Relates to the public safety surcharge

• Democratic5
• Republican5

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Monica Martinez says this is needed

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, it is essential for emergency services to keep up with advancements in communication tech- nology in order to continue providing critical services to the public. Unfortunately, New York State's current 911 system, developed decades ago, is struggling to keep pace with the increasing volume of emergency calls and the evolving needs of the public. This is due, in part, to the fact that funds from the dedicated 911 surcharge have been diverted to the state's general funds, leaving the 911 services severely underfunded and lacking in modern technology. The solution to this problem is the implementation of Next Generation 911 (NG911). NG911 is a transformative upgrade to the traditional 911 system that provides enhanced capabilities for emergency call centers to receive, process, and respond to emergency calls. With the ability to transmit multimedia such as text, photos, and videos, in addition to voice calls, NG911 provides emergency responders with a more comprehen- sive understanding of the situation, allowing them to respond more effectively. One of the key benefits of NG911 is that it enables citizens to communi- cate with emergency services through the method they are most comforta- ble with, whether it be voice, text, or multimedia. This provides a more accessible and inclusive experience for the public, especially for indi- viduals with hearing or speech disabilities who may have difficulties communicating during an emergency. NG911 also provides emergency services with a more robust and scalable infrastructure, allowing them to handle a larger volume of calls and respond more efficiently to emergencies. With improved location accura- cy, emergency responders can arrive on the scene faster, reducing response times and potentially saving lives. In addition to improving the efficiency and accessibility of the emer- gency response system, NG911 has the potential to bring significant cost savings to emergency services. By reducing the need for redundant infrastructure and minimizing the need for manual processes, NG911 can help to streamline the emergency response system and reduce costs over the long term. In conclusion, by reducing the amount of funds diverted from the state's dedicated 911 surcharge we can begin the implementation of NG911 which is an important step towards ensuring that emergency services have the tools and capabilities they need to respond effectively to emergencies in the 21st century. With its improved capabilities, NG911 will provide a safer and more efficient emergency response system for the public and help to save lives in times of crisis.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.