APPROVED CHAPTER
MAY 30, 2025 167
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
_____
H.P. 945 - L.D. 1436
An Act to Update and Clarify Provisions Related to 9-1-1 Services
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§74-A, as amended by PL 1993, c. 566, §1, is
further amended to read:
74-A.
Public Safety E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council Expenses Only 25 MRSA §2925
Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §509, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 430, §1, is
further amended to read:
A. The person knowingly gives or causes to be given false information to a law
enforcement officer, an emergency communications center or the enhanced 9-1-1
services established in Title 25, chapter 352 with the intent of inducing the officer, the
emergency communications center or any other emergency services personnel to
believe that a crime has been committed or that another has committed a crime,
knowing the information to be false;
Sec. 3. 17-A MRSA §509, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2023, c. 430, §1, is
further amended to read:
B. The person knowingly gives or causes to be given false information to a law
enforcement officer, a member of a firefighting agency, including a volunteer fire
department, an emergency communications center, the enhanced 9-1-1 services
established in Title 25, chapter 352 or any other person knowing that the other person
is likely to communicate the information to a law enforcement officer, a member of a
firefighting agency, an emergency communications center or any other emergency
services personnel concerning a fire, explosive or other similar substance that is
capable of endangering the safety of persons, knowing that the information is false, or
knowing that the person has no information relating to the fire, explosive or other
similar substance; or
Sec. 4. 17-A MRSA §509, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2023, c. 430, §1, is
further amended to read:
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 C. The person knowingly gives or causes to be given false information concerning an
emergency to an ambulance service, an emergency communications center, the
enhanced 9-1-1 services established in Title 25, chapter 352, any other emergency
services personnel or a government agency or public utility that deals with emergencies
involving danger to life or property, with the intent of inducing the service, personnel,
agency, center or utility to respond to the reported emergency, knowing the information
to be false.
Sec. 5. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 840, §3, is amended to
read:
1. Automatic location identification. "Automatic location identification" means an
enhanced a 9-1-1 service capability that enables the automatic display of information
defining the geographical location of the telephone used to place a 9-1-1 call.
Sec. 6. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 840, §3, is amended to
read:
2. Automatic number identification. "Automatic number identification" means an
enhanced a 9-1-1 service capability that enables the automatic display of the 7-digit number
used to place a 9-1-1 call.
Sec. 7. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2003, c. 359, §1, is further
amended to read:
2-A. Bureau. "Bureau" means the Emergency Services Communication Bureau
within the Public Utilities Commission, which is responsible for the statewide
implementation and management of E-9-1-1 9-1-1.
Sec. 8. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§2-B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 68, §1, is amended
to read:
2-B. Cellular or wireless telecommunications service. "Cellular or wireless
telecommunications service" means commercial mobile service as defined in 47 United
States Code, Section 332(d) , regardless of when payment is required for that service.
Sec. 9. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§5-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 226, §1, is amended
to read:
5-A. Enhanced 9-1-1 access-only service. "Enhanced "9-1-1 access-only service" or
"E-9-1-1 access-only service" means the provision of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 access to a residential
telephone customer's premises when telephone service to the premises has been otherwise
suspended or disconnected.
Sec. 10. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2013, c. 119, §1, is repealed
and the following enacted in its place:
6. 9-1-1 services. "9-1-1 services" or "9-1-1" means the delivery of 9-1-1 calls to the
proper public safety answering points with the automatic location identification and
automatic number identification of an entity requesting emergency services. "9-1-1
services" or "9-1-1" includes Internet protocol enabled services.
Sec. 11. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§6-D is enacted to read:
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 6-D. Originating service provider. "Originating service provider" means an entity
that provides service to an end user that may be used to originate voice or nonvoice 9-1-1
calls for assistance and that connects to the 9-1-1 system for the purposes of delivering
9-1-1 services, including, but not limited to, the delivery of wireline, wireless and voice
over Internet protocol services, to a public safety answering point.
Sec. 12. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§7, as amended by PL 1993, c. 566, §3, is further
amended to read:
7. Public safety answering point. "Public safety answering point" means a facility
with enhanced 9-1-1 capability, operated on a 24-hour basis, assigned the responsibility of
receiving 9-1-1 calls and, as appropriate, the physical or virtual entity where 9-1-1 calls are
received that is responsible for directly dispatching emergency services or, through transfer
routing or relay routing, passing 9-1-1 calls to public or private safety agencies.
