Kari's Law Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-4167
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1]
Introduced: 2015-12-03
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Emergency communications systems

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2016-05-24
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-12-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Kari's Law Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-line telephone systems to have a default configuration that allows&nbsp;users to directly initiate a call to 9-1-1 (without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit "9") from any station equipped with dialing facilities.</p> <p>Businesses installing such systems must configure the&nbsp;systems to provide a notification to a central location at the facility where the system is installed when a person at the facility initiates a call to 9-1-1 using the system, provided that the system is able to be so configured without an improvement to&nbsp;the hardware.</p>

action_date: 2016-05-23
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><strong>Kari's Law Act of</strong> <b>2016</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit businesses from manufacturing or importing for use in the United States, or selling or leasing in the United States, a multi-line telephone system unless it is pre-configured to allow&nbsp;users to directly initiate a call to 9-1-1 (without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit "9") from any station equipped with dialing facilities.</p> <p> Businesses are prohibited from installing, managing, or operating multi-line telephone systems without such a direct 9-1-1 call configuration. </p> <p>Businesses installing, managing, or operating such systems for use in the United States must configure the&nbsp;systems to provide a notification to a central location at the facility where the system is installed, or to another person or organization regardless of location, if the system is able to be so configured without an improvement to&nbsp;the hardware or software.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4167 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 3, 2015 Mr. Gohmert (for himself, Mr. Farenthold , Mr. Duncan of Tennessee , Mr. Thompson of California , and Mr. Culberson ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-line telephone systems to have a default configuration that permits users to directly initiate a call to 9–1–1 without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Kari’s Law Act of 2015 . 2. Default configuration of multi-line telephone systems for direct dialing of 9–1–1 (a) In general Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 721. Default configuration of multi-line telephone systems for direct dialing of 9–1–1 (a) In general A person engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing, selling, leasing, or installing multi-line telephone systems may not manufacture or import for use in the United States, sell or lease or offer to sell or lease in the United States, or install in the United States a multi-line telephone system, unless the default configuration of such system is such that a user may directly initiate a call to 9–1–1 from any station equipped with dialing facilities, without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit 9 , regardless of whether the user is required to dial such a digit, code, prefix, or post-fix for other calls. (b) On-Site notification A person engaged in the business of installing multi-line telephone systems, in installing such a system, shall configure the system to provide a notification to a central location at the facility where the system is installed when a person at the facility initiates a call to 9–1–1 using the system, if the system is able to be configured to provide the notification without an improvement to the hardware of the system. (c) Enforcement This section shall be enforced under title V, except that section 501 applies only to the extent that such section provides for the punishment of a fine. (d) Multi-Line telephone system defined The term multi-line telephone system has the meaning given such term in section 6502 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1471 ). . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a multi-line telephone system that is manufactured, imported, offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, or installed after the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4167 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-line telephone systems to have a configuration that permits users to directly initiate a call to 9–1–1 without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Kari’s Law Act of 2016 . 2. Configuration of multi-line telephone systems for direct dialing of 9–1–1 (a) In general Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 721. Configuration of multi-line telephone systems for direct dialing of 9–1–1 (a) System manufacture, importation, sale, and lease A person engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing, selling, or leasing multi-line telephone systems may not manufacture or import for use in the United States, or sell or lease or offer to sell or lease in the United States, a multi-line telephone system, unless such system is pre-configured such that, when properly installed in accordance with subsection (b), a user may directly initiate a call to 9–1–1 from any station equipped with dialing facilities, without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit ‘9’, regardless of whether the user is required to dial such a digit, code, prefix, or post-fix for other calls. (b) System installation, management, and operation A person engaged in the business of installing, managing, or operating multi-line telephone systems may not install, manage, or operate for use in the United States such a system, unless such system is configured such that a user may directly initiate a call to 9–1–1 from any station equipped with dialing facilities, without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit ‘9’, regardless of whether the user is required to dial such a digit, code, prefix, or post-fix for other calls. (c) On-Site notification A person engaged in the business of installing, managing, or operating multi-line telephone systems shall, in installing, managing, or operating such a system for use in the United States, configure the system to provide a notification to a central location at the facility where the system is installed or to another person or organization regardless of location, if the system is able to be configured to provide the notification without an improvement to the hardware or software of the system. (d) Effect on State law Nothing in this section is intended to alter the authority of State commissions or other State or local agencies with jurisdiction over emergency communications, if the exercise of such authority is not inconsistent with this Act. (e) Enforcement This section shall be enforced under title V, except that section 501 applies only to the extent that such section provides for the punishment of a fine. (f) Multi-Line telephone system defined In this section, the term multi-line telephone system has the meaning given such term in section 6502 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1471 ). . (b) Effective date (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), section 721 of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by subsection (a) of this section, shall apply beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Exception Subsection (b) or (c) of such section 721 shall not apply to a multi-line telephone system that was installed before the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act if such system is not able to be configured to meet the requirement of such subsection (b) or (c), respectively, without an improvement to the hardware or software of the system.

