NCJ Number
67622
Date Published
Unknown
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS SUMMARY PROVIDES A NATIONAL PICTURE OF THE STATUS OF STATEWIDE 911 LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES AS REFLECTED IN THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE'S SURVEY CONDUCTED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1973 AND JANUARY 1974.
Abstract
ONLY 10 PERCENT OF THE STATES HAD ENACTED 911 LEGISLATION, AND ONLY CALIFORNIA HAD PASSED COMPREHENSIVE 911 LEGISLATION. IN 26 PERCENT OF THE STATES, LEGISLATION WAS BEING CONSIDERED OR PROPOSED, AND 64 PERCENT OF THE STATES HAD SPONSORED SOME 911-RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITIES INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING 911, NEGOTIATIONS WITH TELEPHONE COMPANIES, ETC. MOST STATES WERE EAGER TO IMPLEMENT 911 THROUGH ADMINSTRATIVE CHANNELS, BUT DID NOT ACHIEVE STATEWIDE LEGISLATION AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THUS, THE INTEREST OUTPACED THE ACTIVITY AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY. TELEPHONE COMPANIES APPARENTLY PLAYED A KEY ROLE, EITHER BY ENCOURAGING STATE ADMINISTRATORS (E.G., IN HAWAII) OR BY DISCOURAGING THEM BY INDICATING THAT 911 WOULD BE TOO COSTLY. IT WAS PROJECTED THAT BY THE END OF THE DECADE MOST STATES WOULD BECOME COMMITTED, BOTH LEGISLATIVELY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY, TO A STATEWIDE 911 SYSTEM. THE PROCESS WOULD BE SPEEDED UP IF FEDERAL LEGISLATION MADE 911 A PREREQUISITE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE HEALTH OR LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELDS, OR IF FEDERAL MONEY WAS MADE AVAILABLE DIRECTLY FOR 911. THE NATIONAL SURVEY IS APPENDED.