Sec. 13. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§13, as amended by PL 2009, c. 400, §1 and
affected by c. 400, §15, is further amended to read:
13. Prepaid wireless telecommunications service. "Prepaid wireless
telecommunications service" means a cellular or wireless telecommunications service that
allows a caller to dial 9-1-1 to access the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system, which service must be paid
for in advance and is sold in predetermined units or dollars that declines with use in a
known amount.
Sec. 14. 25 MRSA §2921, sub-§17, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 339, §4, is amended
to read:
17. 9-1-1 call. "9-1-1 call" means any use of enhanced 9-1-1 services initiated by any
means or medium, including, but not limited to, voice calls and text messaging.
Sec. 15. 25 MRSA §2923-A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 505, §3, is further amended
to read:
§2923-A. Requirements of municipalities, plantations, counties or unorganized
territories
Each municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory that does not have a
public safety answering point shall contract with an entity that does have a public safety
answering point, which may be the department, for receiving 9-1-1 calls and, as
appropriate, directly dispatching emergency services or, through transfer routing or relay
routing, passing 9-1-1 calls to public or private safety agencies that dispatch emergency
services. If a municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory without a public
safety answering point does not enter into such an agreement, the department shall serve
as the public safety answering point for that municipality, plantation, county or
unorganized territory and the municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory shall
pay the department for the provision of those services. Fees received by the department
pursuant to this section must be deposited in the Consolidated Emergency Communications
Fund established in section 1534. If a fee assessed to a municipality, plantation, county or
unorganized territory for services provided pursuant to an agreement under this section or
by the department is based in whole or in part on population, the population of the
municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory may not include persons held at a
correctional facility, as defined in Title 34‑A, section 1001, subsection 6, within the
municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory.
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 Sec. 16. 25 MRSA §2923-B, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 186, §1, is amended
to read:
1. Notice. A public safety answering point shall provide notice to the bureau prior to
discontinuing service to a municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory. A
public safety answering point may not provide the notice under this subsection less than
one year prior to the date that the public safety answering point discontinues service, unless
the bureau finds reasonable grounds to authorize a shorter period of time for the
notification. If appropriate, the bureau shall notify the department of the notice of
discontinuing service received by the bureau from a public safety answering point.
Sec. 17. 25 MRSA §2923-C, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 609, §3, is amended to read:
§2923-C. Cost reporting
1. Reporting requirements. Annually, on a date prescribed by the bureau Public
Utilities Commission by rule, a public safety answering point and dispatch center shall each
provide the bureau with a report of the costs incurred by the public safety answering point
or dispatch center for the provision of enhanced 9-1-1 services.
2. Rules. The bureau Public Utilities Commission shall adopt rules to implement this
section. The rules must establish requirements for the report provided by a public safety
answering point and dispatch center pursuant to subsection 1, including, at a minimum:
A. The manner by which the report must be submitted to the bureau;
B. The specific cost components for the provision of enhanced 9-1-1 services to be
included in the report; and
C. The date by which the report must be submitted.
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5,
chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 18. 25 MRSA §2925, as amended by PL 2021, c. 348, §37, is further amended
by amending the section headnote to read:
§2925. E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council
Sec. 19. 25 MRSA §2925, first ¶, as amended by PL 1993, c. 566, §8, is further
amended to read:
The E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council, established in Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 74‑A,
and referred to in this section as "the council," shall advise and assist the bureau in the
implementation of the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system.
Sec. 20. 25 MRSA §2925, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 348, §37, is further
amended to read:
1. Membership. The E-9-1-1 Council council is composed of 17 members; one
appointed by the Public Utilities Commission; one appointed by the Commissioner of
Public Safety; and 15 appointed by the Governor, including one who is a municipal official
nominated by the statewide association of municipalities, one county official nominated by
a statewide association of county commissioners, one who is a chief of a municipal police
department nominated by the statewide association of chiefs of police, one who is the chief
of a municipal fire department nominated by the statewide association of fire chiefs, one
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who is a county sheriff nominated by the statewide association of sheriffs, one who
represents small telephone companies, one who represents the largest provider of local
exchange telephone services, one who represents cellular or wireless service providers, one
who represents a direct provider of emergency medical services, one who is a dispatcher
nominated by the statewide association of dispatchers, one who is a member of a volunteer
fire department, one to represent persons who are deaf and hard of hearing and 3 to
represent the public-at-large. Each member may name a designee who may attend meetings
of the council and act on that member's behalf in council proceedings.
