HB 653 can help many Missouri counties
get back on track. It will allow for Missouri counties to have
another option for adequately funding their 9-1-1 Communications
system. While we know of 17 counties still only receiving landline
9-1-1 calls on a regular phone line, with no location or telephone
information and along with those 17 counties, another 21 counties
have landline e9-1-1 capabilities, (meaning they get the landline
call with the customers billing address and call back number) but no
wireless 9-1-1 capabilities.
Missouri has fallen behind on keeping
its citizens safe. We have worked hard for 15 years trying to
educate our representatives, you and those before you. It is a
tragedy that many calls continue to get lost and people suffer
without hope of help due to the crisis we are facing in Missouri
regarding 9-1-1. We are teaching our children to dial 9-1-1 for
help, meanwhile the 9-1-1 centers that are in place are
being threatened with decreasing revenue and are draining their local
municipalities, counties and the public safety agencies that are
already seeing tight budgets.
Missouri’s 9-1-1 system ranks far
behind the national standard level of service. If we continue to
ignore this problem, the only thing that will go away is the service
we promise and the hope we teach our children and citizens that
someone will help you and find you if you call 9-1-1.
Please help us get back on track.
Texting to 9-1-1 is on our doorstep and we can’t get simple 9-1-1 call information throughout
Missouri. How far are we willing to let this go?
Please act urgently on this bill so
that Missouri does not fall further behind in 9-1-1 services and
jeopardizes the safety of our citizens and visitors.
