An Act to Update and Clarify Provisions Related to 9-1-1 Services
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1436
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: SACHS
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 25 MRSA §2925, 17-A MRSA §509, 25 MRSA §2921, 25 MRSA §2923-A, 25 MRSA §2923-B, 25 MRSA §2923-C, 25 MRSA §2926, 25 MRSA §2927, 25 MRSA §2927-A, 25 MRSA §2929, 25 MRSA §2930, 25 MRSA §2931, 25 MRSA §2932, 25 MRSA §2933, 25 MRSA §2934, 25 MRSA §2935, 30-A MRSA §3110, 30-A MRSA §7062, 30-A MRSA §7501, 32 MRSA §85-A, 32 MRSA §98, 35-A MRSA §120, 35-A MRSA §7104-C, 35-A MRSA §7201, 36 MRSA §191, 39-A MRSA §201

Legislative Document
No. 1436
H.P. 945
House of Representatives, April 3, 2025
An Act to Update and Clarify Provisions Related to 9-1-1 Services
Submitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Joint Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SACHS of Freeport.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§74-A, as amended by PL 1993, c. 566, §1, is 
further amended to read:
74-A.  
Public Safety
E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council
Expenses Only
MRSA §2925
Sec. 2.  17-A MRSA §509, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 430, §1, is 
further amended to read:
A.  The person knowingly gives or causes to be given false information to a law 
enforcement officer, an emergency communications center or the enhanced 9-1-1 
services established in Title 25, chapter 352 with the intent of inducing the officer, the 
emergency communications center or any other emergency services personnel to 
believe that a crime has been committed or that another has committed a crime, 
knowing the information to be false;
Sec. 3.  17-A MRSA §509, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2023, c. 430, §1, is 
further amended to read:
B.  The person knowingly gives or causes to be given false information to a law 
enforcement officer, a member of a firefighting agency, including a volunteer fire 
department, an emergency communications center, the enhanced 9-1-1 services 
established in Title 25, chapter 352 or any other person knowing that the other person 
is likely to communicate the information to a law enforcement officer, a member of a 
firefighting agency, an emergency communications center or any other emergency 
services personnel concerning a fire, explosive or other similar substance that is 
capable of endangering the safety of persons, knowing that the information is false, or 
knowing that the person has no information relating to the fire, explosive or other 
similar substance; or
Sec. 4.  17-A MRSA §509, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2023, c. 430, §1, is 
further amended to read:
C.  The person knowingly gives or causes to be given false information concerning an 
emergency to an ambulance service, an emergency communications center, the 
enhanced 9-1-1 services established in Title 25, chapter 352, any other emergency 
services personnel or a government agency or public utility that deals with emergencies 
involving danger to life or property, with the intent of inducing the service, personnel, 
agency, center or utility to respond to the reported emergency, knowing the information 
to be false.
Sec. 5.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 840, §3, is amended to 
read:
1.  Automatic location identification.  "Automatic location identification" means an 
enhanced a 9-1-1 service capability that enables the automatic display of information 
defining the geographical location of the telephone used to place a 9-1-1 call.
Sec. 6.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 840, §3, is amended to 
read:
2.  Automatic number identification.  "Automatic number identification" means an 
enhanced a 9-1-1 service capability that enables the automatic display of the 7-digit number 
used to place a 9-1-1 call.
Sec. 7.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2003, c. 359, §1, is further 
amended to read:
2-A.  Bureau.  "Bureau" means the Emergency Services Communication Bureau 
within the Public Utilities Commission, which is responsible for the statewide 
implementation and management of E-9-1-1 9-1-1.
Sec. 8.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§5-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 226, §1, is amended 
to read:
5-A.  Enhanced 9-1-1 access-only service.  "Enhanced "9-1-1 access-only service" or 
"E-9-1-1 access-only service" means the provision of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 access to a residential 
telephone customer's premises when telephone service to the premises has been otherwise 
suspended or disconnected.
Sec. 9.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2013, c. 119, §1, is repealed 
and the following enacted in its place:
6.  9-1-1 services.  "9-1-1 services" or "9-1-1" means the delivery of 9-1-1 calls to the 
proper public safety answering points with the automatic location identification and 
automatic number identification of an entity requesting emergency services.  "9-1-1 
services" or "9-1-1" includes Internet protocol enabled services.
Sec. 10.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§6-D is enacted to read:
6-D.  Originating service provider.  "Originating service provider" means an entity 
that provides service to an end user that may be used to originate voice or nonvoice 9-1-1 
calls for assistance and that connects to the 9-1-1 system for the purposes of delivering 
9-1-1 services, including, but not limited to, the delivery of wireline, wireless and voice 
over Internet protocol services, to a public safety answering point.
