<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-101" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions"> <level label="a"> <text>In this article the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="a–1"> <text>“Active duty” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> <level label="a–2"> <text>“Armed forces” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“County” means a county of the State or Baltimore City.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>“Law enforcement officer” means an individual who:</text> <level label="i"> <text>in an official capacity is authorized by law to make arrests; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>is a member of one of the following law enforcement agencies:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the Department of State Police;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the Police Department of Baltimore City;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the Baltimore City School Police Force;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the Baltimore City Watershed Police Force;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>the police department, bureau, or force of a county;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>the police department, bureau, or force of a municipal corporation;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>the office of the sheriff of a county;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>the police department, bureau, or force of a bicounty agency;</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>the Maryland Transportation Authority Police;</text> </level> <level label="10"> <text>the police forces of the Department of Transportation;</text> </level> <level label="11"> <text>the police forces of the Department of Natural Resources;</text> </level> <level label="12"> <text>the Field Enforcement Bureau of the Comptroller’s Office;</text> </level> <level label="13"> <text>the Field Enforcement Division of the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission;</text> </level> <level label="14"> <text>the Housing Authority of Baltimore City Police Force;</text> </level> <level label="15"> <text>the Crofton Police Department;</text> </level> <level label="16"> <text>the police force of the Maryland Department of Health;</text> </level> <level label="17"> <text>the police force of the Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of General Services;</text> </level> <level label="18"> <text>the police forces of the University System of Maryland;</text> </level> <level label="19"> <text>the police force of Morgan State University;</text> </level> <level label="20"> <text>the office of State Fire Marshal;</text> </level> <level label="21"> <text>the Ocean Pines Police Department;</text> </level> <level label="22"> <text>the police force of the Baltimore City Community College;</text> </level> <level label="23"> <text>the police force of the Hagerstown Community College;</text> </level> <level label="24"> <text>the Internal Investigation Unit of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services;</text> </level> <level label="25"> <text>the Warrant Apprehension Unit of the Intelligence and Investigative Division in the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services;</text> </level> <level label="26"> <text>the police force of the Anne Arundel Community College; or</text> </level> <level label="27"> <text>the police department of the Johns Hopkins University established in accordance with Title 24, Subtitle 12 of the Education Article.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Law enforcement officer” does not include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>an individual who serves at the pleasure of the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>an individual who serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority of a charter county;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the police chief of a municipal corporation;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>an officer who is in probationary status on initial entry into the law enforcement agency except if an allegation of brutality in the execution of the officer’s duties is made;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>a Montgomery County fire and explosive investigator as defined in § 2–208.1 of the Criminal Procedure Article;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>an Anne Arundel County or City of Annapolis fire and explosive investigator as defined in § 2–208.2 of the Criminal Procedure Article;</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>a Prince George’s County fire and explosive investigator as defined in § 2–208.3 of the Criminal Procedure Article;</text> </level> <level label="viii"> <text>a Worcester County fire and explosive investigator as defined in § 2–208.4 of the Criminal Procedure Article;</text> </level> <level label="ix"> <text>a City of Hagerstown fire and explosive investigator as defined in § 2–208.5 of the Criminal Procedure Article;</text> </level> <level label="x"> <text>a Howard County fire and explosive investigator as defined in § 2–208.6 of the Criminal Procedure Article; or</text> </level> <level label="xi"> <text>the Chief of Police of the police department of the Johns Hopkins University established in accordance with Title 24, Subtitle 12 of the Education Article.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Person” means an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity.</text> </level> <level label="d–1"> <text>“Reserve component” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>“State” means:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the District of Columbia.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>“Uniformed services” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> <level label="g"> <text>“Veteran” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-201" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Employees Killed in Performance of Duty"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The Governor may offer a reward in the name of the State for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of an individual who causes the death of any of the following individuals who is killed in the performance of duty:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a law enforcement officer of the State or a political subdivision of the State;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a career or volunteer member of a fire department or ambulance or rescue squad; or</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>a sworn member of the office of State Fire Marshal.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>On request of the State’s Attorney of the county in which the death occurred, the Governor may set a reward for the information in an amount not exceeding $25,000 in each case.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The determination of the Governor of the individual to whom a reward is to be paid is conclusive.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Governor shall include in the State budget each year the amount of any reward made under this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-202" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Employees Killed in Performance of Duty"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>“Child” means a natural or adopted, legitimate or illegitimate child or stepchild of the decedent.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>“Child” includes a child or stepchild born posthumously.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Correctional officer” has the meaning stated in § 8–201(e)(1) of the Correctional Services Article.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>“Emergency medical services provider” has the meaning stated in § 13–516 of the Education Article.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>“Hazardous material” means any substance regulated as a hazardous material under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>“Hazardous material response team employee” means an employee of the Department of the Environment or a local government agency who is on call 24 hours a day to provide emergency response to a discharge of oil or a release of hazardous material or other emergency response activity.</text> </level> <level label="7"> <level label="i"> <text>“Law enforcement officer” has the meaning stated in § 1–101 of this title.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>“Law enforcement officer” includes:</text> <level label="1"> <text>an officer who serves in a probationary status; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>an officer who serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority of a county or municipal corporation.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="8"> <text>“9–1–1 specialist” has the meaning stated in § 1–301 of this title.</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>“Performance of duties” includes, in the case of a volunteer or career firefighter, public safety aviation employee, rescue squad member, or hazardous material response team employee:</text> <level label="i"> <text>actively participating in fighting a fire;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>going to or from a fire;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>performing other duties necessary to the operation or maintenance of the fire company;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>actively participating in the ambulance, advanced life support, or rescue work of an advanced life support unit or a fire, ambulance, or rescue company, including going to or from an emergency or rescue;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>providing emergency or rescue assistance, whether acting alone or at the direction of or with a fire, ambulance, or rescue company or advanced life support unit;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>actively participating in flight operations as a crew member in a rotary or fixed wing aircraft; and</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>providing emergency response to a discharge of oil or a release of hazardous material or other emergency response activity.</text> </level> </level> <level label="10"> <text>“Public safety aviation employee” includes a pilot and aviation maintenance technician employed by the State.</text> </level> <level label="11"> <text>“Stepchild” means a child of the surviving spouse who was living with or dependent for support on the decedent at the time of the decedent’s death.</text> </level> </level> <level label="a–1"> <text>For purposes of this section, an individual served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict if the individual was a member of the uniformed services who served in:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Afghanistan or contiguous air space, as defined in federal regulations, on or after October 24, 2001, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Iraq or contiguous waters or air space, as defined in federal regulations, on or after March 19, 2003, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in subsections (g)(3) and (k) of this section and subject to subsections (c) and (f) of this section and paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a death benefit of $125,000 shall be paid to the surviving spouse, child, dependent parent, or estate of each of the following individuals who is killed or dies in the performance of duties on or after January 1, 2006:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a law enforcement officer;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a correctional officer;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>a volunteer or career firefighter or rescue squad member;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>a sworn member of the office of State Fire Marshal;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>a public safety aviation employee;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>a Maryland resident who was a member of the uniform services of the United States serving in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict;</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>a hazardous material response team employee; or</text> </level> <level label="viii"> <text>a 9–1–1 specialist.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For fiscal year 2009, and for each following fiscal year, the death benefit provided in the prior fiscal year shall be adjusted by any change in the calendar year preceding the fiscal year in the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers – United States City Average – All Items), as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <level label="i"> <text>Except as provided in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, an application for a death benefit under this subsection shall be submitted within 3 years after the death of the decedent.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>If the decedent died before June 1, 2010, an application for a death benefit under this subsection shall be submitted on or before May 31, 2013.</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>An application for a death benefit under subsection (g)(3) of this section shall be submitted within 3 years of the finding of evidence that the death of the decedent resulted from an act committed against the decedent by another due to the nature and performance of the decedent’s duties.</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>A death benefit under this subsection is in addition to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>any workers’ compensation benefits;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the proceeds of any form of life insurance, regardless of who paid the premiums on the insurance; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the funeral benefit provided under subsection (d) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="5"> <text>On receiving notice of the death of an individual described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services shall take reasonable steps to notify potential recipients of the potential death benefits available under this subsection:</text> <level label="i"> <text>when the Department receives notice of the death; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>again 1 year after the date of the death, if an application for a death benefit with respect to the death of the decedent has not been submitted.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Whenever an individual identified in subsection (b)(1)(i) through (v) and (vii) of this section dies as the direct and proximate result of a heart attack or stroke, the individual shall be presumed to have died as a direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the performance of duties if:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the individual, while on duty:</text> <level label="1"> <text>engaged in a situation that involved nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical law enforcement, fire suppression, rescue, response to a discharge of oil or a release of hazardous material, emergency medical services, prison security, disaster relief, flight operations as a crew member in a rotary or fixed wing aircraft, or other emergency response activity; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>participated in a training exercise that involved nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activity;</text> </level> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the individual died as a result of a heart attack or stroke that the individual suffered:</text> <level label="1"> <text>while engaging or participating in an activity described in item (i)1 or 2 of this paragraph;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>while still on duty after engaging or participating in an activity described in item (i)1 or 2 of this paragraph; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>not later than 24 hours after engaging or participating in an activity described in item (i)1 or 2 of this paragraph; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the presumption is not overcome by competent medical evidence to the contrary.