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Minutes for HB2084 - Committee on Utilities
Short Title
Amending the Kansas 911 act.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 13, 2019
Chairman Masterson opened the hearing on HB2084
Staff explained the bill and answered questions from members.(Attachment 1)
David Brevitz, Brevitz Consulting Services and Inspired Technologies gave briefing only on the audit of the Kansas 911 System. Mr. Brevitz provided information stating that the State of Kansas is clearly a national leader in NG911 deployment. The Base Case projection shows that existing reserves will be exhausted by 2020 and the NG911 System will be unable to cover its operating and contractual costs beyond that time. The Business Case analysis supports increasing the per subscriber account fee from $0.60 to $1.05 with a comparable increase to the fee on prepaid wireless sales.(Attachment 2)
Proponents
Ed Klumpp, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police stated their highest priority request is to assure sufficient funding to maintain current system capabilities. Information provided by the Post Audit Report and the Coordinating Council have outlined how this is not possible with current funding and demonstrates the need for additional fund resources. He went on to say that the House floor amendment which reduced the total fee to $0.82 has created a reduction in funding for the local PSAPs from current levels. (Attachment 3)
Joshua Michaelis, Director, Rice County 911 said Rice County has recently invested 2.5 million dollars to replacing their County's antiquated radio system infrastructure. This is a critical component of providing 911 service by dispatching emergency responders, which ultimately helps the citizens of Kansas. Funding of this radio infrastructure project will have included the utilization 75% of Rice County's existing 911 funds.(Attachment 4)
Chairman Masterson temporarily closed the Proponents to hear Opponents due to lack of time. The committee will pick up at a later date for the remaining Proponents.
Opponents
Elora Forshee, Director, Sedgwick County stated that she is in strong opposition of HB2084, as amended by the House. The proposed fee of $0.82, with the disbursement formula provided in the legislation, would prove detrimental to 9-1-1 services in Sedgwick County, a 9-1-1 system that serves a community of over 500,000 people and approximately 6 million annual visitors to the Wichita area. Reinstating HB2084 with a 9-1-1 fee of $1.03 provides adequate funding for 9-1-1 services at both the local level and throughout our great state. (Attachment 5)
Ms. Forshee answered questions from members.
Written only testimony-Proponents
Ken Nelson, Kansas Geological Society; (Attachment 6) David Warm, Mid America Regional Council;(Attachment 7) Ed Eilert, Johnson County Board of County Commissioners;(Attachment 8) Robert Roberts, Miami County Commissioner;(Attachment 9) Patrick Fucik, Spring Corporation;(Attachment10)
Chairman Masterson continued the hearing on HB2084 to March 14, 2019.
Adjourned at 3:30pm