Sec. 11.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§7, as amended by PL 1993, c. 566, §3, is further 
amended to read:
7.  Public safety answering point.  "Public safety answering point" means a facility 
with enhanced 9-1-1 capability, operated on a 24-hour basis, assigned the responsibility of 
receiving 9-1-1 calls and, as appropriate, the physical or virtual entity where 9-1-1 calls are 
received that is responsible for directly dispatching emergency services or, through transfer 
routing or relay routing, passing 9-1-1 calls to public or private safety agencies.
Sec. 12.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§13, as amended by PL 2009, c. 400, §1 and 
affected by §15, is further amended to read:
13.  Prepaid wireless telecommunications service.  "Prepaid wireless 
telecommunications service" means a cellular or wireless telecommunications service that 
allows a caller to dial 9-1-1 to access the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system, which service must be paid 
for in advance and is sold in predetermined units or dollars that declines with use in a 
known amount.
Sec. 13.  25 MRSA §2921, sub-§17, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 339, §4, is amended 
to read:
17.  9-1-1 call.  "9-1-1 call" means any use of enhanced 9-1-1 services initiated by any 
means or medium, including, but not limited to, voice calls and text messaging.
Sec. 14.  25 MRSA §2923-A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 505, §3, is further amended 
to read:
§2923-A.  Requirements of municipalities, plantations, counties or unorganized 
territories
Each municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory that does not have a 
public safety answering point shall contract with an entity that does have a public safety 
answering point, which may be the department, for receiving 9-1-1 calls and, as 
appropriate, directly dispatching emergency services or, through transfer routing or relay 
routing, passing 9-1-1 calls to public or private safety agencies that dispatch emergency 
services.  If a municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory without a public 
safety answering point does not enter into such an agreement, the department shall serve 
as the public safety answering point for that municipality, plantation, county or 
unorganized territory and the municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory shall 
pay the department for the provision of those services.  Fees received by the department 
pursuant to this section must be deposited in the Consolidated Emergency Communications 
Fund established in section 1534. If a fee assessed to a municipality, plantation, county or 
unorganized territory for services provided pursuant to an agreement under this section or 
by the department is based in whole or in part on population, the population of the 
municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory may not include persons held at a 
correctional facility, as defined in Title 34‑A, section 1001, subsection 6, within the 
municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory.
Sec. 15.  25 MRSA §2923-B, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 186, §1, is amended 
to read:
1.  Notice.  A public safety answering point shall provide notice to the bureau prior to 
discontinuing service to a municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory. A 
public safety answering point may not provide the notice under this subsection less than 
one year prior to the date that the public safety answering point discontinues service, unless 
the bureau finds reasonable grounds to authorize a shorter period of time for the 
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.
Sec. 16.  25 MRSA §2923-C, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 609, §3, is amended to read:
§2923-C.  Cost reporting
1.  Reporting requirements.  Annually, on a date prescribed by the bureau Public 
Utilities Commission by rule, a public safety answering point and dispatch center shall each 
provide the bureau with a report of the costs incurred by the public safety answering point 
or dispatch center for the provision of enhanced 9-1-1 services.
2.  Rules.  The bureau Public Utilities Commission shall adopt rules to implement this 
section. The rules must establish requirements for the report provided by a public safety 
answering point and dispatch center pursuant to subsection 1, including, at a minimum:
A.  The manner by which the report must be submitted to the bureau;
B.  The specific cost components for the provision of enhanced 9-1-1 services to be 
included in the report; and
C.  The date by which the report must be submitted.
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 17.  25 MRSA §2925, as amended by PL 2021, c. 348, §37, is further amended 
by amending the section headnote to read:
§2925.  E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council
Sec. 18.  25 MRSA §2925, first ¶, as amended by PL 1993, c. 566, §8, is further 
amended to read:
The E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council, established in Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 74‑A,  
and referred to in this section as "the council," shall advise and assist the bureau in the 
implementation of the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system.
Sec. 19.  25 MRSA §2925, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 348, §37, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Membership.  The E-9-1-1 Council council is composed of 17 members; one 
appointed by the Public Utilities Commission; one appointed by the Commissioner of 
Public Safety; and 15 appointed by the Governor, including one who is a municipal official 
nominated by the statewide association of municipalities, one county official nominated by 
a statewide association of county commissioners, one who is a chief of a municipal police 
department nominated by the statewide association of chiefs of police, one who is the chief 
of a municipal fire department nominated by the statewide association of fire chiefs, one 
who is a county sheriff nominated by the statewide association of sheriffs, one who 
represents small telephone companies, one who represents the largest provider of local 
exchange telephone services, one who represents cellular or wireless service providers, one 
who represents a direct provider of emergency medical services, one who is a dispatcher 
nominated by the statewide association of dispatchers, one who is a member of a volunteer 
fire department, one to represent persons who are deaf and hard of hearing and 3 to 
represent the public-at-large.  Each member may name a designee who may attend meetings 
of the council and act on that member's behalf in council proceedings.
