Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 150 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Shallenberger, David

Final action

Governor Signed 3/25/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• prohibits nonvoting board members from attending closed portions of board meetings;
• changes the comprehensive strategic plan review cycle from annual to every three years;
• requires periodic review and updates of the statewide CAD-to-CAD protocol;
• removes the requirement that all public safety answering points in a county must qualify for a proportionate share of remaining funds for any public safety answering point in that county to receive funds; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

8
63H-7a-203
63H-7a-206
63H-7a-208
63H-7a-304.5
0
Emergency Communications Modifications
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: David Shallenberger
Senate Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to public safety answering point qualifications for 
proportionate share funding.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
prohibits nonvoting board members from attending closed portions of board meetings;
changes the comprehensive strategic plan review cycle from annual to every three years;
requires periodic review and updates of the statewide CAD-to-CAD protocol;
removes the requirement that all public safety answering points in a county must qualify 
for a proportionate share of remaining funds for any public safety answering point in 
that county to receive funds; and
makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63H-7a-203
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 357
63H-7a-206
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 357
63H-7a-208
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 21
63H-7a-304.5
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 357
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
63H-7a-203
 is amended to read:
63H-7a-203
. Board established -- Terms -- Vacancies.
(1)
There is created the Utah Communications Authority Board.
(2)
The board shall consist of nine voting board members and two nonvoting board 
members as follows:
(a)
as voting members:
(i)
three individuals appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the 
Senate;
(ii)
one individual who is not a legislator appointed by the speaker of the House of 
Representatives;
(iii)
one individual who is not a legislator appointed by the president of the Senate;
(iv)
two individuals nominated by an association that represents cities and towns in 
the state and appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; 
and
(v)
two individuals nominated by an association that represents counties in the state 
and appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; and
(b)
as nonvoting members, the chairs of the public safety advisory committee created in 
Section 
63H-7a-207
 and the PSAP advisory committee created in Section 
63H-7a-208
.
(3)
Subject to this section, an individual is eligible for appointment under Subsection (2) if 
the individual has knowledge of at least one of the following:
(a)
law enforcement;
(b)
public safety;
(c)
fire service;
(d)
telecommunications;
(e)
finance;
(f)
management; and
(g)
government.
(4)
An individual may not serve as a voting board member if the individual is a current 
public safety communications network:
(a)
user; or
(b)
vendor.
(5)
(a)
(i)
Five of the board members appointed under Subsection (2)(a) shall serve an 
initial term of two years and four of the board members appointed under 
Subsection (2)(a) shall serve an initial term of four years.
(ii)
Successor board members shall each serve a term of four years.
(b)
(i)
The governor may remove a board member with cause.
(ii)
If the governor removes a board member the entity that appointed the board 
member under Subsection (2)(a) shall appoint a replacement board member in the 
same manner as described in Subsection (2)(a).
(6)
(a)
The governor shall, after consultation with the board, appoint a voting board 
member as chair of the board.
(b)
The chair shall serve a two-year term.
(7)
The board shall meet on an as-needed basis and as provided in the bylaws.
(8)
(a)
The board shall elect one of the board members to serve as vice chair.
(b)
(i)
The board may elect a secretary and treasurer who are not members of the 
board.
(ii)
If the board elects a secretary or treasurer who is not a member of the board, the 
secretary or treasurer does not have voting power.
(c)
A separate individual shall hold the offices of chair, vice chair, secretary, and 
treasurer.
(9)
Except for the nonvoting members described in Subsection (2)(b), each board member, 
including the chair, has one vote.
(10)
A nonvoting member described in Subsection (2)(b) may not attend closed portions of 
board meetings.
(10)
(11)
A vote of a majority of the board members is necessary to take action on behalf 
of the board.
(11)
(12)
A board member may not receive compensation for the member's service on the 
board, but may, in accordance with rules adopted by the board in accordance with Title 
63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, receive:
(a)
a per diem at the rate established under Section 
63A-3-106
; and
(b)
travel expenses at the rate established under Section 
63A-3-107
.
Section 2, Section 
63H-7a-206
 is amended to read:
63H-7a-206
. Required annual reporting and strategic plan.
