GREAT NEWS! Last night the U.S. House of Representatives passed S.800 by an overwhelming 424 – 2 margin. This legislation will now go to President Clinton’s desk for signature.

Posted bynena-9-1-1

 

On behalf of Bill Hinkle, NENA President and Mark Adams, ExecutiveDirector, I would like to THANK everyone who contacted Congress on behalf of this legislation. 

All your hard work paid off. 

If you would like to see a copy of S.800 please get on our web site atwww.nena.org. We now have it posted on the web. Once again thank you all for all of your work.


Anna Marie Batt
Resource Information Administrator
National Emergency Number Association


Dear NENA Board member,

The December issue of NENA News is quickly approaching. The deadline for 
articles is November 1 for technical articles, and November 17 for other 
articles.
Give me a call or send me an email if you have any questions! Thanks!

Sonya Carius
Communications Manager
National Emergency Number Association
(800) 332-3911

 

The Governor has exercised and Amendatory Veto.

This means that if the House and Senate agree with his amendments during 
the veto session HB1383 will become law.

If on the other hand the House and Senate desire they could override the 
Governors veto. This decision is not ours to become involved in. It is that 
of the sponsor of the bill and his colleges.

Our job is to continue to move forward and to play a positive role in the 
Board process when the law is enacted. Our message should continue to be 
Public Safety. We continue to work with the Governor, the sponsor of the 
Bill Rep. Black, our fellow Public Safety organizations and the wireless 
providers who supported HB1383.

I apologize for the error which indicated the Bill was dead unless it was 
overridden. It is not.

Norm Forshee

HB 1383

September 9, 1999

NAPERVILLE POLICE LENDING CELL PHONES
TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES


By John Chase
Tribune Staff Writer
September 09, 1999

They walk into the shiny lobby of the Naperville Police Department on what may be the worst days of their lives.

They are victims of violent crimes, such as domestic abuse, stalking or robbery and, for years, they have been making out police reports, talking to counselors and getting referrals on how to avoid being victims again.

Now some of them are being armed with a modern and unique tool: cell phones.

Naperville police have begun a program in which they will lend cellular phones to victims or threatened victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes.

Programmed to call only 911 and loaned out for a month at a time, the cell phones will allow residents who have legitimate concerns for their safety, but lack a telephone or cell phone, to immediately contact police in an emergency , Naperville police said.

“It seems everyone has a phone or cell phone these days, but from time to time we run into people who are victims of crime and don’t feel totally safe because they can’t call
the police,” said Lt. David Hilderbrand. “We thought this would be another tool to prevent crime and victimization.”

The program was started late last week and police have already loaned a phone to a woman, said Rochelle Northrup, a Naperville police counselor. Still, she said, police are not expecting a huge rush of people seeking the phones.

In fact, the department has only four phones set aside for the program, a number they feel will be more than enough to handle requests.

“It is based on need as to who will get these phones,” Northrup said.

“If someone has a phone in their house but doesn’t have a cell phone, they may still qualify if they spend a lot of time outside and are afraid of going inside. It’ll depend on the
situation.”

In most instances, Northrup said, it will likely be the police suggesting that the residents take the phone rather than the victims asking for them.

In addition, police and counselors will continue to talk to the victims and monitor how the situation is progressing.

If things are getting better, the victims may return the phones. If they are worse, they can renew them every 30 days.

“It’s not like we give them a phone and say, `Good luck,’ ” Hilderbrand said. “We’re with them throughout this thing.”

Naperville police had been working on the idea for weeks after officers and counselors on the department’s domestic violence team heard about a similar program in the Boston suburb of Malden, Mass.

They might not have had to look that far. In DuPage County, the sheriff’s department has been running a virtually identical program for two years with 17 phones that can call only 911 or the local domestic violence shelter, Family Shelter Service in Glen Ellyn.

Naperville authorities contacted MCI WorldCom, which donated the four cell phones and programmed them to ring 911.

Although Northrup concedes that someone could steal the phones, police are not too concerned.

“It could happen, but that’s not our main concern,” she said. “We know where the people live and we don’t think anybody’s going to do that.”


 August 8, 1999

Senate passes Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999

Click here to read the press release.

July 1, 1999

The wireless legislation HB1383 arrived on the governors desk on 6/21/99. He now has sixty days to sign it. If he does not sign it or veto it will automatically become law.