Sec. 20.  25 MRSA §2925, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2009, c. 219, §1, is further 
amended to read:
6.  Duties.  The council has the following duties.
A.  The council shall advise the bureau on activities relating to the establishment of an 
E-9-1-1 a 9-1-1 system.
B.  The council shall review and comment on rules proposed by the bureau Public 
Utilities Commission under this chapter.
C.  The council shall assist the bureau in providing public information about the 
implementation and operation of the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system.
D.  The council shall assist the bureau in responding to and resolving service-related 
complaints and issues regarding the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system.
Sec. 21.  25 MRSA §2926, as amended by PL 2023, c. 186, §2, is further amended 
to read:
§2926.  Emergency Services Communication Bureau
1.  Bureau established.  The Emergency Services Communication Bureau is 
established within the Public Utilities Commission to implement and manage E-9-1-1 
9-1-1, including the deployment of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 service using emerging communications 
technologies, including, but not limited to, Internet protocol enabled services, that are 
capable of connecting users to public safety answering points.
1-A.  Quality assurance.  The bureau shall develop and implement a quality assurance 
program to audit and monitor compliance with emergency dispatching standards, practices 
and procedures of public safety answering points.
2.  System design.  In consultation with the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council, established in Title 
5, section 12004-I, subsection 74-A, the bureau shall develop all necessary system 
elements, standards and cost estimates necessary to provide for the installation and 
operation of a statewide E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system, including, but not limited to, the following:
A.  Development of network design specifications;
B.  Development of minimum public safety answering point requirements including 
24-hour operation; emergency backup power; secured communication areas; separate 
administrative phone lines for nonemergency calls; call recording and playback 
equipment; TDD equipment, as defined in Title 35‑A, section 8702, subsection 6; 
maximum call handling times; and minimum mandatory staff training requirements for 
9-1-1 call answering and dispatching;
C.  After consultation with the affected public and private safety agency officials, 
identification of appropriate public safety answering point sites based on consideration 
of the existing dispatching capabilities of public and private safety agencies, the 
expressed preferences of municipalities throughout the State and overall system cost;
D.  Identification of appropriate technology for system networks, public safety 
answering point equipment and data base database requirements;
E.  Procedures for developing and maintaining address and routing data bases database;
F.  Procedures for cooperation and coordination with telephone utilities and 
municipalities for implementation and maintenance;
G.  Standards and procedures to establish the confidentiality and prevent the 
dissemination of reports and records handled by public safety answering points and of 
the bureau;
H.  Estimates of the cost of establishing an operational E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system;
I.  Procedures for collecting and administering the necessary funds for E-9-1-1 9-1-1; 
and
J.  Standards and procedures for developing and maintaining the system databases and 
for ensuring the confidentiality of those databases pursuant to section 2929.
2-A.  Goal.  To the extent possible, the bureau shall establish a total of between 16 and 
public safety answering points.  The bureau shall seek to coordinate any reduction in 
the number of public safety answering points to achieve this goal with any contractual 
obligations it may have or may enter into that are or could be affected by that reduction.  
Prior to implementing a reduction in the number of public safety answering points, the 
bureau shall make a finding regarding the need for the reduction based on an evaluation of 
the costs and benefits of the reduction, taking into account impacts on ratepayers, each of 
the affected municipalities municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory and 
the State.
2-B.  Exceptions.  Notwithstanding subsection 2‑A, 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 9-1-1 services.
3.  Rulemaking.  The bureau Public Utilities Commission shall adopt by rule its the 
bureau's standards, specifications and procedures developed under subsection 2, 
paragraphs A to F after consultation with the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council and following at least 
public hearings geographically dispersed throughout the State.
4.  Technical assistance.  The bureau may provide support for the development of 
street address information sufficient to support E-9-1-1 9-1-1 services.  The bureau shall 
provide technical assistance to any municipality in the development of street address 
information at the request of the interested municipality, plantation, county or unorganized 
territory.
5.  Call answering coverage.  The bureau is not required to provide call answering 
coverage in counties or municipalities that choose not to participate in the E-9-1-1 system.
6.  System databases.  The system databases, wherever located or stored, are the 
property of the bureau and their confidentiality is governed by section 2929.
Sec. 22.  25 MRSA §2927, as amended by PL 2023, c. 609, §4, is repealed.
