NY, RI Lawmakers Revive Bills to End 911 Fee Diversions
Legislators in two states said to divert large amounts of 911 fees for unrelated purposes are reviving bills meant to stop the practice. A New York state senator Wednesday reintroduced a bill to stop fund diversion in the state, including…
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using 911 fees on consumer bills to pay for things not directly related. New York diverted 41.6 percent of 911 revenue, or $77.3 million, to the state’s general fund in 2014, the FCC reported last year (see 1605270020). State Sen. Daniel Squadron (D) introduced SB-486 Wednesday, modeled after a bill that died in the previous session (see 1606240020). “The legislature shall not divert revenues derived from taxes and fees paid by the public into any dedicated fund for purposes other than those for which that fund was intended,” the bill said. “The only instance in which dedicated revenues may be diverted shall be upon declaration of a fiscal emergency by the governor, which shall be accompanied by a diversion impact statement.” Meanwhile, Rhode Island State Rep. Robert Lancia (R) told us Wednesday he will soon reintroduce his failed bill to stop 911 fee diversion in the state. Rhode Island diverted 69.5 percent, or $12.3 million, of 911 revenue in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, the FCC reported. Most went to the state’s general fund and some to its information technology fund, it said. Asked what he will do differently this session to achieve the bill’s passage, Lancia replied, “I am going to need folks to testify.” Top 911 associations have sought to raise awareness about state 911 fee diversion, which the FCC estimated led to $223.4 million of 911 fee revenue going to other purposes in 2014 (see 1605310046).