Passed the House of Representatives May 23, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4167 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 24, 2016 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation AN ACT To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-line telephone systems to have a configuration that permits users to directly initiate a call to 9–1–1 without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Kari’s Law Act of 2016 . 2. Configuration of multi-line telephone systems for direct dialing of 9–1–1 (a) In general Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 721. Configuration of multi-line telephone systems for direct dialing of 9–1–1 (a) System manufacture, importation, sale, and lease A person engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing, selling, or leasing multi-line telephone systems may not manufacture or import for use in the United States, or sell or lease or offer to sell or lease in the United States, a multi-line telephone system, unless such system is pre-configured such that, when properly installed in accordance with subsection (b), a user may directly initiate a call to 9–1–1 from any station equipped with dialing facilities, without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit ‘9’, regardless of whether the user is required to dial such a digit, code, prefix, or post-fix for other calls. (b) System installation, management, and operation A person engaged in the business of installing, managing, or operating multi-line telephone systems may not install, manage, or operate for use in the United States such a system, unless such system is configured such that a user may directly initiate a call to 9–1–1 from any station equipped with dialing facilities, without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit ‘9’, regardless of whether the user is required to dial such a digit, code, prefix, or post-fix for other calls. (c) On-Site notification A person engaged in the business of installing, managing, or operating multi-line telephone systems shall, in installing, managing, or operating such a system for use in the United States, configure the system to provide a notification to a central location at the facility where the system is installed or to another person or organization regardless of location, if the system is able to be configured to provide the notification without an improvement to the hardware or software of the system. (d) Effect on State law Nothing in this section is intended to alter the authority of State commissions or other State or local agencies with jurisdiction over emergency communications, if the exercise of such authority is not inconsistent with this Act. (e) Enforcement This section shall be enforced under title V, except that section 501 applies only to the extent that such section provides for the punishment of a fine. (f) Multi-Line telephone system defined In this section, the term multi-line telephone system has the meaning given such term in section 6502 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1471 ). . (b) Effective date (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), section 721 of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by subsection (a) of this section, shall apply beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Exception Subsection (b) or (c) of such section 721 shall not apply to a multi-line telephone system that was installed before the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act if such system is not able to be configured to meet the requirement of such subsection (b) or (c), respectively, without an improvement to the hardware or software of the system.

Passed the House of Representatives May 23, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 449 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4167 [Report No. 114–579] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 3, 2015 Mr. Gohmert (for himself, Mr. Farenthold , Mr. Duncan of Tennessee , Mr. Thompson of California , and Mr. Culberson ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce May 23, 2016 Additional sponsors: Mrs. Black , Mr. Olson , Mr. O'Rourke , Mr. Neugebauer , Mr. Barr , Mr. Burgess , Ms. Bordallo , Mr. Brady of Texas , Mr. Shimkus , Mr. Cuellar , Mr. Brooks of Alabama , Mr. Vela , Mr. DesJarlais , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Williams , Mr. Newhouse , Mr. Byrne , Mr. Allen , Mr. Heck of Nevada , and Mr. King of Iowa May 23, 2016 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on December 3, 2015 A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-line telephone systems to have a default configuration that permits users to directly initiate a call to 9–1–1 without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Kari’s Law Act of 2016 . 2. Configuration of multi-line telephone systems for direct dialing of 9-1-1 (a) In general Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 721. Configuration of multi-line telephone systems for direct dialing of 9-1-1 (a) System manufacture, importation, sale, and lease A person engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing, selling, or leasing multi-line telephone systems may not manufacture or import for use in the United States, or sell or lease or offer to sell or lease in the United States, a multi-line telephone system, unless such system is pre-configured such that, when properly installed in accordance with subsection (b), a user may directly initiate a call to 9-1-1 from any station equipped with dialing facilities, without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit ‘9’, regardless of whether the user is required to dial such a digit, code, prefix, or post-fix for other calls. (b) System installation, management, and operation A person engaged in the business of installing, managing, or operating multi-line telephone systems may not install, manage, or operate for use in the United States such a system, unless such system is configured such that a user may directly initiate a call to 9-1-1 from any station equipped with dialing facilities, without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit ‘9’, regardless of whether the user is required to dial such a digit, code, prefix, or post-fix for other calls. (c) On-site notification A person engaged in the business of installing, managing, or operating multi-line telephone systems shall, in installing, managing, or operating such a system for use in the United States, configure the system to provide a notification to a central location at the facility where the system is installed or to another person or organization regardless of location, if the system is able to be configured to provide the notification without an improvement to the hardware or software of the system. (d) Effect on State law Nothing in this section is intended to alter the authority of State commissions or other State or local agencies with jurisdiction over emergency communications, if the exercise of such authority is not inconsistent with this Act. (e) Enforcement This section shall be enforced under title V, except that section 501 applies only to the extent that such section provides for the punishment of a fine. (f) Multi-line telephone system defined In this section, the term multi-line telephone system has the meaning given such term in section 6502 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1471 ). . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-line telephone systems to have a configuration that permits users to directly initiate a call to 9-1-1 without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, and for other purposes. .

May 23, 2016 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed