2021 Georgia Code
Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation
Chapter 5 - Telephone Service
Article 2 - Telephone Service
Part 4 - Emergency Telephone Number 9-1-1 System
§ 46-5-124. Guidelines for Implementing State-Wide Emergency 9-1-1 System; Training and Equipment Standards

1. The authority shall develop guidelines for implementing a state-wide emergency 9-1-1 system. The guidelines shall provide for:
   1. Steps of action necessary for public agencies to effect the necessary coordination, regulation, and development preliminary to a 9-1-1 system that shall incorporate the requirements of each public service agency in each local government of Georgia;
   2. Identification of mutual aid agreements necessary to effect the 9-1-1 system, including coordination on behalf of the State of Georgia with any federal agency to secure financial assistance or other desirable activities in connection with the receipt of funding that may be provided to communities for the planning, development, or implementation of the 9-1-1 system;
   3. The coordination necessary between local governments planning or developing a 9-1-1 system and other state agencies, the Public Service Commission, all affected utility and telephone companies, wireless service suppliers, and other agencies;
   4. The actions to establish emergency telephone service necessary to meet the requirements for each local government, including law enforcement, fire-fighting, medical, suicide prevention, rescue, or other emergency services; and
   5. The actions to be taken by a local government desiring to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 service, including requirements contained in 47 C.F.R. Section 20.18.
2. The authority shall be responsible for encouraging and promoting the planning, development, and implementation of local 9-1-1 system plans. The authority shall develop any necessary procedures to be followed by public agencies for implementing and coordinating such plans and shall mediate whenever disputes arise or agreements cannot be reached between the local political jurisdiction and other entities involving the 9-1-1 system.
3. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no communications officer hired to the staff of a public safety answering point shall be required to complete his or her training pursuant to Code Section 35-8-23 prior to being hired or employed for such position.
4. The authority shall maintain the registry of wireless service suppliers provided for in Code Section 46-5-124.1.

(Ga. L. 1977, p. 1040, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 22, § 46; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1017, § 5; Ga. L. 1999, p. 81, § 46; Ga. L. 1999, p. 873, § 2; Ga. L. 2005, p. 660, § 9/HB 470; Ga. L. 2007, p. 318, § 2/HB 394; Ga. L. 2018, p. 689, § 2-3/HB 751.)

The 2005 amendment, effective July 1, 2005, substituted "9-1-1" for "'911'" throughout subsections (a), (b), and (c).

The 2007 amendment, effective July 1, 2007, deleted "telephone number" following "state-wide emergency" in the introductory paragraph of subsection (a); substituted "shall" for "will" in paragraph (a)(1); substituted "service" for "communications" in paragraph (a)(4); and, in subsection (c), deleted the former first two sentences which read: "Subject to the approval of the Governor, the director shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to establish minimum standards relating to training and equipment. Such training standards shall not be inconsistent with the training course or certification required for communications officers under Code Section 35-8-23.", and substituted "public safety answering point" for "' 9-1-1' communications center" near the middle.

The 2018 amendment, effective January 1, 2019, substituted "authority" for "agency" throughout this Code section; and substituted "C.F.R." for "Code of Federal Regulations" in paragraph (a)(5). See Editor's notes for applicability.

- The plan for implementing a statewide emergency telephone number "911" system required by former Code Section 46-5-124 was submitted to the committee for its review on October 29, 1979. A meeting of the committee was held November 19, 1979, at which time the plan and the effective date were approved. The plan became effective on December 1, 1979.

Ga. L. 2018, p. 689, § 4-1(b)/HB 751, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: "The provisions of this Act shall not in any manner diminish, extinguish, reduce, or affect any cause of action for audits, services, or the recovery of funds from service providers which may have existed prior to January 1, 2019. Any such cause of action is expressly preserved."

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

No waiver of defense of sovereign and official immunity.

- The General Assembly, in its enactment of the "Georgia Emergency Telephone Number '911' Service Act," O.C.G.A. § 46-5-121 et seq., has not waived defenses of sovereign and official immunity which could otherwise be asserted by the county and its employees and officers in their implementation and operation of the "911" telephone system. Hendon v. DeKalb County, 203 Ga. App. 750, 417 S.E.2d 705, cert. denied, 203 Ga. App. 906, 417 S.E.2d 705 (1992).