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activity does not include actions of a clerical, administrative, or nonmanual nature.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in subsection (k) of this section, reasonable funeral expenses, not exceeding $25,000, shall be paid to the surviving spouse, child, parent, or estate of each of the following individuals who is killed or dies in the performance of duties:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a law enforcement officer;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a correctional officer;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>a volunteer or career firefighter or rescue squad member;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>a public safety aviation employee;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>a sworn member of the office of State Fire Marshal; or</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>a hazardous material response team employee.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the funeral benefit provided in the prior fiscal year shall be adjusted by any change in the calendar year preceding the fiscal year in the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers – United States City Average – All Items), as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>The Secretary of State shall issue a State flag to the family of a firefighter, policeman, member of the uniformed services, sworn member of the office of State Fire Marshal, or professional or volunteer emergency medical services provider who is killed in the performance of duty.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>Except when the deceased is a member of the uniformed services, the flag shall be presented to the family of the deceased by the State Senator of the legislative district in which the deceased resided or served.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>When the deceased is a member of the uniformed services, the flag shall be presented to the family of the deceased by the Department of Veterans and Military Families.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>An individual identified in subsection (b)(1)(i) through (viii) of this section shall be presumed to have died as a direct and proximate result of an injury sustained in the performance of duties if:</text> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>the individual was diagnosed by a licensed medical or mental health professional with post–traumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, or a trauma– and stress–related disorder; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the diagnosis under item (i) of this item resulted due to the nature and performance of the individual’s duties; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the individual’s death occurs by suicide.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>On a case–by–case basis, the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services may award a death benefit under this section if:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the decedent’s death was caused by the decedent’s intentional misconduct;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the decedent intended to bring about the decedent’s death;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the decedent’s voluntary intoxication was the proximate cause of the decedent’s death; or</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>additional evidence arises that the decedent’s death resulted from an act committed against the decedent by another due to the nature and performance of the decedent’s duties.</text> </level> </level> <level label="h"> <text>If the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services determines that the benefits under this section are to be paid, the benefits shall be paid:</text> <level label="1"> <text>to the decedent’s surviving spouse;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>if no individual is eligible under item (1) of this subsection, to each surviving child of the decedent in equal shares;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <level label="i"> <text>for a death benefit under subsection (b) of this section, if no individual is eligible under item (1) or (2) of this subsection, to the decedent’s surviving parent, if the parent was a dependent as defined in § 152 of the Internal Revenue Code; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>for any other benefit under this section, if no individual is eligible under item (1) or (2) of this subsection, to the decedent’s surviving parent; or</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>if no individual is eligible under item (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection, to the decedent’s estate.</text> </level> </level> <level label="i"> <text>Payments under this section shall be made out of money that the Governor includes for that purpose in the State budget.</text> </level> <level label="j"> <text>A person aggrieved by a final decision of the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services under this section may seek judicial review as provided for review of final decisions in Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> <level label="k"> <level label="1"> <text>This subsection applies only to a death benefit under subsection (b) of this section or a funeral benefit under subsection (d) of this section payable on behalf of a hazardous material response team employee employed by a local government agency.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>A death benefit or funeral benefit may only be paid if the local government agency that employs the hazardous material response team employee maintains in reserve the amount needed to pay for one death benefit and one funeral expense for a hazardous material response team employee.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>If the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services determines that a death benefit or funeral benefit is to be paid, the local government agency that employed the hazardous material response team employee shall pay to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services the funds required to pay the benefit.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <level label="i"> <text>A local government agency is not required to place funds in reserve under paragraph (2)(i) of this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>If a local government agency does not place funds in reserve under paragraph (2)(i) of this subsection, a death benefit or funeral benefit as provided for under this subsection may not be paid.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-301" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Board” means the Maryland 9–1–1 Board.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Commercial mobile radio service” or “CMRS” means mobile telecommunications service that is:</text> <level label="1"> <text>provided for profit with the intent of receiving compensation or monetary gain;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>an interconnected, two–way voice service; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>available to the public.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Commercial mobile radio service provider” or “CMRS provider” means a person authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to provide CMRS in the State.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>“County 9–1–1 fee” means the fee imposed by a county in accordance with § 1–311 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>“County plan” means a plan for a 9–1–1 system or enhanced 9–1–1 system, or an amendment to the plan, developed by a county or several counties together under this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="g"> <level label="1"> <text>“Customer” means:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the person that contracts with a home service provider for CMRS; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the end user of the CMRS if the end user of the CMRS is not the contracting party.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Customer” does not include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a reseller of CMRS; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a serving carrier under an arrangement to serve the customer outside the home service provider’s licensed service area.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="h"> <text>“Enhanced 9–1–1 system” means a 9–1–1 system that provides:</text> <level label="1"> <text>automatic number identification;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>automatic location identification; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>any other technological advancements that the Board requires.</text> </level> </level> <level label="i"> <text>“FCC order” means an order issued by the Federal Communications Commission under proceedings regarding the compatibility of enhanced 9–1–1 systems and delivery of wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service.</text> </level> <level label="j"> <level label="1"> <text>“First responder” means an employee of a State or local public safety agency that provides emergency response services.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“First responder” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a firefighter;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a paramedic;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>an emergency medical technician;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>a rescue squad member;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>a sworn member of the Office of the State Fire Marshal;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>a member of a volunteer fire or rescue company who is a covered employee under § 9–234 of the Labor and Employment Article;</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>an individual who is licensed or certified under § 13–516 of the Education Article; and</text> </level> <level label="viii"> <text>a 9–1–1 specialist.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="k"> <text>“Home service provider” means the facilities–based carrier or reseller that contracts with a customer to provide CMRS.</text> </level> <level label="l"> <text>“Next Generation 9–1–1 services” means an Internet Protocol (IP)–based system, comprised of hardware, software, data, and operational policies and procedures, that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>provides standardized interfaces from emergency call and message services to support emergency communications;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>processes all types of requests for emergency services, including voice, text, data, and multimedia information;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>acquires and integrates additional emergency call data useful to routing and handling of requests for emergency services;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>delivers the emergency calls, messages, and data to the appropriate public safety answering point and other appropriate emergency entities;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>supports data or video communications needs for coordinated incident response and management; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>provides broadband service to public safety answering points or other first responder entities.</text> </level> </level> <level label="m"> <text>“9–1–1–accessible service” means telephone service or another communications service that connects an individual dialing the digits 9–1–1 to an established public safety answering point.</text> </level> <level label="n"> <level label="1"> <text>“9–1–1 service carrier” means a provider of CMRS or other 9–1–1–accessible service.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“9–1–1 service carrier” does not include a telephone company.</text> </level> </level> <level label="o"> <text>“9–1–1 specialist” means an employee of a county public safety answering point, or an employee working in a county public safety answering point, whose duties and responsibilities include:</text> <level label="1"> <text>receiving and processing 9–1–1 requests for emergency services;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>other support functions directly related to 9–1–1 requests for emergency services; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>dispatching law enforcement officers, fire rescue services, emergency medical services, and other public safety services to the scene of an emergency.</text> </level> </level> <level label="p"> <level label="1"> <text>“9–1–1 system” means telephone service that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>meets the planning guidelines established under this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>automatically connects an individual dialing the digits 9–1–1 to an established public safety answering point.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“9–1–1 system” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>equipment for connecting and outswitching 9–1–1 calls within a telephone central office;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>trunking facilities from a telephone central office to a public safety answering point; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>equipment to connect 9–1–1 calls to the appropriate public safety agency.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="q"> <text>“9–1–1 Trust Fund” means the fund established under § 1–308 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="r"> <text>“Prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee” means the fee that is required to be collected by a seller from a consumer in the amount established under § 1–313 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="s"> <text>“Prepaid wireless telecommunications service” means a commercial mobile radio service that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>allows a consumer to dial 9–1–1 to access the 9–1–1 system;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>must be paid for in advance; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>is sold in predetermined units that decline with use in a known amount.</text> </level> </level> <level label="t"> <text>“Public safety agency” means:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a functional division of a public agency that provides fire fighting, police, medical, or other emergency services; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a private entity that provides fire fighting, police, medical, or other emergency services on a voluntary basis.</text> </level> </level> <level label="u"> <text>“Public safety answering point” means a communications facility that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>is operated on a 24–hour basis;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>first receives 9–1–1 requests for emergency services in a 9–1–1 service area; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>as appropriate:</text> <level label="i"> <text>dispatches public safety services directly;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>transmits incident data to appropriate public safety agencies within the State for the dispatch of public safety services; or</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>transfers 9–1–1 requests for emergency services or transmits incident data to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>an appropriate federal emergency communication center responsible for the delivery of public safety services on a federal campus or federal reservation; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>an appropriate public safety answering point located within or outside the State.