HBA-MSH C.S.H.B. 1662 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1662 By: Alexander Public Safety 4/6/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas emergency call box program (program) was initiated in 1993 in five roadway sections in four counties. The program consists of a system of emergency telephone call boxes which are designed to enable users of certain state highways to request emergency and nonemergency response services. Currently, the program may not receive state highway funds for its operation or maintenance. Therefore, the program relies upon public and private entities to pay all direct or indirect costs. C.S.H.B. 1662 replaces the program with a system of automatic location identification telephone call boxes administered by the Commission on State Emergency Communications. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1662 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize the Commission on State Emergency Communications (commission) to implement a system of automatic location identification telephone call boxes (system), that must begin along rural interstate highways, including rest stops and roadside parks. The bill transfers all the powers and responsibilities for the system from the Texas Department of Transportation to the commission. The bill authorizes the system to enable users to communicate with providers of emergency and nonemergency response services. The bill requires the commission to limit the distance between call boxes to a maximum of two miles, except as prohibited by roadway conditions or where 24-hour communication service exists. The bill requires the commission to implement the system in accordance with the General Appropriations Act and prohibits the use of revenue derived from fees, taxes, or other charges imposed in connection with the sale or provision of services by means of a landline or wireless communication infrastructure. The bill requires the commission to provide technical assistance including support for routing calls made from a call box to an emergency services provider. The bill sets forth provisions relating to the awarding of contracts by the commission for the implementation of the system. The bill requires the commission to report to the legislature and Legislative Budget Board each year on the system, including recommendations for legislative action. The bill repeals provisions of the Transportation Code authorizing the Texas Department of Transportation to implement an emergency highway call box system. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B.1662 differs from the original bill by amending the Health and Safety Code rather than the Transportation Code, and transferring transfers all the powers and responsibilities for a system of automatic location identification telephone call boxes (system) from the Texas Department of Transportation to the Commission on State Emergency Communications (commission). The substitute sets forth new provisions relating to the funding of the system, and repeals provisions of the Transportation Code regarding the system.