Item 5: Ratification of IGR Actions

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declaring the Emergency Communications Account a trust account to be used only for the purposes it is intended. The Legislature could not divert the money away from local emergency communications HB 2415 Relating Clause: Relating to 9-1-1 emergency reporting system. Title:Establishes alternative methods for telecommunications provider to satisfy requirement to collect and remit tax on customer access to 9-1-1 emergency reporting system from prepaid telecommunications service customers. Defines terms. Applies to monthly periods of telecommunications service that begin on or after January 1, 2015. Sponsored by: Representative Matthews; REGULAR SPONSORS: Representative Clem, Representative Hoyle, Senator Roblan (Presession Filed) URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/13reg/measpdf/hb2400.dir/hb2415.intro.pdf Contact Respondent Dept Updated Priority Recommendation Larry Hill CS-FIN Pri 1 Support Comments: This is an LOC priority. HB 2415 would amend the existing 911 telecommunications tax to also apply to prepaid phone cards providing access to 911 services. Eugene's Emergency Communications Fund depends upon a share of the State's 911 tax revenue, and would benefit from this change. The bill has LOC #1 support. HB 2454, HB 2415 & HB 2036 are similar bills. Pam Collett EPD-911 Comments: The need and importance of pre-paid wireless phones being included in the 9-1-1 tax cannot be stressed enough. The cellular phone market is swiftly shifting. Wireless customers no longer necessarily value contract plans, which are covered under the tax, and are moving at a high rate to pre-paid plans which are not. Because pre-paid plans are currently not integrated in the tax our State is being deprived of millions of dollars which is needed to not only fund the basic operations of our 9-1-1 Centers, but also to keep up with industry advances including Next Generation technology (NG or Next Gen). NG technology is coming. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management anticipates rolling out NG within the next 12 to 24 months. The added expense of adding NG capabilities is not going to be insignificant but it’s necessary. Our citizens expectthat they should be able to text 9-1-1 Centers as well as send pictures and documents. Adding pre-paid plans to the tax only makes sense as these new technologies emerge and citizens want to reach 9-1-1 services in a variety of ways. HB 2454 Relating Clause: Relating to tax for emergency communications; prescribing an effective date; providing for revenue raising that requires approval by a three-fifths majority. 3 | Page March 13, 2013 IGR Committee Meeting