</text> </level> </level> </level> </level> <level label="v"> <text>“Secretary” means the Secretary of Emergency Management.</text> </level> <level label="w"> <text>“Seller” means a person that sells prepaid wireless telecommunications service to another person.</text> </level> <level label="x"> <text>“State 9–1–1 fee” means the fee imposed in accordance with § 1–310 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="y"> <text>“Wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service” means enhanced 9–1–1 service under an FCC order.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-302" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>The General Assembly:</text> <level label="1"> <text>recognizes the paramount importance of the safety and well–being of the public;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>recognizes that timely and appropriate assistance must be provided when the lives or property of the public are in imminent danger;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>recognizes that emergency assistance usually is summoned by telephone, and that a multiplicity of emergency telephone numbers existed throughout the State and within each county;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>was concerned that avoidable delays in reaching appropriate emergency assistance were occurring to the jeopardy of life and property;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>acknowledges that the three digit number, 9–1–1, is a nationally recognized and applied telephone number that may be used to summon emergency assistance and to eliminate delays caused by lack of familiarity with emergency numbers and by confusion in circumstances of crisis; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>recognizes that all end user customers of 9–1–1–accessible services, including consumers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service, should contribute in a fair and equitable manner to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The purposes of this subtitle are to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>establish the three digit number, 9–1–1, as the primary emergency telephone number for the State; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>provide for the orderly installation, maintenance, and operation of 9–1–1 systems in the State.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-302.1" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>The General Assembly finds that 9–1–1 specialists are key members of the team of public safety personnel responding to requests from the public for emergency assistance.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Each jurisdiction employing 9–1–1 specialists shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>appropriately classify 9–1–1 specialists as first responders in recognition of the training, knowledge, and skills that 9–1–1 specialists possess and demonstrate in answering and handling requests for emergency assistance; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>compensate 9–1–1 specialists in a manner that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>reflects their membership in the team of public safety personnel answering and responding to requests for emergency assistance; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>is commensurate with the training, knowledge, and skills they possess.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-303" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>This subtitle does not require a public service company to provide any equipment or service other than in accordance with tariffs approved by the Public Service Commission.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The provision of services, the rates, and the extent of liability of a public service company are governed by the tariffs approved by the Public Service Commission.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>This subtitle does not require a 9–1–1 service carrier to provide any equipment or service other than the equivalent of the equipment and service required of a telephone company under subsection (a) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>This subtitle does not extend any liability to a 9–1–1 service carrier or seller of prepaid wireless telecommunications service.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-304" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>Each county shall have in operation an enhanced 9–1–1 system.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If implementation is preceded by cooperative planning, the enhanced 9–1–1 system required under subsection (a) of this section may operate as part of a multicounty system.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Services available through a 9–1–1 system shall include police, fire fighting, and emergency ambulance services.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Other emergency and civil defense services may be incorporated into the 9–1–1 system at the discretion of the county or counties served by the 9–1–1 system.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The digits 9–1–1 are the primary emergency telephone number in the 9–1–1 system.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A public safety agency whose services are available through the 9–1–1 system:</text> <level label="i"> <text>may maintain a separate secondary backup telephone number for emergency calls; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>shall maintain a separate telephone number for nonemergency calls.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>Educational information that relates to emergency services made available by the State or a county:</text> <level label="1"> <text>shall designate the number 9–1–1 as the primary emergency telephone number;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>may include a separate secondary backup telephone number for emergency calls; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>shall include information on the requirements of § 1–314 of this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>Each public safety answering point shall notify the public safety agencies in a county 9–1–1 system of requests for emergency services in the county.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Written guidelines shall be developed to govern the referral of requests for emergency services to the appropriate public safety agency.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>State, county, and local public safety agencies with concurrent jurisdiction shall have written agreements to ensure a clear understanding of which specific requests for emergency services will be referred to which public safety agency.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>Counties, other units of local government, public safety agencies, and public safety answering points may enter into cooperative agreements for the allocation of maintenance, operational, and capital costs attributable to the 9–1–1 system.</text> </level> <level label="h"> <level label="1"> <text>Each public safety answering point shall develop a written policy on the procedures to be followed by the public safety answering point when a call is received that involves an individual suffering an active mental health crisis.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The written policy developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the procedures to triage a call involving an individual suffering an active mental health crisis;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the resources that are available for dispatch;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the procedures for making a dispatch decision; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>training for applicable staff on implementing the procedures.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-304.1" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>Each public safety answering point shall employ standards–based protocols for the processing of 9–1–1 requests for emergency assistance.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A public safety answering point shall ensure that each 9–1–1 specialist employed by the public safety answering point is certified in each discipline related to 9–1–1 requests for assistance for which the 9–1–1 specialist is responsible for receiving and processing.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A public safety answering point may establish a telecommunicator emergency response team to respond to, relieve, assist, or augment other public safety answering points when those public safety answering points are affected by natural or human–made disasters.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-304.2" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>Each public safety answering point shall adopt and implement programs compliant with best practices on 9–1–1 acute/traumatic and chronic stress management.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>A 9–1–1 specialist may, as part of occupational well–being standards and practices, seek treatment for job–related audible or visual trauma without informing anyone.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Except as otherwise provided under Title 9, Subtitle 1 of the Courts Article, communications between a 9–1–1 specialist and a treatment provider that occur in connection with the treatment of job–related audible or visual trauma shall be confidential.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-304.3" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, in the event of a 9–1–1–accessible service outage lasting more than 30 minutes and affecting more than 600,000 user minutes, a provider of a 9–1–1–accessible service, other than a reseller, shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>as soon as practicable, notify any affected public safety answering point and the Maryland Joint Operations Center of the 9–1–1–accessible service outage occurring on the provider’s network;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>in advance of the next scheduled meeting of the Board, notify the Board of any 9–1–1–accessible service outage occurring on the provider’s network; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>at the next scheduled meeting of the Board, submit to the Board a report detailing the 9–1–1–accessible service outage occurring on the provider’s network.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A provider of a 9–1–1–accessible service shall calculate user minutes under this section in accordance with the applicable regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Board and the Maryland Joint Operations Center shall adopt procedures and implement safeguards to ensure that sensitive information submitted by a provider of a 9–1–1–accessible service under this section is maintained confidentially.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-305" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>There is a Maryland 9–1–1 Board in the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The Board consists of 24 members.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Of the 24 members:</text> <level label="i"> <text>one nonvoting member shall represent a telephone company operating in the State;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>one nonvoting member shall represent the wireless telephone industry in the State;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>one nonvoting member shall represent the Maryland Department of Emergency Management;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>one member shall represent the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>one member shall represent the Department of State Police;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>one member shall represent the Public Service Commission;</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>one member shall represent the Association of Public–Safety Communications Officials International, Inc.;</text> </level> <level label="viii"> <text>two members shall represent county fire services in the State, with one member representing career fire services and one member representing volunteer fire services;</text> </level> <level label="ix"> <text>one member shall represent law enforcement in the State;</text> </level> <level label="x"> <text>one member shall represent emergency management services in the State;</text> </level> <level label="xi"> <text>one member shall represent 9–1–1 specialists;</text> </level> <level label="xii"> <text>one member shall be appointed by the Secretary of Disabilities and represent individuals with accessibility needs;</text> </level> <level label="xiii"> <text>one member shall represent the Emergency Communications Committee of the Maryland Association of Counties;</text> </level> <level label="xiv"> <text>one member shall represent directors of public safety answering points for Allegany County, Garrett County, and Washington County;</text> </level> <level label="xv"> <text>one member shall represent directors of public safety answering points for Calvert County, Charles County, Frederick County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and St. Mary’s County;</text> </level> <level label="xvi"> <text>one member shall represent directors of public safety answering points for Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County;</text> </level> <level label="xvii"> <text>one member shall represent directors of public safety answering points for Caroline County, Cecil County, Dorchester County, Kent County, Queen Anne’s County, Somerset County, Talbot County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County;</text> </level> <level label="xviii"> <text>one member shall represent the cybersecurity systems in the State, particularly in the field of emergency communication networks;</text> </level> <level label="xix"> <text>one member shall represent a county finance office in the State and be recommended by the Maryland Association of Counties;</text> </level> <level label="xx"> <text>one member shall represent the Maryland chapter of the National Emergency Numbers Association;</text> </level> <level label="xxi"> <text>one member shall represent the geographical information systems in the State; and</text> </level> <level label="xxii"> <text>two members shall represent the public.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Governor shall appoint the members with the advice and consent of the Senate.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The term of a member is 4 years and begins on July 1.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The terms of the members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on October 1, 2003.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <level label="i"> <text>If a vacancy occurs after a term has begun, the Governor shall appoint a successor to represent the organization or group in which the vacancy occurs.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The Board, in consultation with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, shall develop and establish procedures for:</text> <level label="1"> <text>filling a vacancy as soon as practicable after the vacancy occurs; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>ensuring candidates for filling a vacancy have appropriate expertise and a commitment to improving 9–1–1 services in the State.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="5"> <text>A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>From among its members, the Board shall elect a chair and vice chair.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>The Board shall meet as necessary, but at least once each quarter.