Missouri House advances cellphone charge for 911 services

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Emergency 911 systems in Missouri would get a new funding stream under a measure that supporters said Wednesday is needed to enhance outdated services across the state.

The Missouri House voted 123-32 to pass a measure that would allow local governments to collect a monthly fee of up to $1.50 on devices capable of using 911, including cellphones, with voter approval. It also would impose a statewide 3 percent charge on sales of prepaid phones and create a state 911 board that would disburse the money.

"We're the only state without this mechanism for funding," said the measure's sponsor, Rep. Jeanie Lauer, R-Blue Springs. "Our state needs to enhance its 911 services."

The bill now goes to the Senate, where it has stalled in recent years.

Lauer said as landline use declines, a new source of revenue is needed to fund 911 services paid for with landline fees or local sales taxes. She said some areas of the state don't have service, and others may not be able to receive emergency texts or identify a cellphone's location.

Counties or cities would need the 911 board's approval to seek to impose a monthly fee of more than $1 on devices. They also would have to provide information to justify the fee and develop plans to consolidate operations.

The 911 board would disburse the prepaid phone sales money in an effort to encourage consolidation, bring 911 services to areas that don't have them and enable existing services to field emergency texts. A portion also would go to the poison-control center.

The bill is HB 714.