Excerpts from the Bellevillenews-democrat.com:

The Emergency Telephone Act, which has been in place to fund 911 services, is set to expire on July 1. This would mean the loss of funding for 911 call centers and the removal of the surcharge that currently supports their operations.

Senate Bill 1839 aims to extend the current law until the end of 2020. It also proposes increasing the monthly surcharge that phone owners pay for 911 services—from 87 cents to $1.50 across most of the state, and from $3.90 to $5 in Chicago. The bill was passed by both the House and Senate on May 31, showing strong bipartisan support with a vote of 81-27 in the House and 53-3 in the Senate.

However, Governor Bruce Rauner’s administration has expressed concerns over the surcharge increases, calling them too high. A memo from the governor’s energy and environment policy adviser to the statewide 911 administrator stated that the proposed increases were unacceptable and urged lawmakers to submit a revised version of the bill before the deadline.

Brett Reynolds, president of the Illinois Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, urged Governor Rauner to support the bill, emphasizing its importance for public safety. He pointed out that the legislation passed with broad support from both parties and is essential for maintaining and modernizing 911 systems across the state.

Thanks Dan

Excerpts from mysuburbanlife.com:

Public safety leaders are urging Governor Bruce Rauner to sign a bill that would raise phone fees across Illinois to help modernize the 911 emergency system. The initiative is seen as critical to upgrading outdated infrastructure and ensuring efficient emergency response.

Brent Reynolds, president of the Illinois Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Professionals, emphasized that the state is working to replace its 30-year-old 911 network with a more advanced system. “This upgrade is necessary to meet Next Generation 911 standards, including the ability to send text messages to 911,” he said during a press conference.

The bill would increase the 911 surcharge from 87 cents to $1.50 per month per device, adding about $7.56 annually per phone. In Chicago, the fee would rise from $3.90 to $5. These changes are intended to cover the costs of new technology and equipment needed for the updated system.

Linda Zerwin, executive director of the DuPage County Emergency Telephone System Board, highlighted the financial challenges faced by local governments. While the board receives about $8 million in surcharges annually, it operates on a budget of $28 million, with the rest coming from municipal and sheriff’s office funds.

Jason Heffley, the governor’s policy adviser for energy and environment, noted that Chicago has already seen two major surcharge increases in recent years. He also pointed out that the proposed rate hikes for the rest of the state exceed the $1.05 fee recommended by the 911 Advisory Board after a two-year study.

In addition to the surcharge changes, the bill would allow AT&T to stop offering landline service in Illinois, signaling a shift toward digital communication systems.

This update reflects ongoing efforts to improve emergency communications while balancing the needs of taxpayers and public safety officials. With the July 1 deadline approaching, the debate continues over how best to fund and modernize Illinois’ 911 system.

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