(1)
The authority shall create, maintain, and review 
annually 
a statewide, comprehensive 
multiyear strategic plan, in consultation with state and local stakeholders, the PSAP 
advisory committee, and the public safety advisory committee, that:
(a)
coordinates the authority's activities and duties in the:
(i)
911 Division;
(ii)
Radio Network Division;
(iii)
Interoperability Division; and
(iv)
Administrative Services Division; and
(b)
includes:
(i)
a plan for maintaining, upgrading, and expanding the public safety 
communications network, including microwave and fiber optics based systems;
(ii)
a plan for statewide interoperability;
(iii)
a plan for statewide coordination;
(iv)
radio network coverage maps; and
(v)
FirstNet standards.
(2)
The executive director shall update the strategic plan described in Subsection (1)
 every 
three years
 before July 1 
of each year
beginning July 1, 2025
.
(3)
The executive director shall, before December 1 of each year, report on the strategic 
plan described in Subsection (1) to:
(a)
the board;
(b)
the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee; 
(c)
the Legislative Management Committee; and
(d)
the Retirement and Independent Entities Interim Committee.
(4)
Each report described in Subsection (3) shall include a description of the authority's 
goals for implementation of the strategic plan and a progress report of accomplishments 
and updates to the strategic plan.
(5)
The authority shall consider the strategic plan described in Subsection (1) before 
spending funds in the restricted accounts created by this chapter.
(6)
(a)
Following the close of each fiscal year, the executive director shall submit and 
make available to the public an annual report of the authority's activities for the 
preceding year to the governor, the board, the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice 
Appropriations Subcommittee, the Legislative Management Committee, and the 
Retirement and Independent Entities Interim Committee.
(b)
Each report described in Subsection (6)(a) shall include:
(i)
the agency's complete operating and financial statement for the preceding fiscal 
year;
(ii)
the total aggregate surcharge collected by the state in the last fiscal year under 
Title 69, Chapter 2, Part 4, Prepaid Wireless Telecommunications Service 
Charges;
(iii)
the amount of each disbursement from the restricted accounts described in:
(A)
Section 
63H-7a-304
; and
(B)
Section 
63H-7a-403
;
(iv)
the recipient of each disbursement, the goods and services received, and a 
description of the project funded by the disbursement;
(v)
any conditions the authority placed on the disbursements from a restricted 
account;
(vi)
the anticipated expenditures from the restricted accounts described in this chapter 
for the next fiscal year;
(vii)
the amount of any unexpended funds carried forward; and
(viii)
other relevant justification for ongoing support from the restricted accounts 
created by:
(A)
Section 
63H-7a-304
; and
(B)
Section 
63H-7a-403
.
Section 3, Section 
63H-7a-208
 is amended to read:
63H-7a-208
. PSAP advisory committee.
(1)
There is established a PSAP advisory committee composed of nine members appointed 
by the board as follows:
(a)
one representative from a PSAP managed by a city;
(b)
one representative from a PSAP managed by a county;
(c)
one representative from a PSAP managed by a special service district;
(d)
one representative from a PSAP managed by the Department of Public Safety;
(e)
one representative from a PSAP from a county of the first class;
(f)
one representative from a PSAP from a county of the second class;
(g)
one representative from a PSAP from a county of the third or fourth class;
(h)
one representative from a PSAP from a county of the fifth or sixth class; and
(i)
one member from the telecommunications industry.
(2)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), each member shall be appointed to a 
four-year term beginning July 1, 2019.
(b)
Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a), the board shall:
(i)
at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure 
that the terms of committee members are staggered so that the terms of 
approximately half of the committee end every two years; and
(ii)
not reappoint a member for more than two consecutive terms.
(3)
If a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be 
appointed by the board for the unexpired term.
(4)
(a)
Each January, the committee shall organize and select one of its members as chair 
and one member as vice chair.
(b)
The committee may organize standing or ad hoc subcommittees, which shall operate 
in accordance with guidelines established by the committee.
(5)
(a)
The chair shall convene a minimum of four meetings per year.
(b)
The chair may call special meetings.
(c)
The chair shall call a meeting upon request of five or more members of the 
committee.
(6)
Five members of the committee constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and 
the action of a majority of the members present is the action of the committee.
(7)
A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service.
(8)
The PSAP advisory committee shall, on behalf of stakeholders, make recommendations 
to the director and the board regarding:
(a)
the authority operations and policies;
(b)
the 911 division and interoperability division strategic plans;
(c)
the operation, maintenance, and capital development of the public safety 
communications network;
(d)
the authority's administrative rules relative to the 911 division and the 
interoperability division; and
(e)
the development of minimum standards and best practices as described in Subsection 
63H-7a-302
(1)(a).
