LANSING – The House today passed a plan that preserves funding for local 911 centers, ensuring that first responders throughout Michigan can act quickly to help residents in life-threatening situations and protect rural communities.
"911 often means the difference between life and death, and we cannot afford to risk residents' lives by neglecting the system that sends first responders out to help people in all kinds of emergencies," said State Representative John Espinoza (D-Croswell). "Whether it is finding an intruder in your home, getting into a crash on the highway or a family member having heart attack, people must be able to count on a getting a quick response from calling 911. This plan ensures that Michigan families receive the emergency services they need to keep them safe while taking the financial burden off our seniors, who have traditionally paid more than their fair share for 911 services."
The plan passed by the House today protects the state funding that helps establish, maintain and operate 911 systems throughout Michigan. Under the plan, users of any 911-enabled device – landlines, cell phones and Internet phones – will pay the same user charge of just nineteen cents a month. The money will help ensure that counties can operate their life-saving 911 systems.
The plan requires that counties use all of the funding solely for the purpose of implementing, maintaining and operating their 911 centers.