. The bill establishes a 988 fund and levies a fee of six cents on mobile and IP voice service lines starting in 2024, with the fee going up each year at the same rate as the CPI. Republican Chairman Doyle Heffley said there's a need for 988 services, but tying the fee to the CPI means an ongoing tax increase with no oversight. He said oversight is particularly needed since a sizable percentage of 988 calls don't get answered.
Other committee members leaped to the bill's defense. "For six cents, I'd be willing to pay that to save someone's life," said Rep. Melissa Cerrato (D). Rep. Jim Gregory (R) broached the idea of making 988 a state budget line item rather than a fee charged on wireless subscribers, with Committee Chairman Stephen Kinsey (D) responding he was "more than willing to look at that option" and discuss it with the governor's administration. Rep. Craig Williams (R) said he also supports discussions about moving 988 funding to the state budget, but "today I'm voting for six cents."