(9)
No later than September 30, 2020, the 
The 
PSAP advisory committee shall
 propose to 
the board a statewide CAD-to-CAD call handling and 911 call transfer protocol.
:
(a)
review and propose updates to the board regarding the statewide CAD-to-CAD call 
handling and 911 call transfer protocol at least every three years; and
(b)
propose updates to the protocol as needed to address technological changes or 
operational needs.
(10)
The chair of the PSAP advisory committee is a nonvoting member of the board.
(11)
(a)
The committee is not subject to Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings 
Act.
(b)
The committee shall:
(i)
at least 24 hours before a committee meeting, post a notice of the meeting, with a 
meeting agenda, on the authority's website;
(ii)
within 10 days after a committee meeting, post to the authority's website the 
audio and draft minutes of the meeting; and
(iii)
within three days after the committee approves minutes of a committee meeting, 
post the approved minutes to the authority's website.
(c)
The committee's vice chair is responsible for preparing minutes of committee 
meetings.
(12)
On or before December 31, 2024, the PSAP advisory committee shall coordinate with 
the State Bureau of Investigation to use the intelligence system described in Subsections 
53-10-302
(7) and (8) to:
(a)
establish the information a PSAP is required to submit to the intelligence system; and
(b)
create a format for submitting information.
Section 4, Section 
63H-7a-304.5
 is amended to read:
63H-7a-304.5
. Distributions from 911 account to qualifying PSAPs.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Certified statement" means a statement signed by a PSAP's director or other 
authorized administrator certifying the PSAP's compliance with the requirements of 
Subsection (2)(a).
(b)
"Fiscal year" means the period from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the following 
year.
(c)
"Proportionate share" means a percentage derived by dividing a PSAP's average 911 
call volume, as reported to the State Tax Commission under Section 
69-2-302
, for the 
preceding three years by the total of the average 911 call volume for the same 
three-year period for all PSAPs that have submitted a certified statement seeking a 
distribution of the applicable remaining funds.
(d)
"Qualifying PSAP" means a PSAP that:
(i)
meets the requirements of Subsection (2)(a) for the period for which remaining 
funds are sought; and
(ii)
submits a timely certified statement to the authority.
(e)
"Remaining funds" means the money remaining in the 911 account after deducting:
(i)
disbursements under Subsections 
63H-7a-304
(2)(a), (3), and (4);
(ii)
authority expenditures or disbursements in accordance with the authority's 
strategic plan, including expenditures or disbursements to pay for:
(A)
implementing, maintaining, or upgrading the public safety communications 
network or statewide 911 phone system; and
(B)
authority overhead for managing the 911 portion of the public safety 
communications network; and
(iii)
money that the board determines should remain in the 911 account for future use.
(f)
"Required transfer rate" 
meansa
means a
 transfer rate of no more than 2%.
(g)
"Transfer rate" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
69-2-204
.
(2)
(a)
To qualify for a proportionate share of remaining funds, a PSAP shall, for the 
period for which remaining funds are sought:
(i)
have answered:
(A)
90% of all 911 calls arriving at the PSAP within 15 seconds; and
(B)
95% of all 911 calls arriving at the PSAP within 20 seconds;
(ii)
have adopted and be using the statewide CAD-to-CAD call handling and 911 call 
transfer protocol adopted by the board under Subsection 
63H-7a-204
(17);
(iii)
have participated in the authority's annual interoperability exercise;
(iv)
have complied with the required transfer rate; and
(v)
be designated as an emergency medical service dispatch center according to 
Section 
26B-4-117
53-2d-403
.
(b)
A PSAP that seeks a proportionate share of remaining funds shall submit a certified 
statement to the authority no later than July 31 following the end of the fiscal year for 
which remaining funds are sought.
(c)
Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a)
:
,
(i)
a qualifying PSAP in a county with multiple PSAPs does not qualify for a 
proportionate share of remaining funds for a period beginning after June 30, 2023, 
unless every PSAP in that county is a qualifying PSAP; and
(ii)
a PSAP described in Subsection 
69-2-203
(5) does not qualify for remaining 
funds.
(3)
(a)
Subject to Subsection (3)(b), for PSAPs that have become qualifying PSAPs for 
the previous fiscal year the authority shall distribute to each qualifying PSAP that 
PSAP's proportionate share of the remaining funds.
(b)
The authority may not distribute more than 20% of remaining funds to any single 
PSAP.
(4)
All money that a PSAP receives under this section is subject to Section 
69-2-301
.
Section 5. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-6-25 1:22 PM