An Act To Allow Text Messaging for Reporting Emergencies
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0658
Committee Amendment CA_A_H158 (House)
Amends: 25 MRSA §2926, 25 MRSA §2929

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 439, L.D. 658, Bill, "An Act To Allow 
Text Messaging for Reporting Emergencies" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 3 to 6 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 3. 25 MRSA §2926, sub-§2, ~ 
is enacted to read: 
K. Standards and procedures for acceptance of text messages by the E-9-1-1 system 
and acceptance of text messages by at least one public safety answering point 
beginning July 1, 2017 from all cellular or wireless telecommunications service 
providers in the State as required by the Federal Communications Commission. 
Sec. 4. 25 MRSA §2929, sub-§l, 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, digital 
communication 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- I -I 
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, § I 6, 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, digital 
communications or other records of the bureau or a public safety answering point that 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
I 
II 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A,. to H.P. 439, L.D. 658 
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 I, 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 MRS A §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 digital communications to E-9-1-1; 
confidential. Audio recordings of emergency calls made to the E-9-1-1 system and 
emergency digital communications 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 digital communications 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 digital communications sent to the E-9-I-l 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-I-l call or digital communication; 
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. 
Sec. 7. 25 MRS A §2929, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2007, c. 209, §6, is further 
amended to read: 
6. 
Penalty for disseminating information. 
Knowingly disclosing confidential 
information in violation of subsection 2 or knowingly disclosing audio recordings of 
emergency calls to the E-9-1-1 system or emergency digital communications sent to the 
E-9-1-1 system in violation of subsection 4 is a Class E crime.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the minority report of the committee. The amendment changes 
the provision of the bill that requires the Public Utilities Commission, Emergency 
Services Communication Bureau to develop standards and procedures for the acceptance 
of text messages by all public safety answering points beginning July 1, 2016 to a 
provision that requires the bureau to develop standards and procedures for acceptance of 
text messages by the E-9-1-1 system and the acceptance of text messages by at least one 
public safety answering point from all cellular and wireless telecommunications service 
providers in the State as required by the Federal Communications Commission beginning 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
I 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " 
to H.P. 439, L.D. 658 
July I, 2017. 
The amendment changes the provIsIons of the bill regarding the 
confidentiality of text messages sent to the E-9-1-1 system to provide that all digital 
communications sent to the E-9-1-1 system are confidential, subject to the same 
exceptions that apply to the confidentiality of audio recordings of emergency calls. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 05/03/15 
;t?ae 
LD658 
LR 394(02) 
An Act To Allow Text Messaging for Reporting Emergencies 
"fl" 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '11' 
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increalie - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Any additional costs to the Public Utilities Commission to develop certain standards and procedures that include text-
to-911 are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0394(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I