Sec. 23.  25 MRSA §2927-A is enacted to read:
§2927-A.  9-1-1 funding
1.  Funding.  The activities authorized under this chapter are funded through:
A.  The statewide 9-1-1 surcharge under subsection 2 levied on:
(1)  Each residential and business telephone exchange line, including private 
branch exchange lines and Centrex lines;
(2)  Semipublic coin and public access lines;
(3)  Customers of interconnected voice over Internet protocol service; and
(4)  Customers of cellular or wireless telecommunications service that is not a 
prepaid wireless telecommunications service.  A surcharge may not be levied under 
this subparagraph with respect to customers of cellular or wireless 
telecommunications service that is supported by federal universal service support 
funds pursuant to 47 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 54; and  
B.  The statewide prepaid wireless telecommunications service 9-1-1 surcharge under 
subsection 3 levied on prepaid wireless telecommunications service customers.  A 
surcharge may not be levied under this paragraph with respect to prepaid wireless 
telecommunications service supported by federal universal service support funds 
pursuant to 47 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 54, except that a surcharge may be 
levied under this paragraph on transactions in which the customer directly purchases 
optional services that are not supported by federal universal service support funds.  
2.  Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge.  The statewide 9-1-1 surcharge is governed by this 
subsection.
A.  The Public Utilities Commission shall establish the statewide 9-1-1 surcharge, 
except that the statewide 9-1-1 surcharge may not exceed 35¢ per month per line or 
number.  The commission shall establish the statewide 9-1-1 surcharge by rule or 
through other commission proceedings.  The statewide 9-1-1 surcharge may not be 
imposed on more than 25 lines or numbers per customer billing account.  
B.  The statewide 9-1-1 surcharge must be collected from the customer according to 
subsection 1, paragraph A on a monthly basis by each local exchange telephone utility, 
cellular or wireless telecommunications service provider and interconnected voice over 
Internet protocol service provider and be shown separately as a statewide 9-1-1 
surcharge on the customer's bill.  
C.  The place of residence of cellular or wireless telecommunications service customers 
who are not prepaid wireless telecommunications service customers must be 
determined according to the sourcing rules for mobile telecommunications services as 
set forth in Title 36, section 2556.
3.  Statewide prepaid wireless telecommunications service 9-1-1 surcharge.  The 
statewide prepaid wireless telecommunications service 9-1-1 surcharge, referred to in this 
subsection as "the prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge," is governed by this subsection.
The Public Utilities Commission shall establish the prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge, 
except that the prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge may not exceed 35¢ per retail transaction.  
The commission shall establish the prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge by rule or through 
other commission proceedings.
4.  9-1-1 funding obligation; limitation.  The statewide 9-1-1 surcharge imposed by 
subsection 2 and the prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge imposed by subsection 3 are the only 
9-1-1 funding obligations imposed with respect to telecommunications service in this State, 
and another tax, fee, surcharge or other charge may not be imposed by this State, a political 
subdivision of this State or an intergovernmental agency for funding 9-1-1 purposes on any 
telecommunications service with respect to the sale, purchase, use or provision of that 
telecommunications service.
5.  Surcharge remittance.  Each local exchange telephone utility, cellular or wireless 
telecommunications service provider and interconnected voice over Internet protocol 
service provider shall remit the statewide 9-1-1 surcharge revenues collected from 
customers pursuant to subsection 1 on a monthly basis and within one month of the month 
collected, except that a utility or provider whose average monthly surcharge remittance 
payment for the prior calendar year is less than $5,000 shall remit the 9-1-1 surcharge 
revenues on a quarterly basis, to the Treasurer of State for deposit in a separate account 
known as and referred to in this section as "the 9-1-1 fund."  Each telephone utility or 
service provider required to remit statewide 9-1-1 surcharge revenues shall provide, on a 
form approved by the bureau, supporting data, including, but not limited to, the following:
A.  The calculation used to arrive at the surcharge remittance amount;  
B.  The calculation used to arrive at the uncollectible amount of surcharge;  
C.  The total surcharge;  
D.  The month and year or the quarter and year for which a surcharge is remitted;  
E.  The legal name and telephone number of the telephone utility or service provider 
and, if applicable, the parent company name, address and telephone number; and  
F.  The name and telephone number of the person who prepared the form.  
Prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharges collected by sellers must be remitted to the State Tax 
Assessor in accordance with Title 35‑A, section 7104‑C.
6.  Expenditure of funds.  All costs incurred by the bureau under this subsection must 
be paid from the 9-1-1 fund.
A.  The bureau may use the revenues in the 9-1-1 fund to:
(1)  Fund staff;
(2)  Defray the costs associated with the implementation, operation and 
management of 9-1-1, including the deployment of 9-1-1 service using emerging 
communications technologies, including, but not limited to, Internet protocol 
enabled services, that are capable of connecting users to public safety answering 
points; and
(3)  Defray the costs, including necessary staffing costs, of the Emergency Medical 
Services' Board in implementing the requirements of Title 32, section 85‑A 
through the transfer of funds to the Other Special Revenue Funds, Emergency 
Medical Services account within the Department of Public Safety.
