NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION

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NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION

National ResourceCenter

PROJECT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONALPUBLIC-SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING STANDARDS

Please Note: If you would like a copyof the summary document for the work done by the Ohio Task Forceplease contact Mr William Hinkle at the phone and address below!

National Survey

1. For the State of: Ohio

a) Contact Person: WilliamH. Hinkle, Operations Director

b) Name : HamiltonCounty Communication Center

c) Address : 2377Civic Center Drive Cincinnati, OH 45231

d) Phone: (513)825-2170

e) Fax: (513)595-8457

2. Does your state have minimum Telecommunicator TrainingStandards? NO

3. a. If the answer to question #2 is yes, are the standards;

  • a) oMandated, oVoluntary, oLegislated Statute by Law oOther?
  • b) Comments: Legislation currently under consideration will mandate training.
  • c) b. When were the standards established? (date):
  • d) c. Have they been revised or modified?
  • e) d. Are you satisfied with the current status of your state’s minimum training standards?
  • f) Comments if answer is no :

4. If the answer to question #2 is no, is your stateconsidering, or in the process of establishing telecommunicatortraining standards? YES

  • a) When is implementation anticipated? 1997
  • b) Comments:
  • c)
  • d)

5. Summarize the work plan and methodology used to accomplishthe goal of establishing Minimum Telecommunicator TrainingStandards for your state: OhioChapters of NENA & APCO cosponsored a state task force of alleffected public health and safety organizations from throughoutthe state. They meet monthly and together they developed a draftcurriculum and draft legislation.

6. How long did it take to establish state standards? Still pending

7. Was there any organized opposition?: YES

a) If yes explain how it was overcome or dealt with: Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police. Stillbuilding cooperation and compromise.

8. What agency or regulatory board in your state isresponsible for administering state telecommunicator trainingstandards? OhioDepartment of Education, Division of Adult Vocational Educationhas agreed to administer the program

9. How are telecommunicator training costs funded?

a) oTelephone Tax or Surcharge þStateBudget Appropriation oLocal Government oOther

10. (a) How much money is dedicated to training: $ andhow often?;

  • a) oMonthly oQuarterly oSemi-Annually oAnnually
  • b) Other:
  • c) (b) Does your state also assess other providers such as,
  • d) Cellular? NO
  • e) PCS? NO
  • f) Competitive Local Exchange Carriers? NO
  • g) Mobile Satellite Service? NO
  • h) If yes, and the legislation is separate from the telecommunicator training legislation, please attach a copy of that legislation.

11. Do your state standards include telecommunicator hiring orselection standards? NO

a) Comments:

12. List your State’s minimum telecommunicator trainingstandards in order to qualify for state certification.

13. Indicate what areas of public-safety communications areincluded in your state certification program;

  • a) þCall Takers Hours required 40. Proposed
  • b) þLaw-Enforcement Dispatcher Hours required 40. Proposed
  • c) þFire Dispatcher Hours required 40. Proposed
  • d) oEmergency Medical Dispatch Hours required
  • e) oEmergency Medical Technician Hours required
  • f) oOther (NCIC) Hours required
  • g)

14. Does your state have different telecommunicator trainingstandards for call-takers and dispatchers? NO

a) If yes please explain:

15. Within what time frame must a new telecommunicator receivecertification? One (1)year from date of hire, (Proposed).

16. Are there any “Grandfather Clause” provisions?YES

a) If yes explain: It is proposedthat agencies can grandfather employees who have had formaltraining that meets or exceeds the state minimum requirement.

17. Does your state recognize telecommunicator trainingcertifications from other states? YES

18. Does your state telecommunicator training standards exemptany of the following: YES

  • a) oPart-time Telecommunicators
  • b) þFill-in Law-Enforcement, Firefighters, EMTs, etc.
  • c) Comments :

19. Does your legislation contain any of the followingprovisions: The following provisionare all proposed in pending legislation.

  • a) þRequirement to administer and/or approve examinations
  • b) þCertify Telecommunicators on a permanent or temporary basis
  • c) þEstablish requirements for accreditation of telecommunicator training courses
  • d) þEstablish requirements for accreditation of telecommunicator training instructors
  • e) þEstablish requirements for accreditation of telecommunicator training schools
  • f) þEstablish procedures and requirements for continuing education
  • g) þEstablish procedures and requirements for recertification
  • h) If yes, what are recertification requirements:
  • i) þEstablish grounds for suspension or revocation of certificates
  • j) þEstablish specific language or limits of liability for telecommunicators

20. What method/s are used to provide training; Any of the following methods could be usedin current daft language.

  • a) þLaw Enforcement Academy,
  • b) þFire Academy,
  • c) oEMS Board
  • d) oUniversity or College
  • e) þVocational Schools
  • f) þThe APCO Institute 40 Hour Course
  • g) þAccredited local government public-safety agency
  • h) þOther Commercial Vendors
  • i) oOther

21. What subjects and how many hours are required as part ofthe minimum training curriculum; Proposedin legislation

  • a) Subject Required Hours
  • b) Interpersonal Communications 4.
  • c) Role of The Telecommunicator 2.
  • d) The Communications Function 2.
  • e) Telephone Techniques 4.
  • f) 9-1-1 Operating Systems
  • g) Hearing Impaired Callers 2.
  • h) Handling Hysterical & Suicidal Callers 2.
  • i) Basic Radio Broadcasting Techniques 7.
  • j) Law-Enforcement Terminology 1.5
  • k) Fire Service Terminology 1.5
  • l) EMS Terminology
  • m) Emergency Call Processing Guidelines:
  • n) Law Enforcement 3.
  • o) Fire 3.
  • p) EMS 3.
  • q) Haz Mat Awareness 2.
  • r) Record Keeping Systems
  • s) Telecommunicator Liability 3.
  • t) Fire/EMS Scene Safety 1.
  • u) Officer Survival 1.
  • v) Simulations
  • w) Please add any other subjects:

22. Do your training standards contain a requirement for theestablishment of Emergency Medical Dispatch Pre-ArrivalInstruction Program? NO

23. Do requirements for state certification contain any otherprovisions such as minimum education, minimum age, minimum typingskills, ride along programs, etc., NO

a) If yes, please explain:

24. If a test is required for certification what percentage orscore constitutes a passing grade? 70.%

25. Does your state offer provisional certification? NO

a) If Yes, how does someone qualify for provisional status?

26. How long after passage of legislation, did agencies haveto be in compliance with the telecommunicator trainingrequirements?: Two (2)years proposed.

27. Does your Minimum State Telecommunicator Training Programprovide college credit? NO

Thank You!