We have been told that Cellular provider is attempting to have our pending legislation vetoed and that they have engaged the services of a powerful lobbyist.

It would be beneficial if those of you who have not taken time to write the governor a letter supporting our legislation would do so.

Norm Forshee
Email – [email protected]

June 8, 1999

McLean County Illinois is accepting resumes for the position of Dispatch Operations Manager

McLean County Illinois is accepting resumes for the position of Dispatch Operations Manager to perform professional level supervisory and technical tasks involving routine daily operations of a multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency public safety 9-1-1 dispatch center. Must have knowledge of 911 systems, CAD, radio systems 800 MHz and VHF frequencies. Must be familiar with fire unit dispatch, law enforcement computer and EMD. Able to supervise dispatch staff of 24 and liaison between telecommunicators/supervisors and director. Work with citizens, vendors, and agencies served by the center. Excellent benefits including retirement, deferred compensation plans and health. Salary range $34,560-$50,112. Please apply by July 1, 1999. Questions or send resume to Metro McLean County Combined Communications Center (METCOM), 2411 East Empire St., Bloomington, IL. 6170-48200

 

May 20, 1999

This afternoon I was informed that HB 1383 was passed fromthe House Rules Committee to the House floor for a vote of concurrence. The bill was sentto the Governor’s desk by a vote of 102 ayes and 13 nays. It seems that we are inbusiness. However, we should not take for granted that the Governor will just sign thisinto law. I’m asking that EVERYONE send a letter to the Governor asking for him to signthe bill into law. It should be expressed that this is a Public Safety issue! The addressis as follows:

Governor George Ryan
State Capitol
Room 207
Springfield, IL 62706

FYI: His fax # is (217) 524-4049

If you have any questions please contact me.

Thank You,

Dave Whipple
President, INENA
[email protected]

May 14, 1999
HB 1383 Passes the Senate

AT APPROXIMATELY 3:15 P.M. THIS AFTERNOON A VOTE WAS TAKENON THE SENATE FLOOR ON HB 1383. THE VOTE WAS 43-AYE, 11-NAY, 1-PRESENT & 4-NOT VOTING.THE NUMBER OF VOTES NEED WAS 36. BELIEVE IT OR NOT THIS BILL HAS PASSED. IT WILL NOWRETURN TO THE HOUSE FOR A “VOTE TO CONCUR”. REPORTEDLY THIS IS NORMALLY AFORMALITY. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FIRST OF THE WEEK. ONCE THIS TAKES PLACE THE BILLIS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE. THE GOVERNOR CAN SIGN IT INTO LAW, SIGNAN AMENDATORY VETO, VETO IT OR DO NOTHING. IF HE CHOOSES THE LATTER AND DOES NOTHING ITWILL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME LAW AT THE END OF 30 DAYS.

THIS HAS BEEN AN AWFUL LONG ROAD. THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, DISAGREEMENTSAND A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT THROUGH THE YEARS. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT WE OWE ANUNMEASURABLE AMOUNT OF THANKS. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS GREG SULLIVAN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOROF THE ILLINOIS SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION. I WOULD ASK THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WRITE ALETTER TO YOUR SHERIFF TO COMMEND GREG FOR HIS HELP ON GETTING THIS BILL THROUGH THELEGISLATURE. IF IT WERE NOT FOR HIM THIS BILL WOULD BE DEAD IN THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE.SHERIFF JOHN ZARUBA, DUPAGE COUNTY. HE SPENT SEVERAL DAYS LOBBYING THE SENATE PRESIDENT,”PATE” PHILLIP. IF SENATOR PHILLIP HAD NOT NOT SUPPORTED AND PUSHED THIS BILL,AT SHERIFF ZARUBA’S URGING, IT WOULD HAVE DIED IN A SENATE COMMITTEE. NEITHER OF THESE MENWERE PAID FOR THEIR EFFORTS. THEY SPENT MANY LONG HOURS LOBBYING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO GETTHIS THING DONE. ANOTHER PERSON WE NEED TO THANK IS OUR NATIONAL NENA 2ND VICE PRESIDENTNORM FORSHEE. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE AND HIS STAFF DEVOTED TO THISPROJECT IS STAGGERING. HE WAS ALWAYS THERE WHEN SOMEONE WAS NEEDED TO HELP MOVE THIS THINGFORWARD. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WE OWE SENATOR BILL BLACK FROM DANVILLE A VOTE OFTHANKS FOR HIS SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIP OF HB 1383. IN THE SENATE WE OWE THE SAME VOTE OFTHANKS TO SENATOR JOHN MAITLAND OF MCLEAN & TAZWELL COUNTIES. WITHOUT THESE GENTLEMENTAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS AND HAVING THE GUTS TO SPONSOR THIS BILL , WE WOULD BE RIGHTBACK WHERE WE STARTED LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT AND THEYEAR———–.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR GIVING ME THE OPPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THISEFFORT. AT TIMES IT HAS BEEN SO DISHEARTENING I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO WALK AWAY. BUT,EVERYONE STUCK TOGETHER AND GOT THE JOB DONE!