B. The bureau shall use the revenues in the 9-1-1 fund to:
(1) Provide free training courses for emergency medical dispatchers, as defined in 
Title 32, section 85‑A, subsection 1, paragraph D, to assist public safety answering 
points in meeting the requirements of Title 32, section 85‑A;
(2) Provide each public safety answering point a sufficient number of approved 
Emergency Medical Dispatch Priority Reference System documents in printed or 
electronic format, as determined by the bureau pursuant to Title 32, section 85‑A;
(3) Provide public safety answering points dispatcher training consistent with the 
protocols, necessary software and printed support materials to assist public safety 
answering points in the adoption and implementation of standardized dispatch 
protocols for answering fire 9-1-1 calls;
(4) Provide quality assurance training and software to assist public safety 
answering points in ensuring compliance with the standardized dispatch protocols 
for answering fire 9-1-1 calls;
(5) Provide, subject to available funds not to exceed $1,000,000 per biennium, 
grants for nonrecurring costs to:
(a) Dispatch centers associated with the consolidation of the dispatch centers 
into public safety answering points;
(b) Consolidate 2 or more public safety answering points and dispatch centers 
into a new regional public safety answering point and dispatch center; or
(c) Transfer a public safety answering point and all of its dispatch services to 
another existing public safety answering point; and
(6) Contract with one or more 3rd‑party vendors to provide quality assurance 
review in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to subsection 11 and Title 32, 
section 85‑A, subsection 2 related to the provision of emergency medical dispatch 
services and answering fire 9-1-1 calls by public safety answering points.
7.  Unexpended funds; interest.  The amount of the 9-1-1 fund not expended by the 
end of the fiscal year may not lapse but must be carried forward to be expended for the 
purposes specified in this chapter in succeeding fiscal years.  The Treasurer of State shall 
credit all interest on fund balances to the 9-1-1 fund.
8.  Legislative annual report.  The bureau shall include in the Public Utilities 
Commission's annual report pursuant to Title 35‑A, section 120, subsection 7 to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters:
A.  The bureau's planned expenditures for the year and use of funds for the previous 
year;  
B.  The statewide 9-1-1 surcharge collected under this section;  
C.  The bureau's recommended statewide 9-1-1 surcharge for the coming year;  
D.  The bureau's recommendations for amending existing and enacting new laws to 
improve the 9-1-1 system; and  
E.  The performance of each of the public safety answering points in the State during 
the previous calendar year, including the results of the bureau's quality assurance 
program audits under section 2926, subsection 1‑A and any recommendations of the 
bureau relating to the emergency dispatching standards, practices and procedures of 
public safety answering points.  
9.  Committee recommendations; budget.  The joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters shall make 
recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over appropriations and financial affairs regarding all expenditures from the 9-1-1 fund.
10.  Violations.  A telephone utility, a cellular or wireless telecommunications service 
provider, including a prepaid wireless telephone service provider, or an interconnected 
voice over Internet protocol service provider subject to this section that intentionally and 
knowingly fails to remit the statewide 9-1-1 surcharge revenues collected under this section 
commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $500 may be adjudged for each 
day that payment is not made after the due date.
11.  Rules.  The Public Utilities Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement 
the provisions of this section. Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 24.  25 MRSA §2929, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 291, §3, is 
amended to read:
A.  The names, addresses and telephone numbers of persons listed in E-9-1-1 9-1-1 
databases;
Sec. 25.  25 MRSA §2929, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 2015, c. 153, §1, is 
further amended to read:
D.  Personally identifying information of and any medical information about a person 
receiving emergency services through the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system; or
Sec. 26.  25 MRSA §2929, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 291, §3, is 
amended to read:
D.  The bureau director may disclose confidential information to public safety 
answering points, public or private safety agencies, emergency responders or others 
within the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system to the extent necessary to implement and manage the 
E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system.
Sec. 27.  25 MRSA §2929, sub-§4, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 291, §3, is 
amended to read:
A.  To persons within the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system to the extent necessary to implement 
and manage the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system;
Sec. 28.  25 MRSA §2929, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 291, §3, is amended 
to read:
5.  Unlisted telephone numbers.  The name and address associated with the number 
of a telephone company customer with an unlisted telephone number may be furnished to 
the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system for processing a request for E-9-1-1 9-1-1 services from that 
number and for the provision of emergency services resulting from the request.
Sec. 29.  25 MRSA §2930, as amended by PL 2007, c. 504, §1, is further amended 
to read:
§2930.  Immunity
1.  Governmental entity.  Subject to all the limitations and exceptions provided under 
the Maine Tort Claims Act, Title 14, chapter 741, a government governmental entity is 
immune from tort liability for property damages, bodily injury or death resulting from acts 
or omissions occurring in developing, establishing, implementing, maintaining or operating 
the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system.
