SB2860 - Relating to the emergency service fee collected by a wireless service provider.

      By: Miles S.B. No. 2860               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the emergency service fee collected by a wireless   service provider          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 771.0711, Health and Safety, is amended   by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding subsections   (c-1), (c-2), and (c-3) to read as follows:          (a) To provide for automatic number identification an   automatic location identification of wireless 9-1-1 calls and to   support the deployment and reliable operation of next generation   9-1-1 service , the commission shall impose on each wireless   telecommunications connection a 9-1-1 emergency service fee. A   political subdivision may not impose another fee on a wireless   service provider or subscriber for 9-1-1 emergency service.          (b) A wireless service provider shall collect the fee in an   amount equal to 50 cents a month with an adjustment on January 1 of   each odd numbered year of not more than one half of the actual total   percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban   Consumers (CPI-U), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics   of the United States Department of Labor, from the effective date   of this subsection  for each wireless telecommunications connection   from its subscribers and shall pay the money collected to the   comptroller not later than the 30th say after the last day of the   month during which the fees were collected. The comptroller may   establish alternative dates for payment of fees under this section.   The wireless service provider may retain an administrative fee of   one percent of the amount collected. The comptroller shall deposit   the money from the dees to the credit of the 9-1-1 services fee   account. Until deposited to the credit of the 9-1-1 services fee   account as required by Subsection (c), money the comptroller   collects under this subsection remains in a trust fund in the state   treasury.          (c)  Money collected under Subsection (b) may be used only :                 (1)   for services related to 9-1-1 services, including   automatic number identification and automatic location information   services ;                 (2)     to support the deployment and reliable operation   of next generation 9-1-1 service; [ , ] or                 (3)   as authorized by Section 771.079(c).           (c-1) Except as provided by Subsection (c-2), not [ Not ] later   than the 15th day after the end of the month in which the money is   collected under Subsection (b) , the commission shall distribute to   each emergency communication district that does not participate in   the state system a portion of the money that bears the same   proportion to the total amount collected that the population of the   area served by the district bears to the population of the state.           (c-2)   For each emergency communication district created   under Chapter 772 entitled to a portion of the money distributed   under Subsection (c-1), the commission shall:                 (1)     reduce the portion to which the district is   entitled by an amount equal to three percent of the portion and   distribute that amount in equal shares to all the emergency   communication districts created under Chapter 772; and                 (2)     distribute to the district the remainder of the   portion to which the district is entitled under Subsection (c-1)   that is not distributed under Subdivision (1).           (c-3)   The remaining money collected under Subsection (b)   that is not otherwise distributed under Subsection (c-1) or (c-2)   shall be deposited to the 9-1-1 services fee account.          SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply   beginning with the state fiscal biennium that begins September 1,   2025.          SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.