Sec. 21. 25 MRSA §2925, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2009, c. 219, §1, is further
amended to read:
6. Duties. The council has the following duties.
A. The council shall advise the bureau on activities relating to the establishment of an
E-9-1-1 a 9-1-1 system.
B. The council shall review and comment on rules proposed by the bureau Public
Utilities Commission under this chapter.
C. The council shall assist the bureau in providing public information about the
implementation and operation of the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system.
D. The council shall assist the bureau in responding to and resolving service-related
complaints and issues regarding the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system.
Sec. 22. 25 MRSA §2926, as amended by PL 2023, c. 186, §2, is further amended
to read:
§2926. Emergency Services Communication Bureau
1. Bureau established. The Emergency Services Communication Bureau is
established within the Public Utilities Commission to implement and manage E-9-1-1
9-1-1, including the deployment of E-9-1-1 9-1-1 service using emerging communications
technologies, including, but not limited to, Internet protocol enabled services, that are
capable of connecting users to public safety answering points.
1-A. Quality assurance. The bureau shall develop and implement a quality assurance
program to audit and monitor compliance with emergency dispatching standards, practices
and procedures of public safety answering points.
2. System design. In consultation with the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council, established in Title
5, section 12004-I, subsection 74-A, the bureau shall develop all necessary system
elements, standards and cost estimates necessary to provide for the installation and
operation of a statewide E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system, including, but not limited to, the following:
A. Development of network design specifications;
B. Development of minimum public safety answering point requirements including
24-hour operation; emergency backup power; secured communication areas; separate
administrative phone lines for nonemergency calls; call recording and playback
equipment; TDD equipment, as defined in Title 35‑A, section 8702, subsection 6;
maximum call handling times; and minimum mandatory staff training requirements for
9-1-1 call answering and dispatching;
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 C. After consultation with the affected public and private safety agency officials,
identification of appropriate public safety answering point sites based on consideration
of the existing dispatching capabilities of public and private safety agencies, the
expressed preferences of municipalities throughout the State and overall system cost;
D. Identification of appropriate technology for system networks, public safety
answering point equipment and data base database requirements;
E. Procedures for developing and maintaining address and routing data bases database;
F. Procedures for cooperation and coordination with telephone utilities and
municipalities for implementation and maintenance;
G. Standards and procedures to establish the confidentiality and prevent the
dissemination of reports and records handled by public safety answering points and of
the bureau;
H. Estimates of the cost of establishing an operational E-9-1-1 9-1-1 system;
I. Procedures for collecting and administering the necessary funds for E-9-1-1 9-1-1;
and
J. Standards and procedures for developing and maintaining the system databases and
for ensuring the confidentiality of those databases pursuant to section 2929.
2-A. Goal. To the extent possible, the bureau shall establish a total of between 16 and
24 public safety answering points. The bureau shall seek to coordinate any reduction in
the number of public safety answering points to achieve this goal with any contractual
obligations it may have or may enter into that are or could be affected by that reduction.
Prior to implementing a reduction in the number of public safety answering points, the
bureau shall make a finding regarding the need for the reduction based on an evaluation of
the costs and benefits of the reduction, taking into account impacts on ratepayers, each of
the affected municipalities municipality, plantation, county or unorganized territory and
the State.
2-B. Exceptions. Notwithstanding subsection 2‑A, the bureau may authorize the
establishment of a public safety answering point on a determination that a public safety
answering point is necessary to ensure public safety and access to E-9-1-1 9-1-1 services.
3. Rulemaking. The bureau Public Utilities Commission shall adopt by rule its the
bureau's standards, specifications and procedures developed under subsection 2,
paragraphs A to F after consultation with the E-9-1-1 9-1-1 Council and following at least
3 public hearings geographically dispersed throughout the State.
4. Technical assistance. The bureau may provide support for the development of
street address information sufficient to support E-9-1-1 9-1-1 services. The bureau shall
provide technical assistance to any municipality in the development of street address
information at the request of the interested municipality, plantation, county or unorganized
territory.
5. Call answering coverage. The bureau is not required to provide call answering
coverage in counties or municipalities that choose not to participate in the E-9-1-1 system.
6. System databases. The system databases, wherever located or stored, are the
property of the bureau and their confidentiality is governed by section 2929.
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 Sec. 23. 25 MRSA §2927, as amended by PL 2023, c. 609, §4, is repealed.
Sec. 24. 25 MRSA §2927-A is enacted to read:
§2927-A. 9-1-1 funding
1. Funding. The activities authorized under this chapter are funded thr