ALL I CAN SAY IS “YO ADRIANNE, WE DID IT!!!”

THANKS,

Dave Whipple – [email protected]
President, INENA

Update from Wednesday May 5, 1999
State Capitol Senate Executive Committee Hearing.

If you will remember there was a hearing before the Senate Executive Committee last weekwherein Dave Tuttle and Greg Riddle testified. At the time of that hearing we were given alist of about 10 things that the Senate staff felt a need to address before thelegislation should pass from the committee to the 2nd reading in the Senate. In the weekfollowing that hearing the Senate staff was supposed to sit down with us to address those10 situations previously mentioned. It seems that everytime an attempt was made to meetwith the staff they were just too busy! Today about 15 (only 15) members of INENA and APCOmet at the Capitol at about 9am. Between 9am and the hearing at 1pm we met, eitherindividually or collectively, with about 20 different senators. Most of them said theysupported the legislation and would vote for it on the floor. We met with Senator Klemm,the Chairman of the Executive Committee. He was not very positive. He said the bill wasgoing to be put off until the Veto Session in the fall session. We more or less pleadedwith him to move the bill from committee to the 2nd reading in the Senate. He said hedidn’t think that was going to happen. We then met with the bill sponsor, John Maitland.He very sincerely said he strongly supports this bill. However, he did not feel there wasgoing to be enough time to address the outstanding issues, which almost exclusively dealwith the surcharge distribution, before the spring session was going to end. He said thatmost likely the bill would be held until the Veto Session. But, he said there was anoutside chance the time limit to pass the bill could be extended and the bill still couldpass.

We went to the hearing with very little hope that the bill would pass from the committeeto the 2nd reading. That’s when a sort of miracle happened. All of a sudden about 40Sheriffs, from all over the State, showed up for the hearing in full uniform. When thecommittee members walked into the room and saw all of these Sheriffs they were obviouslymoved. The different Sheriffs began pulling the Senators aside to tell them this billneeds to pass. These Sheriffs, without question, got their undivided attention. One of theminority (Democratic) Senators said the bill was not going to come up as it was not on thelist of bills to move. His Sheriff told him that if that happens it certainly isn’t goingto make anyone in the room very happy. There was a short conversation held betweenSenators Maitland and Klemm and Senate Staff Member Glen Hodas about HB 1383. Before thehearing started some of us were called to the front of the room and advised the bill wasgoing to be moved to 2nd reading pending amendment.

After a couple of bills were discussed Senator Maitland addressed the Committee Chairmanabout HB 1383. Senator Klemm said it was not supposed to come up. However, SenatorMaitland said that the bill could be moved to 2nd reading pending an amendment to beworked between lobbyists and staff. Senator Klemm agreed. The bill was voted on andunanimously passed to 2nd reading on the Senate floor. The 2nd reading is a process bywhich the bill is introduced to the Senate floor for a vote. The 3rd reading is the actualvote on the Senate floor. During this weekend and the first part of the week meetings aresupposed to be held to work out the problems the Senate Staff has with the bill as itexists. The bill can be amended and sent to a 3rd reading on the floor.

Now comes the catch. As President of INENA I was very disappointed in the member turnoutwe had for this hearing. We should have had so many people there they could not have allgotten into the hearing room. When 15 people show up it doesn’t say much for our desire toget the bill passed. Quite simply, if these Sheriffs had not been there we would belooking to the fall of the year like we have for the last 8 years. Some of us stumblearound the Capitol Building begging for an audience with these people. Then after we tellthem how much support we have 15 people show up at the hearing. The Senators look out atthe crowd and at the number of proponent slips turned in and just simply say, “YeahRight, See Ya in the Fall!”. After the hearing the Sheriff’s gathered up outside inthe hallway. They were told by their Chairman that there would be one more vote on thisbill. He told them they would be notified. When they are notified they are to come back tothe Capitol, in uniform, and they are to bring one more uniformed person with them. Thisis what the members of the House and Senate take notice of.

