Whereas, the Enhanced 9-1-1, or "E-9-1-1," system is currently being implemented in portions of the State; and

Whereas, upon implementation it is necessary that the State's primary and official emergency telephone number be 9-1-1; and

Whereas, the statutory provisions regarding the collection and remittance of the special statewide E-9-1-1 surcharge rate must show an increased rate to fund the system; and

Whereas, the E-9-1-1 surcharge is the only funding source for the E-9-1-1 budget, implementation, operation and maintenance; and

Whereas, public safety answering points must be available to answer a citizen's E-9-1-1 call for help; and

Whereas, through television programming and newspaper and magazine articles, the public's perception is that emergency medical dispatch is an integral component of the E-9-1-1 system; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:

4-A.__Emergency medical dispatch.__"Emergency medical dispatch" means the reception and management of requests for emergency medical assistance and the delivery of prearrival telephone instructions following established protocols involving emergency medical care.

Sec. 2. 25 MRSA §2926, sub-§2, ¶¶B, F, H and I, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 566, §9, are amended to read:

B. Development of minimum public safety answering point requirements including 24-hour operation; emergency backup power; secured communication areas; separate administrative phone lines for nonemergency calls; call recording and playback equipment; TDD equipment, as defined in Title 35-A,