1. 911 fee allocation-regional dispatch center

~ Expenditure Guidelines Emergency Services Communication System Fee Revenue Effective January 1, 2008 Approved 12/13/2007 by the Emergency Services Communications Coordinating Committee Pursuant to NDCC 57-40.6-12, the Emergency Services Communications Coordinating (ESCC) Committee is directed to "[dJevelop guidelines regarding the allowable uses of the fee revenue collected under this chapter." The revenue governed by these guidelines is that which is collected for the support of an emergency services communications system, from fees permitted by State law (57-40.6-02) and imposed on telecommunications services by local voter approval. From data gathered through the 2005 performance audit of these fees, surveys of local government, and research into other states' policies, the following expenditure guidelines have been established. The various types of expenditures have been grouped into categories for the purpose of future monitoring and reporting to the Legislature. The 2005 performance audit of these fees identified as an issue, the variations in the portion of Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) operating costs that were supported by these fees. The audit pointed out that "911 calls" represented a minority of the communication traffic through the PSAPs audited, with administrative phone calls, faxes, emails, and radio communications making up a larger share. The ESCC Committee, in establishing these guidelines, considered the audit findings but also looked to the Legislative language mandating the use of these revenues "solely for implementing, maintaining, or operating the emergency services communication system and may enter into agreements to effectuate the same." "Emergency Services Communications System" (ESCS) is defined by NDCC 57-40.6-01 as "a statewide, countywide, or citywide radio system, land lines communication network, wireless sen1ice network, or enhanced 911 (E911) telephone system, which provides rapid public access for coordinated dispatching of services, personnel, equipment, and facilities for law enforcement, fire, medical, or other emergency services. " Additionally, The Attorney General (April 26, 2004) indicated that "governing bodies may authorize the expenditure of E911 funds in a manner that enhances and improves the E911 system, including time for response." It is therefore this Committee's belief that "emergency .."" services communications" is decidedly broader than simply the receipt of, and response to, a "911 telephone call". It was noted in testimony to the ESCC Committee that some "emergency communications" handled by a PSAP do not involve a 911 call. They may be brought to the attention of the PSAP by law enforcement officers radioing their response to illegal or suspicious activity. They could be fire departments requesting the dispatch of a neighboring department for support. It may be the PSAP call-taker providing life-saving "pre-arrival" instructions allowing a citizen to administer live-saving support until a professional arrives. It may simply be the notification of the PSAP of the location of a traffic stop that becomes a critical piece of information when the traffic stop evolves into a much more serious incident.