SB438 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Del Marsh

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

E-911 services, Statewide 911 Board, established to replace Commercial Mobile Radio Service Board, emergency telephone service charge, collection by board, deposit into E-911 Fund, distrib. to local E-911 districts for implementing Enhanced E-911, procedures and requirements for districts, Permanent Oversight Commission on 911, established, Secs. 11-98-4.1, 11-98-5.2, 11-98-5.3, 11-98-12, 11-98-12.1 added; Secs. 11-98-1, 11-98-2, 11-98-4, 11-98-5, 11-98-6, 11-98-7, 11-98-9 am'd.; Secs. 11-98-4.1, 11-98-5.1, 11-98-7.1, 11-98-8 repealed

Summary

SB438 creates a single statewide E-911 system with a Statewide 911 Board, replaces the old CMRS Board, imposes a statewide 911 charge, and sets up a permanent, diverse 911 oversight commission to plan and fund modern emergency communications.

What This Bill Does

It replaces the existing CMRS Board with a Statewide 911 Board that will establish and collect one statewide emergency telephone service charge (the statewide 911 charge) and distribute the revenues to local emergency districts and CMRS providers. It creates a Permanent Oversight Commission on 911 to develop a statewide plan, study costs, and propose legislation, with diversity requirements and annual reporting to the Legislature, and it freezes the wireline 911 rate until the commission makes recommendations. It also sets rules for how prepaid wireless charges are collected at the point of sale, how funds are distributed (80% to districts, 20% to CMRS for Phase II costs), and how CMRS providers can receive reimbursements for Phase II costs, along with audit and reporting requirements. Finally, it repeals certain old provisions and establishes new sections to govern funding, administration, and oversight of Alabama’s E-911 system, with specified implementation dates and a sunset timeline.

Who It Affects

• CMRS providers and other voice service providers would collect and remit the statewide 911 charge, may receive reimbursements for Phase II Enhanced 911 costs, must certify they do not charge customers cost-recovery for Phase II, and are subject to audits and reporting.
• Alabama residents and districts (emergency districts and service users) would pay the statewide 911 charge for voice services (including prepaid wireless charges collected at sale), funds would be distributed to districts and CMRS providers to support E-911, and there could be rate changes and updates as planned by the new board and commission.

Key Provisions

• Creates a Statewide 911 Board to replace the CMRS Board and to establish and collect a single statewide emergency telephone service charge, replacing all existing wireline and wireless E-911 charges.
• Establishes the 911 Fund, administered by the 911 Board, into which all statewide 911 charge revenues go; allocates 80% to local districts for emergency system costs and 20% to CMRS providers for Phase II E-911 costs, with minimum baselines to districts and rules for reimbursements.
• Implements the prepaid wireless statewide 911 charge collected at the point of sale, with remittance to the department and then to the statewide 911 Board, and allows the department to deduct up to 2% for admin costs; sellers may retain 4% as an administrative fee.
• Creates the Permanent Oversight Commission on 911 with 13 diverse members; responsibilities include developing a statewide 911 plan, consolidating and modernizing districts, reporting to the Legislature, and ensuring diversity in membership.
• Freezes the wireline E-911 rate until the Commission makes its recommendations, and requires annual reporting, audits, and cost studies to monitor funding and expenditures.
• Repeals Sections 11-98-5.1, 11-98-7.1, and 11-98-8, and adds Sections 11-98-4.1, 11-98-5.2, 11-98-5.3, 11-98-12, and 11-98-12.1, with specified effective dates and a sunset provision for the board.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

E-911