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For purposes of the Open Meetings Act, a project site visit or educational field tour may not be considered a meeting of the Board if no organizational business is conducted.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>A member of the Board:</text> <level label="1"> <text>may not receive compensation as a member of the Board; but</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>The Secretary shall provide staff to the Board, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a coordinator who is responsible for the daily operation of the office of the Board; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>staff to handle the increased duties related to enhanced 9–1–1 service.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-306" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>The Board shall coordinate the enhancement of county 9–1–1 systems.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Board’s responsibilities include:</text> <level label="1"> <text>establishing planning guidelines for enhanced 9–1–1 system plans and deployment of wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service in accordance with this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>establishing procedures to review and approve or disapprove county plans and to evaluate requests for variations from the planning guidelines established by the Board;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>establishing procedures for the request for reimbursement of the costs of enhancing a 9–1–1 system by a county or counties in which a 9–1–1 system is in operation, and procedures to review and approve or disapprove the request;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>transmitting the planning guidelines and procedures established under this section, and any amendments to them, to the governing body of each county;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>submitting to the Secretary each year a schedule for implementing the enhancement of county or multicounty 9–1–1 systems, and an estimate of funding requirements based on the approved county plans;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>developing, with input from counties, and publishing on or before July 1, 2004, an implementation schedule for deployment of wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>reviewing and approving or disapproving requests for reimbursement of the costs of enhancing 9–1–1 systems, and submitting to the Secretary each year a schedule for reimbursement and an estimate of funding requirements;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>reviewing the enhancement of 9–1–1 systems;</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>providing for an audit of county expenditures for the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems;</text> </level> <level label="10"> <text>ensuring inspections of public safety answering points;</text> </level> <level label="11"> <text>reviewing and approving or disapproving requests from counties with operational enhanced 9–1–1 systems to be exempted from the expenditure limitations under § 1–312 of this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="12"> <text>authorizing expenditures from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>are for enhancements of 9–1–1 systems that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>are required by the Board;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>will be provided to a county by a third party contractor; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>will incur costs that the Board has approved before the formation of a contract between the county and the contractor; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>are approved by the Board for payment:</text> <level label="1"> <text>from money collected under § 1–310 of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>directly to a third party contractor on behalf of a county;</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="13"> <text>establishing planning guidelines for Next Generation 9–1–1 services system plans and deployment of Next Generation 9–1–1 services in accordance with this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="14"> <text>establishing minimum standards for records retention guidelines for 9–1–1 audio, pictures, video, text messages, and data;</text> </level> <level label="15"> <text>establishing training standards for public safety answering point personnel based on national best practices, including training concerning:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Next Generation 9–1–1 topics;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>individual psychological well–being and resilience; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>subject to subsection (e)(2) of this section, implicit bias training;</text> </level> </level> <level label="16"> <text>establishing minimum standards for cybersecurity, oversight, and accountability of service level agreements between counties and core service providers of Next Generation 9–1–1 services; and</text> </level> <level label="17"> <text>supporting 9–1–1 specialist recruitment activities consisting of:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a database that offers information on recruitment guidance, best practices, and strategies;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>recruitment projects, including recruitment projects designed to reach minorities; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>a website that contains links to job opportunities throughout the State for 9–1–1 specialists.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The guidelines established by the Board under subsection (b)(1) and (13) of this section:</text> <level label="1"> <text>shall be based on available technology and equipment;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>shall require Next Generation 9–1–1 services systems to be interconnected and interoperable, as determined by the Board; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>may be based on any other factor that the Board determines is appropriate, including population and area served by 9–1–1 systems.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The standards established by the Board under subsection (b)(14) of this section shall include procedures for:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the security of the records;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the establishment and revision, in accordance with the regulations, of record retention and disposal schedules to ensure the prompt and orderly disposition of records, including electronic records, that are no longer needed for operation; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the maintenance of inventories of records series that are accurate and complete.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>The standards established by the Board under subsection (b)(15) of this section shall include onboarding standards for newly hired 9–1–1 specialists and minimum continuing education standards for 9–1–1 specialists.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The Board shall develop criteria and approve the initial and ongoing training curriculum for the training required under subsection (b)(15) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Public safety answering point personnel shall be provided the implicit bias training required under subsection (b)(15)(iii) of this section:</text> <level label="i"> <text>on or before October 1, 2024, for personnel hired by the public safety answering point on or before October 1, 2022;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>at the time of hire for personnel hired by the public safety answering point after October 1, 2022; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>on a recurring basis with updates as determined by the Board, but at least once every 4 years.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <level label="i"> <text>At least once each year, the Board shall provide for an audit of each public safety answering point in order to ensure that 9–1–1 specialists and other personnel employed by the public safety answering point have satisfied the training requirements established in accordance with subsection (b)(15) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The audit described under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph may be conducted concurrently with an inspection of the public safety answering point in accordance with subsection (b)(10) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <level label="1"> <text>If the Board determines that the personnel employed by a public safety answering point have not satisfied the training requirements established in accordance with subsection (b)(15) of this section, the Board and public safety answering point shall jointly develop a remediation plan and implementation timeline.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Board may impose sanctions on a public safety answering point if the public safety answering point fails to comply with a remediation plan or implementation timeline developed under this subparagraph.</text> </level> </level> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The Board shall establish standards governing the processing of 9–1–1 requests for assistance that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>minimize the transfer of those requests from the public safety answering point that received the request to other public safety answering points within or outside the State or federal emergency communication centers; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>follow best practices for transferring requests to public safety agencies to ensure the optimal public safety response.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>The Board shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>establish minimum standards for 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services that ensure improved access for individuals with disabilities and individuals who use assistive technologies, including mandatory connectivity requirements for core service providers for Next Generation 9–1–1 services to device–based and cloud–based data repositories; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>update the standards adopted in accordance with item (1) of this subsection based on available technology and equipment.</text> </level> </level> <level label="h"> <text>The Board may adopt regulations to implement and enforce this subtitle.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-307" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>The Board shall submit an annual report to the Governor, the Secretary, and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Legislative Policy Committee, the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, and the House Health and Government Operations Committee.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The report submitted under subsection (a) of this section shall provide the following information:</text> <level label="1"> <text>for each county:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the type of 9–1–1 system currently operating in the county;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the total State 9–1–1 fee and county 9–1–1 fee charged;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the funding formula in effect;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>any statutory or regulatory violation by the county and the response of the Board; and</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>any efforts to establish an enhanced 9–1–1 system in the county;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>any suggested changes to this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>for the annual reports submitted in 2023 through 2028:</text> <level label="i"> <text>an update on the progress of each county in transitioning to next generation 9–1–1 technology, including compliance with cybersecurity standards and meeting goals of interoperability and geographic information system mapping integration;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the following personnel information for each county public safety answering point:</text> <level label="1"> <text>staffing and vacancy levels;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a summary of the county’s efforts to find, hire, and retain qualified personnel;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>an update on training of public safety answering point personnel under § 1–306 of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>incidence of workers’ compensation claims by public safety answering point personnel;</text> </level> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>an update on audits conducted by the Comptroller of fee collection and remittances, including whether fees collected are sufficient to cover each county’s operational costs for the 9–1–1 system and any measures recommended or implemented to address cost shortages;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>annual incidents of unnecessary requests for emergency services made to 9–1–1 for the purpose of dispatching an unneeded emergency response and any resulting bodily harm or death;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>incidence and interval data relating to 9–1–1 outages or the absence of 9–1–1 specialists to receive requests for emergency services; and</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>an update on integration of the 9–1–1 system with 9–8–8 and 2–1–1 and the impact on 9–1–1 operations and capacity.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Maryland Department of Emergency Management shall summarize and analyze the information provided under subsection (b)(3) of this section and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, submit to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the summary and analysis;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>any associated recommendations to address issues raised by the analysis; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>a description of any measures implemented by the Department to address issues raised by the analysis.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-308" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>There is a 9–1–1 Trust Fund.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to § 1–309.1 of this subtitle, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund are to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>pay contractors in accordance with § 1–306(b)(12) of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>fund the coordinator position and staff to handle the increased duties related to wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service under § 1–305 of this subtitle, as an administrative cost.