HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2081

TELEPHONE NUMBER WHICH MAY BE USED TO SUMMON EMERGENCY AID
AND TO ELIMINATE DELAYS CAUSED BY LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH
EMERGENCY NUMBERS AND BY UNDERSTANDABLE CONFUSION IN
CIRCUMSTANCES OF CRISIS.

(E)    IT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUBTITLE TO ESTABLISH
THE THREE DIGIT NUMBER, 911, AS THE PRIMARY EMERGENCY
TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND TO PROVIDE
FOR THE ORDERLY INSTALLATION OF 911 SYSTEMS WITHIN THE
STATE.

(F)    IN THIS SUBTITLE, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND TERMS
HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED:

(1)    "COUNTY" MEANS ANY OF THE 23 COUNTIES OF
MARYLAND AND BALTIMORE CITY.

(2) "DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRRECTIONAL SERVICES,

(2)   "COMPTROLLER" MEANS THE COMPTROLLER OF THE
STATE TREASURY.

(3)    "BOARD" MEANS THE EMERGENCY NUMBER SYSTEMS
BOARD.

(4) "SECRETARY" MEANS THE SECRETARY OF THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL
SERVICES.

(5)    "MINIMUM 911 SYSTEM" MEANS A TELEPHONE
SERVICE WHICH MEETS THE PLANNING GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 231HH 204H-3 OF THIS SUBTITLE, AND
WHICH AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTS A PERSON DIALING THE DIGITS 911
TO AN ESTABLISHED PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT. MINIMUM
911 SYSTEM INCLUDES EQUIPMENT FOR CONNECTING AND
OUTSWITCHING 911 CALLS WITHIN A TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICE,
TRUNKING FACILITIES FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE TO A PUBLIC
SAFETY ANSWERING POINT, AND EQUIPMENT TO CONNECT 911 CALLS
TO THE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY.

(6)    "PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT" MEANS A
COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY OPERATED ON A 24 HOUR BASIS WHICH
FIRST RECEIVES 911 CALLS FROM PERSONS IN A 911 SERVICE AREA
AND WHICH MAY, AS APPROPRIATE, DIRECTLY DISPATCH PUBLIC
SAFETY SERVICES OR EXTEND, TRANSFER, OR RELAY 911 CALLS TO
APPROPRIATE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES.

(7)    "PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY" MEANS A FUNCTIONAL
DIVISION OF A PUBLIC AGENCY WHICH PROVIDES FIFE FIGHTING,
POLICE, MEDICAL, OR OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES OR A PRIVATE
ENTITY WHICH PROVIDES SUCH SERVICES ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.

(8)    "ENHANCEMENT" MEANS ANY ADDITION TO A
MINIMUM 911 SYSTEM SUCH AS AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION,
AUTOMATIC LOCATION IDENTIFICATION, SELECTIVE ROUTING OF
CALLS, OR OTHER FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, AS
DETERMINED BY THE BOARD.