2.  Telecommunications providers.  A telecommunications provider assisting in the 
implementation and operation of the statewide E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system, including, but not 
limited to, the development, establishment and maintenance of the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system, 
is subject to tort liability:
A.  For property damages, bodily injury or death resulting from any defect in the 
E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system or inadequacy in the provision of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 service caused 
by the telecommunications provider's negligent acts or omissions in developing, 
establishing, implementing, maintaining or operating the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system, up to 
a maximum amount for any and all claims arising out of a single occurrence not to 
exceed $300,000 or the dollar amount that appears in Title 14, section 8105, subsection 
1, whichever is greater; and
B.  For property damages, bodily injury or death resulting from any defect in the 
E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system or inadequacy in the provision of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 service caused 
by the telecommunications provider's intentional, willful or reckless acts or omissions 
in developing, establishing, implementing, maintaining or operating the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 
system, without limitation on the amount.
For purposes of this subsection, the term "telecommunications provider" means a local 
exchange carrier, a commercial mobile service provider, as defined in 47 United States 
Code, Section 332(d), or an interconnected voice over Internet protocol service provider an 
originating service provider; an employee of a local exchange carrier, commercial mobile 
service provider or interconnected voice over Internet protocol service provider originating 
service provider acting within the scope of the employee's employment; or an agent of a 
local exchange carrier, commercial mobile service provider or interconnected voice over 
Internet protocol service provider originating service provider acting within the scope of 
the agent's agency.
For purposes of this subsection, the term "E-9-1-1 "9-1-1 system" includes, but is not 
limited to, the networks, databases and call processing services necessary to provide 
enhanced 9-1-1 services or enhanced 9-1-1 access-only services in accordance with this 
chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.
Sec. 30.  25 MRSA §2931, as amended by PL 2019, c. 339, §9, is further amended 
by amending the section headnote to read:
§2931.  Misuse of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system
Sec. 31.  25 MRSA §2931, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2019, c. 339, §9, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Prohibited use.  A person is guilty of misuse of the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system if without 
reasonable cause the person, after having been forbidden to do so by a public safety 
answering point manager or administrator or a law enforcement officer:
A.  Makes repeated 9-1-1 calls to make nonemergency reports or inquiries;
B.  Causes 9-1-1 calls to be made using an alarm or other alerting device that 
automatically contacts 9-1-1 and transmits a prerecorded signal or message; or
C.  Violates paragraph B after having previously violated paragraph B.
Sec. 32.  25 MRSA §2932, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 348, §38, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Designated emergency telephone number.  The primary telephone number to be 
used in a telephone exchange to request emergency services following the activation of 
E-9-1-1 9-1-1 services for that exchange, including the number for telecommunications 
devices for communication for persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, 
is 9-1-1.  A person may not advertise or promote for emergency response services any 
telephone number other than 9-1-1.
Sec. 33.  25 MRSA §2932, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2015, c. 62, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 34.  25 MRSA §2933, as amended by PL 2003, c. 505, §§5 and 6, is further 
amended to read:
§2933.  Local exchange carrier and originating service provider participation
1.  Implementation of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 by local exchange carrier.  Each local exchange 
carrier offering service over the public switched telephone network, in accordance with 
rules and procedures adopted by the bureau Public Utilities Commission, shall implement 
the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system and provide the universal emergency telephone number 9-1-1 for 
use by the public in seeking emergency services assistance through the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 
system.
2.  Required information for E-9-1-1 9-1-1 database.  Each local exchange carrier 
originating service provider shall provide to the bureau or its designee the automatic 
number identification, automatic location identification and any other information required 
to establish and maintain the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 database and service services in accordance 
with the rules adopted by the bureau Public Utilities Commission.
3.  Coordination of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 service; coordinator.  Each local exchange carrier 
and cellular or wireless telecommunications service provider originating service provider 
within the State shall coordinate all implementation, operation and maintenance directly 
relating to E-9-1-1 9-1-1 through the bureau and shall designate a primary contact person, 
who may delegate the authority to one or more other persons, to coordinate with and 
provide all relevant information to the bureau to carry out the purposes of the chapter.
4.  Penalties.  On petition by the bureau, the The Public Utilities Commission, in an 
adjudicatory proceeding, may impose the following administrative penalties for a violation 
by a local exchange carrier or an originating service provider of subsection 1 or 2 or any 
rules adopted by the bureau Public Utilities Commission implementing subsection 1 or 2:
A.  An administrative penalty of up to $1,000 for each day of the violation; and
B.  In extraordinary cases, as determined by the Public Utilities Commission, 
revocation of the commission's authorization of the local exchange carrier's originating 
service provider's authority to provide local exchange service in this State.