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, in addition to the purposes described under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund include funding:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>equipment and software utilized directly for providing 9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>protocol systems and software utilized directly for providing 9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>interpretation services provided for a public safety answering point;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>services provided for a public safety answering point to ensure improved access to individuals with disabilities and other individuals who use assistive technology; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>voice, data, and call log recorders utilized to capture information from 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services;</text> </level> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services connectivity and infrastructure equipment, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>automatic number and location identification; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Primary Rate Interface and Session Initiation Protocol trucking for 10–digit emergency and nonemergency lines;</text> </level> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>geographical information systems hardware, software, data development, and data management costs incurred for the effective operation of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>mapping equipment;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>interfaces to computer–aided dispatch; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>geographical information systems base layer development and management;</text> </level> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>public safety answering point facilities costs, including access control, security systems, and standby power;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>costs for public education materials;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>the training of county personnel working in or directly supporting a public safety answering point;</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>the provision of tuition reimbursement for 9–1–1 specialists for educational programs related to the 9–1–1 specialist career field;</text> </level> <level label="viii"> <text>costs to maintain the cybersecurity of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services;</text> </level> <level label="ix"> <text>costs of 9–1–1 specialist recruitment activities as described in § 1–306(b)(17) of this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="x"> <text>costs of telecommunications cardiopulmonary resuscitation training; and</text> </level> <level label="xi"> <text>costs related to the operation of the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline that may be shared with 9–1–1 activities, including software interfaces and joint training.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Funding allocated in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection may not be utilized for any costs that solely support the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The 9–1–1 Trust Fund consists of:</text> <level label="1"> <text>money from the 9–1–1 fee collected and remitted to the Comptroller under § 1–310 of this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>money from the additional charge collected and remitted to the Comptroller under § 1–311 of this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>money from the prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee collected and remitted to the Comptroller under § 1–313 of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>investment earnings of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Money in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund shall be held in the State Treasury.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Secretary shall administer the 9–1–1 Trust Fund, subject to the guidelines for financial management and budgeting established by the Department of Budget and Management.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The Secretary shall direct the Comptroller to establish separate accounts in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund for the payment of administrative expenses and for each county.</text> </level> <level label="g"> <level label="1"> <text>Any investment earnings shall be credited to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Comptroller shall allocate the investment income among the accounts in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund, prorated on the basis of the total fees collected in each county.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-309" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>On recommendation of the Board, each year the Secretary shall request an appropriation from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund in an amount sufficient to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>carry out the purposes of this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>pay the administrative costs chargeable to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Subject to the limitations under subsection (e) of this section, the Comptroller shall disburse the money in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund as provided in this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each July 1, the Comptroller shall allocate sufficient money from the State 9–1–1 fee to pay the costs of administering the 9–1–1 Trust Fund.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>As directed by the Secretary and in accordance with the State budget, the Comptroller, from the appropriate account, shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>pay contractors in accordance with § 1–306(b)(12) of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>pay the costs associated with maintenance, operations, and programs approved by the Board in accordance with § 1–308(b) of this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <level label="i"> <text>The Comptroller shall pay to each county from its account the money requested by the county to pay the maintenance and operation costs of the county’s 9–1–1 system in accordance with the State budget.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The Comptroller shall pay the money for maintenance and operation costs on September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30 of each year.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Money accruing to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund may be used as provided in this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Money collected from the State 9–1–1 fee may be used only to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>pay the administrative costs chargeable to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>pay contractors in accordance with § 1–306(b)(12) of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>pay the costs associated with maintenance, operations, and programs approved by the Board in accordance with § 1–308(b) of this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Money collected from the State 9–1–1 fee may not be utilized for the payment of the salary of public safety answering point personnel or county personnel.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Money collected from the county 9–1–1 fee may be used by the counties only for the maintenance and operation costs of the 9–1–1 system.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Money collected from the prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee shall be used as follows:</text> <level label="i"> <text>25% for the same purpose as the 9–1–1 fee under paragraph (2) of this subsection; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>75% for the same purpose as the county 9–1–1 fee under paragraph (4) of this subsection, prorated on the basis of the total fees collected in each county.</text> </level> </level> <level label="6"> <text>Money accruing to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund may not be used for:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the maintenance or operation of communications centers other than public safety answering points; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>any costs that solely support the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>Reimbursement may be made only to the extent that county money was used to enhance the 9–1–1 system.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Reimbursement for the enhancement of 9–1–1 systems shall include the installation of equipment for automatic number identification, automatic location identification, and other technological advancements that the Board requires.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Reimbursement from money collected from the State 9–1–1 fee may be used only for 9–1–1 system enhancements approved by the Board.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>The Board may direct the Comptroller to withhold from a county money for 9–1–1 system expenditures if the county violates this subtitle or a regulation of the Board.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>The Board shall state publicly in writing its reason for withholding money from a county and shall record its reason in the minutes of the Board.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>On reaching its decision to withhold money, the Board shall notify the county.</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>The county has 30 days after the date of notification to respond in writing to the Board.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <level label="i"> <text>On notification by the Board, the Comptroller shall hold money for the county in the county’s account in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Money held by the Comptroller under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph does not accrue interest for the county.</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Interest income earned on money held by the Comptroller under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph accrues to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>County money withheld by the Comptroller shall be withheld until the Board directs the Comptroller to release the money.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>The Legislative Auditor may conduct fiscal/compliance audits of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund and of the appropriations and disbursements made for purposes of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The cost of the fiscal portion of the audits shall be paid from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund as an administrative cost.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-309.1" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>In consultation with the Maryland Cybersecurity Council established under § 9–2901 of the State Government Article, the Board shall establish cybersecurity standards for public safety answering points based on national industry and 9–1–1 system trade association best practices, including standards concerning response protocols in the event of a cybersecurity attack on a public safety answering point.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>At least once each year on a date determined by the Board and in advance of submitting a request for or receiving any money from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund, the director of each public safety answering point shall examine the cybersecurity of the public safety answering point to determine whether the cybersecurity defenses employed by the public safety answering point satisfy the standards established by the Board under subsection (a) of this section and submit to the Board a report detailing the results of that exercise.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>If a director of a public safety answering point fails to submit a report required under subsection (b) of this section, the Board may not authorize any money from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund to be paid to a county serviced by the public safety answering point until that report has been submitted.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>If a public safety answering point fails to meet the cybersecurity standards established by this section during the annual examination required under subsection (b) of this section, the Board shall work with the public safety answering point to develop an aggressive, consensus remediation plan and implementation timeline.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>If a public safety answering point fails to comply with a remediation plan developed under this paragraph, the Board may refuse to authorize money from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund to be paid to a county serviced by the public safety answering point for any new, noncybersecurity purpose.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-310" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>This section does not apply to prepaid wireless telecommunications service.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Each subscriber to switched local exchange access service or CMRS or other 9–1–1–accessible service shall pay a State 9–1–1 fee.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Subject to paragraphs (2) through (5) of this subsection, the State 9–1–1 fee is 50 cents per month for each switched local exchange access service, CMRS, or other 9–1–1–accessible service provided, payable when the bill for the service is due.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Except as provided in paragraphs (3) through (5) of this subsection, if a service provider provisions to the same individual or person the voice channel capacity to make more than one simultaneous outbound call from a 9–1–1–accessible service, each separate outbound call voice channel capacity, regardless of the technology, shall constitute a separate 9–1–1–accessible service for purposes of calculating the State 9–1–1 fee due under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>CMRS provided to multiple devices that share a mobile telephone number shall be treated as a single 9–1–1–accessible service for purposes of calculating the State 9–1–1 fee due under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>A broadband connection not used for telephone service may not constitute a separate voice channel capacity for purposes of calculating the State 9–1–1 fee due under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <level label="i"> <text>For a telephone service that provides, to multiple locations, shared simultaneous outbound voice channel capacity configured to provide local dial in different states, the voice channel capacity to which the State 9–1–1 fee due under paragraph (1) of this subsection applies is only the portion of the shared voice channel capacity in the State identified by the service supplier’s books and records.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>In determining the portion of shared capacity in the State, a service supplier may rely on, among other factors, a customer’s certification of the customer’s allocation of capacity in the State, which may be based on:</text> <level label="1"> <text>each end user location;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the total number of end users; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the number of end users at each end user location.</text> </level> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The Public Service Commission shall direct each telephone company to add the State 9–1–1 fee to all current bills rendered for switched local exchange access service in the State.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each telephone company:</text> <level label="i"> <text>shall act as a collection agent for the 9–1–1 Trust Fund with respect to the 9–1–1 fees;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>shall remit all money collected to the Comptroller on a monthly basis;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>shall keep records of 9–1–1 fees collected and remitted under this paragraph for at least 4 years after the fee is remitted; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>is entitled to credit, against the money from the State 9–1–1 fees to be remitted to the Comptroller, an amount equal to 0.50% of the State 9–1–1 fees to cover the expenses of billing, collecting, remitting, and keeping records of the State 9–1–1 fees and county 9–1–1 fees.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Comptroller shall deposit the money remitted in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>Each 9–1–1 service carrier shall add the State 9–1–1 fee to all current bills rendered for CMRS or other 9–1–1–accessible service in the State.