EMERGENCY 9-1-1 FUND TO MICHIGAN

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (MPSCS)

House Bill 5599

Sponsor:  Rep. George Cushingberry, Jr.

Committee:  Appropriations

Complete to 9-7-10

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5599 AS INTRODUCED 11-12-09

           

            HB 5599 allows the distribution of $5.0 million for fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2012 from the Emergency 9-1-1 Fund to the Department of State Police to be used for operational costs of the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS).  

            The Executive Recommendation for the FY 2010 and FY 2011 State Police budget contained a new fund source titled Commercial Mobile Radio Service Fees funded with $5.0 million which replaced $5.0 million GF/GP for the Michigan Public Safety Communications System.  The House and Senate concurred with the Executive Recommendation for both fiscal years; however, in order for these funds to be released, a statutory change is necessary.  The plan proposed by the State Budget Office is to use $5.0 million of these Emergency 9-1-1 funds for FY 2012 as well.

FISCAL IMPACT:

As of September 7, 2010, the balance of the Emergency 9-1-1 Fund is approximately $16.8 million.  Under HB 5599, the Emergency 9-1-1 Fund would decrease by $15.0 million by the end of FY 2012 for MPSCS operational costs in the State Police budget.  It is unknown what the balance of the Emergency 9-1-1 Fund would be at the conclusion of FY 2012, since other bills may be passed that utilize the remaining balance of the Emergency 9-1-1 Fund.  HB 5622 and HB 6153 have both been passed out of their respective House committees and utilize $1.7 million from the Emergency 9-1-1 Fund for an Internet Protocol (IP) mapping study.

The reason for the current fund balance is due to statutory changes that took place from 2003 through 2005 causing various adjustments to 9-1-1 phone charges.  Phone suppliers either did not seek reimbursement for allowable expenses or could not request reimbursement due to charges that exceeded reimbursable costs, thus allowing the balance in the Emergency 9-1-1 Fund to accumulate.

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Jan Wisniewski

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.