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 35.  25 MRSA §2934, as amended by PL 2019, c. 339, §10, is further amended 
to read:
§2934.  Multiline telephone systems
1.  Requirements.  The bureau Public Utilities Commission may by rule establish 
requirements for locating 9-1-1 calls, and initiating emergency responses to such calls, 
made from within multiline telephone systems, including network-based or premises-based 
systems and voice over Internet protocol systems, whether owned or leased by a public or 
private entity, such as private branch exchanges or Centrex systems.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this section:
A.  May not require any local unit of government to expand or modify its activities so 
as to necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues;
B.  Apply only to multiline telephone systems installed, introduced, established or 
replaced after the effective date of the rules;
C.  Must provide for appropriate standards, exemptions and waivers that balance the 
benefits of improved methods of locating 9-1-1 calls, and initiating emergency 
responses to such calls, made from within multiline telephone systems and the cost of 
achieving those improvements.  The rules must allow, in appropriate circumstances, 
for methods that do not utilize automatic location identification and automatic number 
identification standards used in processing 9-1-1 calls; and
D.  May establish appropriate technical, procedural or any other standards relating to 
multiline telephone systems, telecommunications carrier interconnectivity, databases, 
dialing instructions, signaling or other matters necessary or appropriate to carry out the 
purposes of this section.
2.  Rules.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined 
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.  The bureau may not provisionally adopt any rule 
under this section that has not been approved by the Public Utilities Commission.
Sec. 36.  25 MRSA §2935, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 226, §2, is amended to read:
§2935.  E-9-1-1 9-1-1 access-only service
1.  Provision of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 access-only service.  It is the policy of this State that 
E-9-1-1 9-1-1 be broadly available where it is economically and technologically practical.  
The bureau Public Utilities Commission shall, by rule, establish requirements for the 
provision of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 access-only service, including, but not limited to, the 
circumstances in which E-9-1-1 9-1-1 access-only service is and is not required and which 
telephone service providers are and are not subject to the requirements.
2.  Rulemaking.  The bureau Public Utilities Commission shall adopt rules to 
implement this section.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive 
routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 37.  30-A MRSA §3110, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 477, §1, is amended to read:
§3110.  Road-naming disputes
Unless otherwise provided by local ordinance or charter, when there is a dispute over 
the naming of a town way, private way or private road for E-9-1-1 9-1-1 purposes, the 
decision of the municipal officers is final.
Sec. 38.  30-A MRSA §7062, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 409, §2, is amended by 
amending the section headnote to read:
§7062.  Enhanced 9-1-1 addressing standards
Sec. 39.  30-A MRSA §7062, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 409, §2, is amended 
to read:
A plantation may enact an ordinance to establish enhanced 9-1-1 addressing standards 
and, pursuant to that ordinance, may:
Sec. 40.  30-A MRSA §7501, sub-§8, as amended by PL 1999, c. 106, §2, is further 
amended to read:
8.  Enhanced 9-1-1 service.  Assigning and maintaining physical addresses 
specifically for the purpose of statewide enhanced 9-1-1 service.  The county 
commissioners may enact an ordinance to establish the addressing standards and, pursuant 
to that ordinance, may assign road names to existing and proposed roads and property 
numbers to existing and proposed year-round and seasonal dwellings or structures and may 
install signs designating road names; and
Sec. 41.  32 MRSA §85-A, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2011, c. 271, §12, is further 
amended to read:
4.  Licensing actions.  A license issued pursuant to this section is subject to the 
provisions of sections 90‑A and 91‑A.  Before the board or its subcommittee or staff takes 
any final action to suspend or revoke an emergency medical dispatch center license or to 
refuse to reissue an emergency medical dispatch center license, the board shall contact the 
bureau for input on the effect of such an action on the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system and, 
notwithstanding section 91‑B, may, to the extent necessary for this purpose, disclose to the 
bureau information that is designated as confidential under section 91‑B.
Sec. 42.  32 MRSA §98, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. GGGGG, 
§1, is amended to read:
C.  "Historical activations" means the number of times an emergency medical services 
entity was dispatched by the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system within a defined period of time.
Sec. 43.  35-A MRSA §120, sub-§7, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 77, §4, is 
amended to read:
A.  Title 25, section 2927 2927-A, subsection 5 8;
Sec. 44.  35-A MRSA §7104-C, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 600, §7 
and affected by §10, is amended to read:
C.  The statewide prepaid wireless telecommunications service E-9-1-1 9-1-1 
surcharge levied on prepaid wireless telecommunications service consumers pursuant 
to Title 25, section 2927 2927-A, subsection 1‑F 3.
Sec. 45.  35-A MRSA §7104-C, sub-§2, ¶I, as amended by PL 2017, c. 475, Pt. 