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each 9–1–1 service carrier:</text> <level label="i"> <text>shall act as a collection agent for the 9–1–1 Trust Fund with respect to the 9–1–1 fees;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>shall remit all money collected to the Comptroller on a monthly basis;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>shall keep records of 9–1–1 fees collected and remitted under this paragraph for at least 4 years after the fee is remitted; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>is entitled to credit, against the money from the State 9–1–1 fees to be remitted to the Comptroller, an amount equal to 0.50% of the State 9–1–1 fees to cover the expenses of billing, collecting, remitting, and keeping records of the State 9–1–1 fees and county 9–1–1 fees.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Comptroller shall deposit the money remitted in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>The Comptroller, in consultation with the Board, shall adopt procedures for auditing surcharge collection and remittance by telephone companies and CMRS providers of 9–1–1 fees collected under this section and under § 1–311 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The procedures adopted under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be consistent with the audit and appeal procedures established for the sales and use tax under Titles 11 and 13 of the Tax – General Article.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Comptroller may issue an administrative subpoena to compel compliance with an audit conducted under this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>The Comptroller shall develop and distribute informational materials to telephone companies and CMRS providers regarding:</text> <level label="i"> <text>proper collection and remittance of 9–1–1 fees; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the audit procedures adopted under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="5"> <text>On request of a telephone company or CMRS provider, and except as otherwise required by law, the information that the telephone company or CMRS provider reports to the Comptroller shall be confidential, privileged, and proprietary and may not be disclosed to any person other than the telephone company or CMRS provider.</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>The Comptroller is entitled to an amount equal to 0.5% of the 9–1–1 fees collected under this section to cover the expenses of conducting audits under this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>On or before December 1 each year, the Comptroller shall submit an annual report to the Board detailing the audits conducted during the immediately preceding year and the outcome of each audit.</text> </level> <level label="8"> <level label="i"> <text>Between December 31, 2022, and January 1, 2025, in addition to the annual report required by paragraph (7) of this subsection, the Comptroller shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>submit to the Board quarterly updates detailing the audits conducted in the immediately preceding quarter; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>immediately notify the Board of any deficiencies detected by an audit.</text> </level> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Beginning January 1, 2025, on request of the Board, the Comptroller shall provide quarterly updates detailing the audits conducted since the last update was provided.</text> </level> </level> <level label="9"> <text>The Comptroller may adopt regulations necessary to carry out the requirements of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the State 9–1–1 fee does not apply to an intermediate service line used exclusively to connect a CMRS or other 9–1–1–accessible service, other than a switched local access service, to another telephone system or switching device.</text> </level> <level label="h"> <text>A CMRS provider that pays or collects State 9–1–1 fees under this section has the same immunity from liability for transmission failures as that approved by the Public Service Commission for local exchange telephone companies that are subject to regulation by the Commission under the Public Utilities Article.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-311" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>This section does not apply to prepaid wireless telecommunications service.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>In addition to the State 9–1–1 fee, the governing body of each county, by ordinance or resolution enacted or adopted after a public hearing, may impose a county 9–1–1 fee to be added to all current bills rendered for switched local exchange access service or CMRS or other 9–1–1–accessible service in the county.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to paragraphs (3) through (6) of this subsection, the county 9–1–1 fee imposed by a county may not exceed 75 cents per month for each switched local exchange access service, CMRS, or other 9–1–1–accessible service provided.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If revenues attributable to the county 9–1–1 fee for a fiscal year do not provide the revenues necessary to cover a county’s operational costs for the 9–1–1 system for that fiscal year, the county may, for the following fiscal year, impose a county 9–1–1 fee sufficient to cover the county’s projected operational costs for the 9–1–1 system for the fiscal year for each switched local exchange access service, CMRS, or other 9–1–1–accessible service provided.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Except as provided in paragraphs (4) through (6) of this subsection, if a service provider provisions to the same individual or person the voice channel capacity to make more than one simultaneous outbound call from a 9–1–1–accessible service, each separate outbound call voice channel capacity, regardless of the technology, shall constitute a separate 9–1–1–accessible service for purposes of calculating the county 9–1–1 fees due under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>CMRS provided to multiple devices that share a mobile telephone number shall be treated as a single 9–1–1–accessible service for purposes of calculating the county 9–1–1 fees due under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>A broadband connection not used for telephone service may not constitute a separate voice channel capacity for purposes of calculating the county 9–1–1 fees due under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="6"> <level label="i"> <text>For a telephone service that provides, to multiple locations, shared simultaneous outbound voice channel capacity configured to provide local dial in different states or counties, the voice channel capacity to which the 9–1–1 fee due under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection applies is only the portion of the shared voice channel capacity in the county identified by the service supplier’s books and records.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>In determining the portion of shared capacity in the county, a service supplier may rely on, among other factors, a customer’s certification of the customer’s allocation of capacity in the county, which may be based on:</text> <level label="1"> <text>each end user location;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the total number of end users; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the number of end users at each end user location.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="7"> <text>The amount of the county 9–1–1 fees may not exceed a level necessary to cover the total eligible maintenance and operation costs of the county.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The county 9–1–1 fee continues in effect until repealed or modified by a subsequent county ordinance or resolution.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>After imposing, repealing, or modifying a county 9–1–1 fee, the county shall certify the amount of the county 9–1–1 fee to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the Public Service Commission;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the Board; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>no later than 60 days before the implementation of the change, the Comptroller.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The Public Service Commission shall direct each telephone company that provides service in a county that imposed a county 9–1–1 fee to add, within 60 days, the full amount of the county 9–1–1 fee to all current bills rendered for switched local exchange access service in the county.</text> </level> <level label="g"> <text>Within 60 days after a county enacts or adopts an ordinance or resolution that imposes, repeals, or modifies a county 9–1–1 fee, each 9–1–1 service carrier that provides service in the county shall add the full amount of the county 9–1–1 fee to all current bills rendered for CMRS or other 9–1–1–accessible service in the county.</text> </level> <level label="h"> <level label="1"> <text>Each telephone company and each 9–1–1 service carrier shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>act as a collection agent for the 9–1–1 Trust Fund with respect to the county 9–1–1 fee imposed by each county;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>collect the money from the county 9–1–1 fee on a county basis; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>remit all money collected to the Comptroller on a monthly basis.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Comptroller shall deposit the money remitted in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund account maintained for the county that imposed the county 9–1–1 fee.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-312" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>During each county’s fiscal year, the county may spend the amounts distributed to it from State 9–1–1 fee collections for the installation, enhancement, maintenance, and operation of a county or multicounty 9–1–1 system.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A county may not spend the amounts distributed to it from State 9–1–1 fee collections for any purpose associated with the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, maintenance and operation costs may include telephone company charges, equipment costs, equipment lease charges, repairs, utilities, personnel costs, and appropriate carryover costs from previous years.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>During a year in which a county raises its county 9–1–1 fee under § 1–311 of this subtitle, the county:</text> <level label="1"> <text>may use 9–1–1 trust funds only to supplement levels of spending by the county for 9–1–1 maintenance or operations; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>may not use 9–1–1 trust funds to supplant spending by the county for 9–1–1 maintenance or operations.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The Board shall provide for an audit of each county’s expenditures for the maintenance and operation of the county’s 9–1–1 system.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If an audit performed in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection determines that a county has utilized 9–1–1 trust funds for purposes other than those authorized under this subtitle, the governing body of the county shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>submit to the Board a report that includes an explanation for the diversion of 9–1–1 trust funds for unauthorized purposes and details the steps taken by the county to ensure that the diversion of 9–1–1 trust funds does not occur in the future; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>restore the diverted funds to the county’s 9–1–1 budget within that fiscal year.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>For a county without an operational Phase II wireless enhanced 9–1–1 system within the time frames established by the Board under § 1–306(b)(6) of this subtitle, the Board shall adopt procedures, to take effect on or after January 1, 2006, to assure that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the money collected from the county 9–1–1 fee and distributed to the county is expended during the county’s fiscal year as follows:</text> <level label="1"> <text>for a 9–1–1 system in a county or a multicounty area with a population of 100,000 individuals or fewer, a maximum of 85% may be spent for personnel costs; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>for a 9–1–1 system in a county or multicounty area with a population of over 100,000 individuals, a maximum of 70% may be spent for personnel costs; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the total amount collected from the State 9–1–1 fee and the county 9–1–1 fee shall be expended only for the installation, enhancement, maintenance, and operation of a county or multicounty system.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Board may grant an exception to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection in extenuating circumstances.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>A county with an operational Phase II wireless enhanced 9–1–1 system is exempt from the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-313" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Consumer” means a person that purchases prepaid wireless telecommunications service in a retail transaction.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Provider” means a person that provides prepaid wireless telecommunications service under a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>“Retail transaction” means the purchase of prepaid wireless telecommunications service from a seller for any purpose other than resale.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>There is a prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee of 60 cents per retail transaction.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>The prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee shall be collected by the seller from the consumer for each retail transaction in the State.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee collected by the seller under this section is not subject to the sales and use tax under the Tax – General Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A retail transaction occurs in the State if:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the sale or recharge takes place at the seller’s place of business located in the State;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the consumer’s shipping address is in the State; or</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>no item is shipped, but the consumer’s billing address or the location associated with the consumer’s mobile telephone number is in the State.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The amount of the prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee shall be disclosed to the consumer at the time of the retail transaction.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee is the liability of the consumer and not of the seller or of any provider.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The seller is liable for remitting all prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fees that the seller collects from consumers as provided in this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>Before December 28, 2013, a seller may deduct and retain 50% of prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fees collected from consumers for direct start–up costs.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>On or after December 28, 2013, a seller may deduct and retain 3% of prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fees collected from consumers.