An Act To Allow Text Messaging for Reporting Emergencies
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0658
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: FECTEAU, DUTREMBLE, ALLEY, BATES, BATTLE, CHENETTE, DAUGHTRY, MASTRACCIO, NADEAU, DIAMOND
Amends: 25 MRSA §2926, 25 MRSA §2929

Legislative Document 
No. 658 
H.P. 439 
House of Representatives, March 3, 2015 
An Act To Allow Text Messaging for Reporting Emergencies 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative FECTEAU of Biddeford. 
Cosponsored by Senator DUTREMBLE of York and 
Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, BATES of Westbrook, BATTLE of South Portland, 
CHENETTE of Saco, DAUGHTRY of Brunswick, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, NADEAU of 
Winslow, Senator: DIAMOND of Cumberland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2926, sub-§2, ¶I, as amended by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. EEEE, 
§3, is further amended to read: 
I.  Procedures for collecting and administering the necessary funds for E-9-1-1; and 
Sec. 2.  25 MRSA §2926, sub-§2, ¶J, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. EEEE, 
§4, is amended to read: 
J.  Standards and procedures for developing and maintaining the system databases 
and for ensuring the confidentiality of those databases pursuant to section 2929.; and 
Sec. 3.  25 MRSA §2926, sub-§2, ¶K is enacted to read: 
K.  Standards and procedures for the acceptance by all public safety answering points 
beginning July 1, 2016 of text messages from all cellular or wireless 
telecommunications service providers in the State. 
Sec. 4.  25 MRSA §2929, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 623, Pt. D, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Definition.  As used in this section, "confidential information" means the 
following information as contained in any database, report, audio recording, text message 
or other record of the bureau or a public safety answering point: 
A.  The names, addresses and telephone numbers of persons listed in E-9-1-1 
databases; 
B.  Names, addresses and telephone numbers that are omitted from a telephone utility 
directory list at the request of a customer; 
C.  The name, address and telephone number of a caller to a public safety answering 
point; or 
D.  The name, address and telephone number of and any medical information about a 
person receiving emergency services through the E-9-1-1 system. 
Sec. 5.  25 MRSA §2929, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 662, §16, is further 
amended to read: 
3.  Disclosure required.  The restrictions on disclosure provided under subsection 2 
apply only to those portions of databases, reports, audio recordings, text messages or 
other records of the bureau or a public safety answering point that contain confidential 
information.  Other information that appears in those records and other records, except 
information or records declared to be confidential under other law, is subject to disclosure 
pursuant to Title 1, section 408-A.  The bureau shall develop procedures to ensure 
protection of confidential records and information and public access to other records and 
information.  Procedures may involve developing edited copies of records containing 
confidential information or the production of official summaries of those records that 
contain the substance of all nonconfidential information. 
Sec. 6.  25 MRSA §2929, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 291, §3, is amended 
to read: 
4.  Audio recordings of E-9-1-1 calls and text messages to E-9-1-1; confidential.  
Audio recordings of emergency calls made to the E-9-1-1 system and emergency text 
messages sent to the E-9-1-1 system are confidential and may not be disclosed except as 
provided in this subsection.  Except as provided in subsection 2, information contained in 
the audio recordings and text messages is public information and must be disclosed in 
transcript form in accordance with subsection 3.  Subject to all the requirements of 
subsection 2, the bureau or a public safety answering point may disclose audio recordings 
of emergency calls made to the E-9-1-1 system and emergency text messages sent to the 
E-9-1-1 system in the following circumstances: 
A.  To persons within the E-9-1-1 system to the extent necessary to implement and 
manage the E-9-1-1 system; 
B.  To a law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency for the purpose of 
criminal investigations related to an E-9-1-1 call or text message; 
C.  To designees of the bureau director for the purpose of system maintenance and 
quality control; and 
D.  In accordance with an order issued on a finding of good cause by a court of 
competent jurisdiction. 
SUMMARY 
This bill directs the Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services 
Communication Bureau to develop standards and procedures for public safety answering 
points to accept emergency text messaging from all wireless carriers in the State 
beginning July 1, 2016. This bill also amends the laws regarding confidentiality of audio 
recordings of E-9-1-1 calls to apply also to text messages.