At the INENA General Membership Meeting Thursday it was decided that when I am informed ofthe day the bill will come up I will notify the Regional Vice Presidents via e-mail. Theyin turn will notify all of the members in their region of the time and date. This is areal simple matter, either everyone is interested enough in the passage of this bill toshow up or they aren’t. Individually everyone can make that decision!

Just a little food for thought. On the day the hearing was held the Governor was inSouthern Illinois informing the People he is planning to submit a $12 billion increase intaxes for infrastructure improvement. If this happens and our bill has not been passedluck won’t get this or any other tax passed for about the next 5 years, no matter what! Ifwe don’t pass this bill this time IT’S DEAD!

I’m sorry if I sound somewhat disgusted. But, the simple truth is, I AM!!!!!

HB 1383 Update April 30, 1999

Next Wednesday, May 5, 1999, the Illinois Senate ExecutiveCommittee is supposed to call HB1383 for a committee vote. The vote will either be to takethe bill to the Senate floor for a vote by the full Senate or to assign the bill to acommittee thereby assuring its death for this session of Congress. So that everyone knows,practically every sheriff in the State of Illinois will be present to support this billand to assure the bill is called for a vote by the committee. We need to have as manypublic safety personnel present, in uniform, as we can possibly get. If there are so manypeople present that it is impossible to get everyone in the room it just might make thecommittee members fully aware of what this bill means to the public safety community.

We are asking for as many people as possible to meet in the Capitol Rotunda, 1st floor at9:00 A.M. This will be a little early but we have to make a showing that will get theirattention. If you have never been there when a group is trying to get legislation passedit is like a circus. They show up by the busloads. Numbers are what these officials reactto.

All of the sheriffs may not be enough. We need every fire chief, police chief, dispatcher,calltaker, 911 equipment vendor and telco employee in the State of Illinois to be at theCapitol on that day.

Before next week you will probably see other messages like this one asking that you cometo this hearing. The message may be somewhat different but the information will be thesame.

Wireless 911 has been on the table for around 8 years. Never in those 8 years have we everbeen closer to getting a bill through than we are right now. This measure has already beenpassed by the House of Representatives. This hearing next week is the most critical pointin the life of this issue. If we don’t get them to vote in favor of sending the bill tothe floor for a full vote of the Senate, it is dead.

FYI, there is a businessman from Chicago who is represented by a very powerful attorneylobbyist, a former State Congressman, who stands to lose a very lucrative businessarrangement if this bill passes. He is in the business of having untrained and incompetentpeople answer wireless 911 calls from the entire collar county area, as well as, otherareas of the State where these calls are not answered at an authorized PSAP. You can betthey will not be sitting on their hands between now and next week. They will be calling inevery favor they are owed and I’m sure they will be handing a few out. Don’t let themoutgun us on this bill.

BE THERE!!!!!! WEDNESDAY MAY 5TH, 9:00 A.M. STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA, 1ST FLOOR

Dave Whipple – [email protected]
President, INENA

HB 1383 Update April 30, 1999

There was a hearing on our wireless legislation last Wedand after testimony was take the Exec. Committee held the bill until Wed 5/5/99 when theywill vote on it. Some of the comments we heard after the session indicated that some formof the bill will probably be voted to the Senate.

We are trying to organize a lot of support, in person forWed 5/5/99. My plan is to have everyone meeting in the Capitol Bldg on the third floor bythe rail, it goes around the center of the building. We would then split up and lobby ourSenators and those on the Exec. Comm.


At 1:00PM we would meet at the Senate Exec hearings and support our legislation. Themeeting will probably be at 1:00PM. I would like to see a strong show of support.

I would also like to thank Greg Riddle and Dave Tuttle for testifying last Wednesday.

By the way the Sheriffs and Police Chiefs will be holding their legislative day in theCapitol on the same day so we could have a large turn out.

Norm- [email protected]

HB 1383 Update April 23, 1999

The hearing for HB 1383 is scheduled for 1:00PM on 4/28/99(Wed) in Room 212 of the Capitol Bldg.

Be there. If you have a uniform, wear it.