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>A seller shall report and remit to the Comptroller all prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fees collected by the seller in the manner provided for the remitting of the sales and use tax under Titles 11 and 13 of the Tax – General Article.</text> </level> <level label="h"> <text>The Comptroller shall deposit all reported and remitted prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fees into the 9–1–1 Trust Fund within 30 days of receipt.</text> </level> <level label="i"> <text>A seller may demonstrate that a sale is not a retail transaction in a manner established by the Comptroller that is substantially similar to the procedures for demonstrating a resale for exemption from the sales and use tax under Titles 11 and 13 of the Tax – General Article.</text> </level> <level label="j"> <text>For the purpose of this section, the audit and appeal procedures established for the sales and use tax under Titles 11 and 13 of the Tax – General Article apply.</text> </level> <level label="k"> <text>A seller that is not a provider of prepaid wireless telecommunications service is not liable for damages in connection with:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the provision of, or failure of, 9–1–1 or E 9–1–1 service;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>identifying, or failing to identify, the telephone number, address, location, or name associated with any person or device that is accessing or attempting to access 9–1–1 or E 9–1–1 service; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the provision of any lawful assistance to any investigative or law enforcement officer.</text> </level> </level> <level label="l"> <text>Providers and sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service have the same immunity from liability for transmission failures as that approved by the Public Service Commission for local exchange telephone companies that are subject to regulation by the Commission under the Public Utilities Article.</text> </level> <level label="m"> <text>A tax, a fee, a surcharge, or any other charge may not be imposed by the State, any political subdivision of the State, or any intergovernmental agency, for E 9–1–1 funding purposes, on any provider, seller, or consumer with respect to the sale, purchase, use, or provision of prepaid wireless telecommunications service.</text> </level> <level label="n"> <text>The Comptroller shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-314" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <level label="a"> <text>In this section, “multiple–line telephone system” means a system that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>consists of common control units, telephone sets, control hardware and software, and adjunct systems, including network and premises–based systems; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>is designed to aggregate more than one incoming voice communication channel for use by more than one telephone.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person that installs or operates a multiple–line telephone system shall ensure that the system is connected to the public switched telephone network in such a way that when an individual using the system dials 9–1–1, the call connects to the public safety answering point without requiring the user to dial any other number or set of numbers.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A unit of the Executive Branch of State government shall comply with paragraph (1) of this subsection on the date that the multiple–line telephone system of the unit is next upgraded.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle and except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a county’s or municipality’s designee shall be responsible for enforcing subsection (b) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>In the absence of a county– or municipality–designated enforcement unit, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, including the State Fire Marshal, an assistant State fire marshal, or a special assistant State fire marshal, shall be responsible for enforcing subsection (b) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>Each county or municipality may set a fine or series of fines to be issued to a person that violates subsection (b) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Revenue collected under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be returned to the county or municipality taking the enforcement action.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>When a county submits a request for disbursements from the 9–1–1 Trust Fund in accordance with § 1–309 of this subtitle, the county shall submit to the Board a certification of the enforcement actions taken by the county under this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-315" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System"> <text>An emergency services Internet Protocol network provider and a core service provider of Next Generation 9–1–1 services have the same immunity from liability for transmission failures as that approved by the Public Service Commission for local exchange telephone companies, or for a provider of telecommunications services through evolving technology, that are subject to regulation by the Commission under the Public Utilities Article.</text> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-3A-01" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3A"> <level label="a"> <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Artificial intelligence” has the meaning stated in § 3.5–801 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Board” means the Maryland 3–1–1 Oversight Board established under § 1–3A–02 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Chatbot” means a computer program available through a phone number, a website, or an application that simulates human conversation through text or voice, using artificial intelligence to respond to typed questions using information from curated, agency–approved sources such as government websites, service catalogs, ordinances, forms, and geographic information system layers.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>“Program” means the 3–1–1 Program established under § 1–3A–04 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>“3–1–1 system” means a telephone service or other technology used to access a local government service line, designed for reporting and resolving community infrastructure and service issues on a nonemergency basis.</text> </level> <level label="g"> <text>“Voicebot” means a computer program available through a phone number that simulates human conversation using artificial intelligence technology that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>responds to vocal questions over the phone using information from curated, agency–approved sources such as government websites, service catalogs, ordinances, forms, and geographic information system layers; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>routes calls to appropriate destinations.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-3A-02" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3A"> <level label="a"> <text>There is a Maryland 3–1–1 Oversight Board in the Maryland Information Network.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Board consists of:</text> <level label="1"> <text>two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the following members appointed by the Governor:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a person with expertise in artificial intelligence;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a person with expertise in geographic information systems; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>a member of the general public to serve as the chair of the Board; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>one representative from each of the following:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the Maryland Information Network;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the Maryland Department of Information Technology;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the Maryland Department of Emergency Management;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>the Maryland Department of Aging;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>the Maryland Department of Disabilities;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>the Maryland 9–1–1 Board;</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>the Maryland Association of Counties;</text> </level> <level label="viii"> <text>the Maryland Municipal League;</text> </level> <level label="ix"> <text>a county in the State that is not participating in the Program under § 1–3A–04 of this subtitle and does not have an existing 3–1–1 system;</text> </level> <level label="x"> <text>a county in the State that is not participating in the Program under § 1–3A–04 of this subtitle and has an existing 3–1–1 system;</text> </level> <level label="xi"> <text>a county in the State that is participating in the Program under § 1–3A–04 of this subtitle and does not have an existing 3–1–1 system; and</text> </level> <level label="xii"> <text>a county in the State that is participating in the Program under § 1–3A–04 of this subtitle and has an existing 3–1–1 system.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The terms of the members described in subsection (b)(1), (2), and (4)(ix) through (xii) of this section shall terminate after the Board submits the report required under § 1–3A–05(b) of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Board shall meet at least four times per calendar year.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>For purposes of the Open Meetings Act, a project site visit or educational field tour may not be considered a meeting of the Board if no organizational business is conducted.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>A member of the Board:</text> <level label="1"> <text>may not receive compensation as a member of the Board; but</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>The Maryland Information Network shall provide staff to the Board.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-3A-03" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3A"> <level label="a"> <text>The Board shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>designate counties to participate in the Program;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>establish evaluation criteria for the Program;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>review vendor applications submitted to the Board by the Maryland Information Network under § 1–3A–04(d) of this subtitle and select a vendor;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>ensure 3–1–1 systems align with best practices for technology, accessibility, and equity;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>approve and coordinate statewide marketing strategies for the Program under this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>implement the Program;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>establish memorandums of understanding with counties, utilities, and other stakeholders to ensure interoperability; and</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>develop a set of unified statewide data standards for 3–1–1 systems.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Marketing strategies approved under this section shall be:</text> <level label="1"> <text>accessible;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>multilingual; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>culturally competent.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-3A-04" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3A"> <level label="a"> <text>The Board shall establish a 3–1–1 Program.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The purpose of the Program is to evaluate and expand the use of 3–1–1 systems in the State.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The Board shall designate two counties that have 3–1–1 systems and two counties that do not have 3–1–1 systems to participate in the Program.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A county designated under paragraph (1) of this subsection may choose not to participate in the Program by submitting a letter to the Board within 14 days after the county’s designation stating the reason for not participating.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Board shall require the Maryland Information Network to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>solicit requests for proposals from vendors for technology platforms and other services necessary to run 3–1–1 systems for the Program; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>submit a list of possible vendors to the Board.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>On or before June 30, 2027, the Board shall establish a chatbot in each county designated by the Board under subsection (c) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each chatbot shall include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>multilingual support;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>integration with geographic information system data for accurate routing; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>clear escalation protocols to route complex requests to live agents.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <level label="i"> <text>Each county participating in the Program shall designate the sources a chatbot may use in responding to questions.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <level label="1"> <text>The vendor of the 3–1–1 system chosen to host a chatbot shall analyze the performance of the chatbot based on user feedback regarding accuracy of chatbot responses.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="A"> <text>The vendor shall investigate an answer that a user designates as inaccurate.</text> </level> </level> <level label="B"> <text>If the source is determined to be inaccurate, the agency operating the source webpage shall update it to become accurate.</text> </level> </level> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>On or before December 1, 2027, the Board shall establish a voicebot in each participating county.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each voicebot shall include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>multilingual support;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the ability to transfer calls to 9–1–1, 2–1–1, and 9–8–8, as needed;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>integration with geographic information system data for accurate routing; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>clear escalation protocols to route complex requests to live agents.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The vendor of the 3–1–1 system chosen to host a voicebot shall analyze the performance of the voicebot in the same way as the chatbot under subsection (e)(3)(ii) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>On or before July 1, 2028, the Board shall implement the Program according to the plan submitted under § 1–3A–05(b) of this subtitle.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-3A-05" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3A"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>On or before December 1, 2027, the Board, in consultation with the Maryland Information Network, shall submit a report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on the progress of the Program.