[Comments on this legislation] [Post new comment] [Text and Analysis] [Add to Watch List]
[Previous] [Next]

• Introduced by Sen. Pat Apple (R) on January 20, 2009, in his role as a committee chairman, to extend until July 1, 2020 the tax for wireless enhanced 911 services, which is funded by a 25 cent monthly fee on each access line in Kansas counties with a population of more than 125,000, and 50 cents per access line in counties with less than 125,000. The bill also changes the size of a municipality eligible for wireless enhanced 911 service from counties with less than 85,000 citizens, from the current 75,000.
  • Referred to the Senate Utilites Committee on January 21, 2009.
    • Reported in the Senate on February 16, 2009, recommending passage of a substitute bill, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details based on testimony and "fine tuning". The main substance of the bill as previously described is not changed, but the new bill version would extend the existing tax for wireless enhanced 911 services just until July 1, 2011, while still increasing the population size of eligible cities. Also, a special joint legislative committee would be established to recommend future policy changes regarding 911 technology and its adequate funding.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Mike Petersen (R) on February 18, 2009, to direct a special legislative committee to study and make recommendations on appropriate uses of the Wireless Enhanced 911 Grant Fund. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 18, 2009.
• Passed in the Senate (40 to 0) on February 19, 2009, to extend the existing tax for wireless enhanced 911 services until July 1, 2011, to increase the population size of cities eligible to receive funding from this tax, and to direct a special joint legislative committee to recommend future policy changes regarding 911 technology, its adequate funding, and effective ways to use the related tax revenues. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on February 19, 2009.
  • Referred to the House Energy and Utilities Committee on February 20, 2009.
    • Reported in the House on January 26, 2010, recommending passage of a substitute bill, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises many details, but still addresses the main topic of wireless telecommunications services. The Committee inserted the provisions of HB 2423 and made additional amendments, resulting in a proposal that would impose a 55-cent per month tax on every account of each subscriber (no more than 100 accounts per subscriber would be subjected to tax) of any exchange telecommunications service, wireless telecommunications service, or voice-over-internet service capable of contacting a local government emergency responder switchboard. Prepaid wireless services would also be taxed at one-percent of their retail value. The revenue would be used to fund a variety of emergency 911 services including 911 equipment and upgrades, training of personnel, and capital improvements or other physical enhancements to the 911 system. A new state 911 coordinating council would be created to distribute funds according to the bill and develop strategies for future enhancements to the 911 system across the state. Collection duties of the 911 fee on prepaid wireless service would be upon the point of sale (retailers) who could retain a two percent administrative fee and then remit the 911 fees to the Kansas Department of Revenue by electronic filing.
• Passed in the House (106 to 15) on February 3, 2010, to reduce the current 75-cent per month tax down to 55 cents on every account of each subscriber of any telephone land line, wireless service, or voice-over-internet service capable of contacting a local government emergency responder switchboard; imposing a new 1.1 percent tax on sales of prepaid wireless services; and, to create a new distribution method for those tax revenues statewide to cover a variety of local emergency 911 services. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on February 3, 2010.
  • Referred to the Senate Utilites Committee on February 3, 2010.
    • Reported in the Senate on March 17, 2010.