An Act Regarding Enhanced 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1828
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: LaFOUNTAIN, HASENFUS, HICKMAN
Amends: 25 MRSA §2923-B, 25 MRSA §2926

Legislative Document
No. 1828
S.P. 744
In Senate, April 27, 2023
An Act Regarding Enhanced 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LaFOUNTAIN of Kennebec.
Cosponsored by Representative HASENFUS of Readfield and
Senator: HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, an existing public safety answering point has indicated that as of July 1, 
2023, it will no longer provide E-9-1-1 call answering to municipalities in Kennebec 
County; and 
Whereas, it is not sufficiently clear that the Public Utilities Commission has authority 
to create a new public safety answering point; and
Whereas, it may be necessary to create as soon as possible a new public safety 
answering point in order to ensure all people in the State have efficient and reliable access 
to E-9-1-1 services; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2923-B is enacted to read:
§2923-B.  Notice of service discontinuation
1. Notice. A public safety answering point shall provide the bureau with notice at least 
one year prior to discontinuing service to a municipality, unless the bureau authorizes a 
shorter period of time for notification. If appropriate, the bureau shall notify the department 
of the notice of discontinuing service received by the bureau from a public safety answering 
point. 
2. Penalty. A violation of subsection 1 is a civil violation for which a fine of up to 
$500 may be adjudged.
Sec. 2.  25 MRSA §2926, sub-§2-B is enacted to read:
2-B.  Exceptions.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the bureau 
may authorize the establishment of a public safety answering point on a determination that 
a public safety answering point is necessary to ensure public safety and access to E-9-1-1 
services.
Sec. 3. Study; oversight of public safety answering points.  The Public Utilities 
Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau shall conduct a study assessing 
whether public safety answering points can be more efficiently managed to ensure stability 
of the system. The study must include but is not limited to the following:
1. The use of incentives or subsidies provided from the E-9-1-1 surcharge set out in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, section 2927 that are tied to performance metrics for 
public safety answering point services in order to stabilize the relationships between public 
safety answering points and municipalities;
2. The current level of state oversight of public safety answering points and whether 
this level is sufficient to ensure the efficient management of public safety answering points;
3. The effectiveness of making the Department of Public Safety the default entity 
responsible for providing E-9-1-1 services when there is a change in a public safety 
answering point’s service area; and
4. The challenges faced by public safety answering points with hiring and retaining 
employees and what methods could be employed to assist public safety answering points 
with staffing obstacles.
No later than February 1, 2024, the Public Utilities Commission shall report the results 
of the study, along with any recommended legislation, to the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy, utilities and technology matters. The joint 
standing committee may report out related legislation to the 131st Legislature in 2024.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill does the following:
1. It requires a public safety answering point to provide the Public Utilities 
Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau notice at least one year prior to 
discontinuing service to a municipality, unless the bureau authorizes a shorter period for 
notification; 
2. It authorizes the bureau to establish an additional public safety answering point on a 
determination that an additional public safety answering point is necessary to ensure public 
safety and access to E-9-1-1 services; and
3. It requires the bureau to conduct a study assessing whether public safety answering 
points can be more efficiently managed to ensure stability of the system.