The bill amends several sections of the Idaho Code related to the Emergency Communications Act, specifically focusing on the emergency communications fee and the establishment of the Idaho Emergency Communications Fund. It revises the emergency communications fee to be a uniform amount of one dollar ($1.00) per month per access or interconnected VoIP service line, which will be used exclusively for financing emergency communications systems and reimbursing telecommunications providers for their implementation costs. The bill also mandates that fees collected by telecommunications providers be remitted to the county treasurer within fifteen days after the end of each quarter, and allows providers to deduct a small percentage for administrative costs.

Additionally, the bill establishes a new enhanced emergency communications grant fee of twenty-five cents (25¢) per month per access or interconnected VoIP service line, which must be remitted to the Idaho Emergency Communications Fund within the same fifteen-day timeframe. It outlines the allocation of these funds for grants to eligible entities operating consolidated emergency communications systems and emphasizes that grant funds should align with strategic goals identified by the commission. The bill declares an emergency, making it effective immediately upon passage, with specific provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 31-4804, 31-4818, 31-4819