This legislation authorizes residential and commercial electric customers, including local governments, to install solar technology on their property and utilize such financing mechanisms as leases, private solar energy procurement agreements (whereby payments are based on the output of the system), and authorization for electric companies to finance projects for their customers. Providing solar financing services does not make an entity an electric service provider and the power must be used on site or fed back to the electric utility. The bill does not limit or usurp current local regulatory or land use authority.

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This legislation requires a party to pay attorneys' fees and court costs if they lose a lawsuit filed against a gas or electric utility to stop or delay the construction of facility.  It also requires the attorney representing the party suing the utility to notify their client that the losing party must pay attorneys' fees and court costs.

This legislation requires counties to collect the 9-1-1 surcharge from the phone companies, but send it to the state. Counties that properly file a report with the state would be eligible to receive a portion of the 9-1-1 fees based upon a formula that considers population and the number of jurisdictions that properly filed their report. This bill also gives the Department of Revenue the ability to audit service providers. Additionally it raises the prepaid 911 fee to $1.50 across the board. PLEASE REVIEW THIS BILL AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO dnesbit@accg.org.

This legislation was developed over several years and incorporates many of the recommendations from the Governor’s Commission on 9-1-1 Modernization and Balanced Funding as well as recommendations from the Senate Study Committee. It is estimated the 9-1-1 centers could see as much as a 20 to 25 percent increase in revenues and double the prepaid fees that are collected at the point of sale and remitted to the Department of Revenue.

The Authority is made up of local officials, representatives from the telecommunications industry, and a GEMA representative, for a total of 15 members.

The Authority will provide statewide coordination of 9-1-1 activities in the state; provide planning; oversee compliance by carriers and service providers; audit service providers to ensure all fees are paid; and collect and distribute 9-1-1 fees through a centralized location. ALL 9-1-1 FEES COLLECTED IN A JURISDICTION WILL BE DISBURSED BACK TO THE JURISDICTION FROM WHICH IT CAME. 

The Authority may retain UP TO 3% for administration, for activities such as financial services, auditing and legal services.

The legislation eliminates the cost recovery charges that are billed back to jurisdictions by the wireless providers. It does allow the providers to bill their subscribers for cost recovery, but it will not come out of the 9-1-1fees received for the operation of the 9-1-1 center.

It also sets the 9-1-1 fees for landlines, wireless and prepaid, to $1.50 across the board.

Local governments that have different white lining, marking or other utility locate procedures than the state Department of Transportation or Public Service Commission cannot impose fines on those failing to follow the local procedures.  The bill also extends, from 21 to 30 days, the time by which blasting or excavating must commence after providing notice.