This legislation changes the method that 9-1-1 fees are assessed on prepaid wireless cellular phones and service, and sets forth a method for distribution of the fees to local governments. The bill provides for a 75 cent fee on each retail purchase of a wireless telephone or purchase of service. The fee will be remitted by the retailer along with sales tax to the Department of Revenue. Fees will be distributed to 9-1-1 centers based on the population of the Public Safety Answering Point. For a full overview and summary of the legislation click here.

This legislation expands the use of funds collected for 911 systems and operations to include indirect costs and additional equipment. Click here for summary.

The language from HB 304 was added to this bill by the Senate Committee. HB 304 provides clean up language in O.C.G.AS 46-5-124.1 to require all suppliers to register to ensure that telephone service connections are assessed a 9-1-1 fee.

The language from SB 113 was added in the Senate.  SB 113 deals with contract between local governments and vendors.

This resolution asks the voters to consider an amendment to the Georgia Constitution designating a portion of a state-wide tax on communications services for counties, school systems and school systems, as well as preempt counties from charging any type of fee, tax or charge on communications services.

Rather than file an annual report of a county's collection and expenditure of 9-1-1 surcharges, this bill would allow counties to document the amount of funds collected and spent. Counties would be required to certify in their audit that the funds were spent in compliance with the 9-1-1 law.

SB 344 eliminates the 9-1-1 Advisory Committee.