Report Title:

Non-Emergency 3-1-1 Report System; Grant-in-Aid

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to Honolulu police department for development costs for a 3-1-1 non-emergency report system. (SB579 HD1))

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

579

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Making an APPROPRIATION for development of a NON-EMERGENCY REPORT SYSTEM, known as 3-1-1.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The Honolulu police department (HPD) operates the current 9-1-1 emergency phone call system for Oahu. According to the HPD, 9-1-1 currently handles over one million calls annually, including calls for police, ambulance, and fire. The volume is expected to rise with the progressive increase in population density and the growing prevalence of cellular phones. The 9-1-1 system handles all calls for emergency services, as well as non-emergency calls (estimated at sixty-five to seventy-five per cent of all 9-1-1 calls), which the system was never intended or equipped to handle. Examples of non-emergency calls received by the 9-1-1 system include abandoned vehicles, noise, and animal complaints.

The legislature finds that non-emergency calls to 9-1-1 challenge the limited resources of the HPD communications division, presenting a predicament that critically tests the abilities of the staff and equipment to respond to true emergencies. According to the HPD, staffing shortages and equipment failures are not uncommon. Non-emergency calls frequently overwhelm available 9-1-1 operators, resulting in a backlog of emergency 9-1-1 calls awaiting dispatch of appropriate emergency personnel.

The HPD is currently developing a non-emergency report system, known as 3-1-1, to relieve the 9-1-1 system of taking non-emergency phone calls. The legislature further finds that a 3-1-1 report system is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation as a grant-in-aid to the HPD for development costs to develop a non-emergency 3-1-1 report system.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004 for a grant-in-aid to the Honolulu police department for the development of a non-emergency report system, known as 3-1-1, to include:

(1) A 3-1-1 call section to receive non-emergency phone requests;

(2) A Honolulu police department web site to provide an on-line form to be filled out by the public;

(3) District station police personnel to handle phone-in and walk-in requests for non-emergency services;

(4) Improved 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 information in telephone directories to instruct the public on usage; and

(5) An educational program on 3-1-1 non-emergency reporting.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Honolulu police department for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.