2012 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 35 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 53 - Emergency Telephone Service
Section 5303 - Telecommunications management

§ 5303.  Telecommunications management.

(a)  Powers and duties of agency.--The agency shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)  To adopt rules and regulations pursuant to this chapter and promulgate, adopt, publish and use guidelines for the implementation of this chapter. Rules, regulations and guidelines proposed under the authority of this section shall be subject to review by the General Counsel and the Attorney General in the manner provided for the review of proposed rules and regulations pursuant to the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, and the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act.

(2)  To establish guidelines and application procedures for the establishment of contribution rates.

(3)  To receive, review and approve or disapprove all 911 system county plans.

(4)  To forward a copy of each county plan application to the council and the commission for their review as required under this chapter.

(5)  To submit an annual report not later than March 1 of each year to the Governor and the General Assembly, which plan includes at least the following:

(i)  The extent to which 911 systems currently exist in this Commonwealth.

(ii)  Those counties which have completed installation, and the costs and expenses for installation.

(iii)  An anticipated schedule for installing a 911 system on a county basis for that year.

(6)  To establish minimum training and certification standards for emergency dispatchers, call takers and supervisors.

(7)  To establish technical standards for the county plans.

(8)  To establish standards for performance review and quality assurance programs for 911 systems to ensure public safety and improve the performance of 911 systems.

(9)  To establish standards for accuracy of 911 database systems.

(10)  To establish a program of communication between the agency and county 911 coordinators for the purpose of sharing information among counties and to develop recommendations to improve 911 systems throughout this Commonwealth.

(11)  To prescribe, in cooperation with the council and the commission, the applications and forms necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(12)  To take the actions necessary to implement, administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter.

(b)  Powers and duties of council.--The council shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)  To review all county plans, including the initial application forwarded by the agency for conformity to the minimum standards.

(2)  To review county plans to determine if equipment conforms to the technical standards.

(3)  To recommend approval of plans or indicate deficiencies in plans to the agency.

(c)  Powers and duties of commission.--The commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)  Review the contribution rate requested by the county based on the costs of the plan.

(2)  Approve or modify the contribution rate requested by the county and forward its decision to the agency.

(d)  Exemption.--The Pennsylvania State Police telecommunications facilities are exempt from the telecommunications management of the agency, council and the commission.

Cross References.  Section 5303 is referred to in section 5311.6 of this title.