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The report required under this subsection shall include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the number of 3–1–1 calls and requests aggregated by county;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the subject matter and type of issues raised by users;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>how a call or request is addressed, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>information provided to the caller;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the number of calls or requests transferred to other systems, including 9–1–1, 2–1–1, 9–8–8, and local 3–1–1; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>whether a service request ticket is created;</text> </level> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>service delivery options that maintain flexibility for the county;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>estimates of a county’s costs and savings for implementation of the Program;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>user satisfaction;</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>accessibility of the 3–1–1 system;</text> </level> <level label="viii"> <text>costs saved by each participating county, if any;</text> </level> <level label="ix"> <text>an evaluation of the integration of the chatbots and voicebots into each participating county; and</text> </level> <level label="x"> <text>recommendations for improvement.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>On or before July 1, 2028, the Board, in consultation with the Maryland Information Network, shall submit a report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>evaluates the implementation of the Program including:</text> <level label="i"> <text>cost effectiveness of the chatbot and voicebot;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>equity in service access;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>challenges of integrating the chatbot and voicebot into county systems;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>user satisfaction; and</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>call volume data for 9–1–1 in the Program counties; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>creates a comprehensive implementation plan to expand the Program to each county in the State and includes service delivery options that maintain implementation flexibility for the county.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>After the completion and submission of the report required under subsection (b) of this section, each county may determine the scope and manner of its participation in the Program.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-3A-06" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3A"> <text>Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>require the replacement or preemption of any operations or functions of an existing 3–1–1 system in the State; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>prohibit a county that has chosen not to participate in the Program under § 1–3A–04(c)(2) of this subtitle from subsequently choosing to participate in the Program.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-401" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Sexual Offender Advisory Board"> <level label="a"> <text>There is a Sexual Offender Advisory Board.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Board consists of the following members:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or the Secretary’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the Secretary of Juvenile Services, or the Secretary’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>a representative of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, designated by the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>the Chairman of the Maryland Parole Commission, or the Chairman’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>the Director of the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository, or the Director’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>the Director of the Behavioral Health Administration of the Maryland Department of Health, or the Director’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>the Secretary of State Police, or the Secretary’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, or the Executive Director’s designee; and</text> </level> <level label="10"> <text>the following members, appointed by the Governor:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a representative from a victims’ advocacy organization or victim service provider with recognized expertise in sexual abuse and victimization;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a licensed mental health professional with recognized expertise in the treatment of sexual offenders;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>a State’s Attorney with expertise in the prosecution of sexual and child abuse crimes;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>an assistant public defender with expertise in the defense of sexual and child abuse crimes;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>a representative of a local law enforcement unit with expertise in the investigation of sexual and child abuse crimes;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>a representative from a child advocacy center with recognized expertise in sexual abuse and victimization; and</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>two citizen members.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The term of a member appointed by the Governor is 4 years.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on October 1, 2010.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>At the end of a term an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>A member whose term has expired may be reappointed to the Board.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>A Board member:</text> <level label="1"> <text>may not receive compensation for serving on the Board; but</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Governor shall select a chairman from among the Board’s members.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>A majority of the Board’s members constitutes a quorum.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Board may adopt rules for conducting business.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Board shall meet at least twice annually at the times and places determined by the Board.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>The Board shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>in collaboration with the Division of Parole and Probation, develop criteria for measuring a person’s risk of reoffending to assist the court in determining whether a person may be appropriately released from supervision under §§ 11–723 and 11–724 of the Criminal Procedure Article;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>review the effectiveness of the State’s laws and practices concerning sexual offenders, including:</text> <level label="i"> <text>sexual offender registration and monitoring requirements; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>community notification requirements;</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>review the laws and practices of other states and jurisdictions concerning sexual offenders;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>review practices and procedures of the Maryland Parole Commission and the Division of Parole and Probation concerning supervision and monitoring of sexual offenders;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>review developments and make recommendations for the treatment, management, and assessment of sexual offenders, including:</text> <level label="i"> <text>existing and emerging technology for the tracking of sexual offenders;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>civil commitment of sexual offenders;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>existing and emerging technology for the treatment of sexual offenders; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>best practices for lowering recidivism rates and protecting the public;</text> </level> </level> <level label="6"> <text>develop standards for the certification of sexual offender treatment providers based on current and evolving evidence–based practices and make recommendations for a statewide certification process;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>make recommendations to the Division of Parole and Probation for training sexual offender management teams; and</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>consider ways to increase cooperation among states with regard to sexual offender registration and monitoring.</text> </level> </level> <level label="h"> <text>On or before December 31, 2010, and every year thereafter, the Board shall report the findings and recommendations of the Board to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.</text> </level> <level label="i"> <text>Each unit of State and local government shall cooperate with the Board.</text> </level> <level label="j"> <text>The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services shall provide staff to the Board.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-501" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board"> <level label="a"> <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Board” means the Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“System” means the Statewide Public Safety Interoperability Radio System, also known as Maryland First (first responder interoperable radio system team), that provides interoperable radio communications to first responders in the State.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“User” means a State, federal, county, or municipal agency that has established interoperability with the System and operates on the System as its primary means of daily radio communication.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-502" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board"> <level label="a"> <text>There is a Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board in the Department of Information Technology.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Board consists of the following members:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the Secretary of Information Technology, or the Secretary’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the Secretary of State Police, or the Secretary’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the Director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, or the Director’s designee;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>the State Interoperability Director;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>the Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, or the Director’s designee; and</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>five members appointed by the Governor who represent local governmental entities that are either users of or contributors to the System.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>In selecting representatives of local governmental entities under subsection (b)(7) of this section, the Governor shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>appoint members who represent the interoperability regions of the State with expertise in public safety and communications issues relevant to varied locations;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>consult with the Maryland Association of Counties, the Maryland Municipal League, and appropriate local public safety organizations and professionals; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>give primary consideration to State agencies and local governments that have adopted the System as a primary platform for their public safety communications needs.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The term of a member appointed by the Governor is 4 years and shall begin on June 1.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on June 1, 2014.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>If a vacancy occurs after a term has begun, the Governor shall appoint a successor to represent the organization or group in which the vacancy occurs.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>A member may be reappointed for a second 4–year term at the request of the Governor.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Secretary of Information Technology or the Secretary’s designee shall serve as the chair of the Board.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The Board shall meet as necessary, but at least once each quarter.</text> </level> <level label="g"> <text>A member of the Board:</text> <level label="1"> <text>may not receive compensation as a member of the Board; but</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.</text> </level> </level> <level label="h"> <text>The Department of Information Technology shall provide staff to the Board, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a director of the Board who is responsible for the daily operation of the Board; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>staff to handle the increased duties related to completion and maintenance of the System.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="1-503" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board"> <level label="a"> <text>The Board shall coordinate the operation and maintenance of a Statewide Public Safety Interoperability Radio System.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Board’s responsibilities include:</text> <level label="1"> <text>establishing standard operating procedures, quality of service standards, and maintenance guidelines for the System;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>establishing working groups of the System’s users, including:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a System Managers Committee to advise on technical system issues, such as upgrades, security, and enhancements; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a System Users Committee to advise on operational issues, such as standard operating procedures, performance, and usage of resources;</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>approving the addition of new System users and the removal of existing users;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>coordinating participatory, collaborative, or reciprocal relationships with local governments, including establishing procedures for:</text> <level label="i"> <text>requests to become part of the System by local governmental entities;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>collaboration or sharing in the purchase, operation, or use of equipment or by the System infrastructure currently used by local governmental entities; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>review and approval of any requests or arrangements sought under this item;</text> </level> </level> <level label="5"> <text>resolving any conflicts among System users relating to the operation, maintenance, or improvement of the System that cannot be resolved under the standard operating procedures;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>reviewing the annual cost estimation provided by the Director of the Board;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>recommending to the Governor and the General Assembly funding and resource levels for System operation and maintenance;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>advising the Governor and General Assembly on resources needed for appropriate operation and expansion to meet service needs for public safety communications statewide; and</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>negotiating agreements with federal agencies, surrounding states, or the District of Columbia for the use of the System.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Board shall continue to receive guidance and input from the bodies currently constituted under Executive Order 01.01.2008.07, including the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) for as long as the Executive Order is in effect.</text> </level> </section>