Norm

 

HB 1383 Update April 21, 1999

Greg Sullivan advises that HB1383 has been sent to theSenate Executive Committee and will probably be heard this coming Tues or Wednesday. Hewants us there. The following is a list of the Senators on the Senate Executive Committee.If any of them represent your area please call and FAX them asking for thier support. Ifthey are not in your area you may also wish to contact them and ask for thier assistanceor contact your Senator and ask him/her to contact them. Please pass this information onto others.

Dick Klemm – Chair – McHenry County    Rep
Edward Petka – Will County Rep
Walter Dudycz – Chicago Rep
John Maitland – McLain Co. Rep
Pate Philip – Senate Pres. – DuPage – Rep
Frank Watson – Madison/ Clinton – Rep
Stanley Weaver – Urbana – Rep
Doris Karpiel – Roselle – Rep
Robert Molaro – Chicago – Dem
Evelyn Bowles – Madison Co – Dem
Miguel DelValle – Chicago – Dem
Vince Demuzio – Carlinville – Dem
Emil Jones – Chicago – Dem

Now is the time if there ever was one.

HB 1383 Update March 25th, 1999

HB 1383 was passed out of the House to the Senate where itwill be reviewed and hopefully passed. There may be a need for hearings and someadjustments may need to be made in order to get it passed out of the Senate. Ifadjustments are made and the Senate passes a different version it will go back to theHouse.

We need for everyone in Public Safety to contact their Senators, personally, not byleaving a message and explain the need for support of this bill. A good time to do thiswould be during the Easter break at their home office.

Once contact has been made please report the response from your Senator to me so I cankeep tally.

Please pass this information along to anyone who can help.

Norm Forshee

HB 1383 Update March 8th, 1999

House Bill 1383 as amended, is the latest version toaddress the wireless 9-1-1 issue.

The following points explain the current agreement betweenthe parties present and is subject to review by all interested parties and the legislativesponsors.

A Brief Summary of the Legislation is as follows:

  1. HB 1383 as amended creates a separate act dealing with wireless 9-1-1.

  2. The legislation establishes a statewide seamless wireless 9-1-1 system.

  3. The Illinois Commerce Commission will be responsible for setting non-discriminatory, uniform technical and operational standards consistent with the FCC rules.

  4. Allows for adjoining PSAP’s to enter intergovernmental agreements for the purpose of answering multi-jurisdictional wireless 9-1-1 calls.

  5. Requires the Illinois State Police to serve as the default agency for any jurisdiction not providing wireless 9-1-1 service.

  6. Allows for a method for qualified units of local government to accept wireless 9-1-1 in the future.

  7. Allows any existing ETSB or qualified governmental entity currently providing wireless 9-1-1 service to continue in the same manner. (Grandfather Clause)

  8. Establishes a board appointed by the Governor to implement a surcharge up to $.75 cents per CMRS connection that either has a telephone number within an area code assigned to Illinois or has a billing address in this State distributed as follows:

  1. 1% for collection fee.

  2. 2% for distribution fee.

  3. 1/3 of the surcharge for cost recovery of wireless carriers for the implementation of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 services, including costs and expenses incurred in designing, upgrading, purchasing, leasing, programming, installing, testing, or maintaining all necessary hardware and software required to provide service as well as the costs of operating the service. These costs may be both recurring and non-recurring. Establishes a trust fund with the State Treasurer and a method for reimbursement to the carriers for their expenses incurred.

  4. Requires the balance of the surcharge to be remitted monthly to the ETSB or the qualified governmental entity providing wireless 9-1-1 service.

  5. Requires the Illinois State Police to use all surcharge funds received, due to this act, for wireless 9-1-1 or E9-1-1 service and related expenses.

  1. Provides for Limitation of Liability identical to Emergency Telephone Systems Act.

  2. Provides for a Home Rule Exemption to ensure continued funding of countywide or multi-jurisdictional systems already established.

  3. Call for Auditor General Review in 2001.

  4. Amends the Powers and Duties of the Illinois State Police to allow performance of the duties assigned by this act.

  5. Establishes a State Wireless Emergency Services Fund for the Illinois State Police for implementation of the act.

  6. Calls for a January 1, 1999, effective date.

  7. Provides for a sunset of the act in 2005.

We are asking that all NENA members contact theirlegislators in the House and ask them to support the bill.  If you do not know whoyour representive is clickhere or call Greg Riddle or Norm Forshee.

Please do not leave messages but talk directly to the Housemember.