NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION

National Survey

1. For the State of: Montana

a) Contact Person: Larry Peterson, 911 ProgramManager

b) Name : Information Services DivisionState of Montana

c) Address : P.O. Box 200113 Helena, MT59620-0113

d) Phone: (406) 444-2420

e) Fax: (406) 444-2701

2. Does your state have minimum Telecommunicator Training Standards?YES

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

• a) oMandated, þVoluntary, þLegislatedStatute by Law oOther?
• b) Comments: Hiring and Certification Statute,but actual attendance is voluntary by local authority.
• c) b. When were the standards established? (date): 7/1/91
• d) c. Have they been revised or modified? YES
• e) d. Are you satisfied with the current status of your state’s minimumtraining standards? YES
• f) Comments if answer is no :

4. If the answer to question #2 is no, is your state considering, orin the process of establishing telecommunicator training standards?

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

5. Summarize the work plan and methodology used to accomplish the goalof establishing Minimum Telecommunicator Training Standards for your state:1) Developed minimum standards and training program,2) Enacted enabling legislation for training certification, 3) Legislationdesignated training to be responsibility of the Montana Law-EnforcementAcademy. The academy volunteered to fund almost all training & expenses.

6. How long did it take to establish state standards? Sixteen(16) years

7. Was there any organized opposition?: YES

a) If yes explain how it was overcome or dealt with: Timeand Education; hard promotion of benefits.

8. What agency or regulatory board in your state is responsible foradministering state telecommunicator training standards?Montana Peace Officer Standards & Training Council.

9. How are telecommunicator training costs funded?

a) oTelephone Tax or Surcharge þState Budget Appropriation þLocalGovernment oOther

10. (a) How much money is dedicated to training: $5,000and how often?;

• a) oMonthly oQuarterly oSemi-Annually þAnnually
• 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 telecommunicatortraining legislation, please attach a copy of that legislation.

11. Do your state standards include telecommunicator hiring or selectionstandards? YES

a) Comments: At the communications level.

12. List your State’s minimum telecommunicator training standards inorder to qualify for state certification.

13. Indicate what areas of public-safety communications are includedin your state certification program;

• a) þCall Takers Hours required 40.Hours
• b) þLaw-Enforcement Dispatcher Hours required40. Hours
• c) þFire Dispatcher Hours required40. Hours
• d) þEmergency Medical Dispatch Hours required40. Hours
• e) oEmergency Medical Technician Hours required
• f) oOther (NCIC) Hours required

14. Does your state have different telecommunicator training standardsfor call-takers and dispatchers? NO

a) If yes please explain:

15. Within what time frame must a new telecommunicator receive certification?No requirements because attendance is at discretionof local agencies.

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

a) If yes explain: If dispatcher passedMLEA (state) or APCO Training between 11/84 – 7/91.

17. Does your state recognize telecommunicator training certificationsfrom other states? NO

18. Do your state telecommunicator training standards exempt any ofthe following: NO

a) oPart-time Telecommunicators

b) oFill-in Law-Enforcement, Firefighters, EMTs, etc.

c) Comments :

19. Does your legislation contain any of the following provisions:

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

20. What method/s are used to provide training;

• a) þLaw Enforcement Academy,
• b) oFire Academy,
• c) oEMS Board
• d) oUniversity or College
• e) oVocational Schools
• f) þThe APCO Institute 40 Hour Course
• g) þAccredited local government public-safetyagency
• h) þOther Commercial Vendors (forspecialized training)
• i) oOther

21. What subjects and how many hours are required as part of the minimumtraining curriculum;

• a) Subject Required Hours
• b) Interpersonal Communications 1.5
• c) Role of The Telecommunicator .25
• d) The Communications Function 0.
• e) Telephone Techniques 1.
• f) 9-1-1 Operating Systems 2.
• g) Hearing Impaired Callers 3.
• h) Handling Hysterical & Suicidal Callers1.25
• i) Basic Radio Broadcasting Techniques 2.
• j) Law-Enforcement Terminology
• k) Fire Service Terminology
• l) EMS Terminology
• m) Emergency Call Processing Guidelines: 14.
• n) Law Enforcement
• o) Fire
• p) EMS
• q) Haz Mat Awareness 2.
• r) Record Keeping Systems 1.5
• s) Telecommunicator Liability .5
• t) Fire/EMS Scene Safety 0.
• u) Officer Survival 0.
• v) Simulations 0.
• w) Please add any other subjects:
• x) Civil Law 1.5
• y) Civil Procedures 1.5
• z) Radio Systems, FCC Inc. Command Structure3.
• aa) Stress Management 4.

22. Do your training standards contain a requirement for the establishmentof Emergency Medical Dispatch Pre-Arrival Instruction Program? NO,Under consideration.

23. Do requirements for state certification contain any other provisionssuch as minimum education, minimum age, minimum typing skills, ride alongprograms, etc., YES

a) If yes, please explain: U.S. Citizenship,Age 18, High School Graduate or equivalent, No felony convictions, Goodmoral character.

24. If a test is required for certification what percentage or scoreconstitutes a passing grade? 65%

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 have to be incompliance with the telecommunicator training requirements?: Attendanceis optional.

27. Does your Minimum State Telecommunicator Training Program providecollege credit? NO