A, §59, is further amended by amending subparagraph (1) to read:
(1)  The portion of the remitted prepaid wireless fees attributable to the E-9-1-1 
9-1-1 surcharge imposed by Title 25, section 2927 2927-A, subsection 1‑F 3 is 
deposited in a separate account;
Sec. 46.  35-A MRSA §7201, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 623, Pt. A, §18, is 
amended to read:
2.  Access to emergency services.  "Access to emergency services" means access to 
emergency services, as defined in Title 25, section 2921, subsection 5, through 9-1-1 or 
enhanced 9-1-1 service, as defined in Title 25, section 2921, subsection 6, to the extent a 
local government in the service area of a provider of last resort service provides 9-1-1 or 
enhanced 9-1-1 services.
Sec. 47.  36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶JJJ, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 401, Pt. E, §1 
and reallocated by RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. A, §56, is amended to read:
JJJ.  The disclosure of information to an authorized representative of the Public Utilities 
Commission for use in the commission's administration and oversight of the E‑9‑1‑1 
9-1-1 funding under Title 25, section 2927 2927-A, the state universal service fund 
under Title 35‑A, section 7104 and the telecommunications education access fund 
under Title 35‑A, section 7104‑B.  The assessor shall apprise the authorized 
representative of the provisions regarding confidentiality of such information and of 
the continuing confidential nature of the disclosed information.
Sec. 48.  39-A MRSA §201, sub-§3-A, ¶B, as amended by PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, 
§143, is further amended to read:
B.  The employee is a law enforcement officer, corrections officer, E-9-1-1 9-1-1 
dispatcher, firefighter or emergency medical services person and is diagnosed by an 
allopathic physician or an osteopathic physician licensed under Title 32, chapter 48 or 
chapter 36, respectively, with a specialization in psychiatry or a psychologist licensed 
under Title 32, chapter 56 as having post-traumatic stress disorder that resulted from 
work stress, that the work stress was extraordinary and unusual compared with that 
experienced by the average employee and the work stress and not some other source 
of stress was the predominant cause of the post-traumatic stress disorder, in which case 
the post-traumatic stress disorder is presumed to have arisen out of and in the course 
of the worker's employment.  This presumption may be rebutted by clear and 
convincing evidence to the contrary.  For purposes of this paragraph, "law enforcement 
officer," "corrections officer," "firefighter" and "emergency medical services person" 
have the same meaning as in section 328‑A, subsection 1.  For the purposes of this 
paragraph, "E-9-1-1 "9-1-1 dispatcher" means a person who receives calls made to the 
E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system and dispatches emergency services.  "E-9-1-1 "9-1-1 dispatcher" 
includes an emergency medical dispatcher as defined in Title 32, chapter 2‑B, section 
85‑A, subsection 1, paragraph D.
Each time the Legislature amends this paragraph to provide for a rebuttable 
presumption for a new category of employees, the board shall submit a report to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters no 
later than the January 1st after the 5th year of the addition of the category of employees 
and no later than the January 1st after the 10th year of the addition of the category of 
employees. The reports must include an analysis of the number of claims brought under 
this paragraph, the portion of those claims that resulted in a settlement or award of 
benefits and the effect of the provisions of this paragraph on costs to the State and its 
subdivisions.  The Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of 
Human Resources and the Department of Public Safety shall assist the board in 
developing the reports, and the board shall seek the input of an association whose 
membership consists exclusively of counties, municipalities and other political or 
administrative subdivisions in the development of the report.
This paragraph is repealed October 1, 2025.
SUMMARY
This bill does the following:
1.  It updates and adds terminology to be consistent with modernized 9-1-1 systems 
and federal standards;
2.  It clarifies rule-making authority by designating the Public Utilities Commission as 
the entity responsible for rulemaking instead of the Emergency Services Communication 
Bureau within the commission and makes all rulemaking under the emergency services 
communication laws routine technical;
3.  It reorganizes the provisions of law related to 9-1-1 funding;
4. It expands the granting authority of the bureau to allow grants, subject to available 
funds, to be used to consolidate 2 or more public safety answering points and dispatch 
centers into a new regional public safety answering point and dispatch center or transfer a 
public safety answering point and all of its dispatch services to another existing public 
safety answering point. It also changes the allowable funding cap for nonrecurring costs to 
$1,000,000 per biennium;
5.  It removes the requirement that the bureau reimburse local exchange carriers and 
cellular and wireless telecommunications service providers for eligible expenses incurred 
by the carriers and service providers; 
6.  It removes the requirement regarding the inclusion of 9-1-1 information in telephone 
directories; and
7.  It expands the application of provisions related to the information required to be 
provided to the commission in order to maintain the 9-1-1 database and services and the 
coordination of 9-1-1 service from local exchange carriers only to originating service 
providers.