Authorizes the imposition of a wireless surcharge in certain counties

BILL NUMBER:S5503

Title of bill

An act to amend the county law, in relation to wireless surcharges in certain counties

Purpose

This bill would authorize counties that currently do not impose a wireless surcharge the ability to do so for the purpose of providing and expanding vital emergency services within such counties and expands the definition of eligible wireless 911 service costs.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends the County Law by adding a new section 308-y to allow the counties in the State that have not established a wireless surcharge, to adopt, amend or repeal local laws through its local county legislative body to impose a surcharge for the purpose of providing and expanding E-911 emergency services, in an amount not to exceed thirty cents per month on wireless communications service in the county.

Paragraph 2 relates to providing written notice forty five days prior to the imposition of the surcharge.

Paragraph 3 relates to the wireless communication service supplier obligations.

Paragraph 4 relates to how the surcharge monies are to be expended for purposes of design, installation, operation, or maintenance of a system to provide enhanced wireless 911 service.

Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision 16 of section 325 of the County Law to expand the definition of "eligible wireless 911 service costs" to include operation costs.

Section 3 provides that this bill take effect immediately.

Justification

This bill would authorize the ten counties which currently do not impose a 30 cent surcharge the ability to do so. This legislation would assist counties in paying for costs associated with providing wireless 911 emergency services within their boundaries. Revenues generated by the wireless surcharge will help defray local costs imposed on providing E-911 wireless services, which would allow an individual the ability to connect to public safety answering points when E911 is dialed. More than half of the counties in New York have obtained State legislation authorizing the imposition of a surcharge not to exceed thirty cents per month on wireless communications service within each county and have utilized the revenue derived from such authority to enhance this vitally important service.

Legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

This bill would provide revenue to those counties that currently do not impose a wireless surcharge.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.