An Act To Enhance Availability of Emergency Telephone Services

Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§5-A  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 25 MRSA §2935  is enacted to read:

§ 2935.  E-9-1-1 access-only service

Sec. 3. Major substantive rulemaking; authority for legislation. Major substantive rules provisionally adopted pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, section 2935 must be submitted to the Legislature by January 15, 2008 for review by the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy during the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. In the rulemaking, the Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau shall, at a minimum, address the following issues:

1. E-9-1-1 system and database issues raised by E-9-1-1 access-only service, including, but not limited to, safety, accuracy, reliability and reporting of changes to the E-9-1-1 database;

2. The liability of telephone service providers with respect to E-9-1-1 access-only service;

3. Notification to customers regarding E-9-1-1 access-only service;

4. The duration of E-9-1-1 access-only service requirements;

5. Exceptions to E-9-1-1 access-only service requirements; and

6. Definitions of relevant terms.

Following its review of the major substantive rules, the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy is authorized to submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature regarding E-9-1-1 access-only service.