The bill amends the existing law governing the Enhanced 911 system fund by instituting stricter guidelines for fund usage. It introduces new legal language that mandates that funds be exclusively allocated for expenditures that directly support 911 call delivery and dispatch operations, including operational expenses, technology, and personnel costs. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of these funds for subsidizing commercial wireless infrastructure unrelated to 911 services, general public safety expenditures not tied to 911 operations, and administrative overhead not directly related to service delivery. Additionally, it requires the Department of Safety to maintain a separate accounting of all revenues and expenditures from the fund to ensure transparency and accountability. The bill also grants the Division of Emergency Services and Communications (DESC) greater independence in managing the fund, allowing it to conduct audits and publish reports without prior approval from the commissioner.

Furthermore, the legislation introduces enforcement mechanisms to address unauthorized use of E911 funds, enabling citizens to file complaints that may lead to investigations by the New Hampshire Department of Justice. Agencies found to have misused funds must repay the amount within a year or face penalties. The bill deletes current provisions that allow the fund to support a broader range of systems benefiting multiple public safety agencies, which may impact the funding and maintenance of shared systems essential for statewide 911 operations. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it does not provide new funding and may require DESC to seek alternative funding sources for maintaining shared systems. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 106-H:14, 106-H:3, 106-H:5
HB1777 text: 106-H:14, 106-H:3, 106-H:5