This chapter is promulgated pursuant to the authority granted in RCW 38.52.540 and 38.52.545.

(1) These rules define the purposes for which available state 911 account moneys may be expended, consistent with the eligibility requirements, criteria, and priorities of RCW 38.52.540 and 38.52.545.

(2) RCW 38.52.540 authorizes the establishment of a state 911 account in the state treasury to be used only for the following purposes:

(a) To procure, fund, and manage the statewide 911 emergency communications system network; and

(b) To purchase goods and services that support the counties and Washington state patrol public safety answering points in providing 911 baseline level of service statewide; and

(c) To assist the counties and Washington state patrol public safety answering points to provide 911 emergency communications systems and associated administrative, and operational costs; and

(d) To acquire 911 hardware, software, and technology appropriate to support a 911 emergency communications system, 911 emergency communications training, and public education; and

(e) To support the statewide coordination and management of the 911 emergency communications system; and

(f) For modernization needs of the 911 emergency communications system as defined in RCW 38.52.010.

(3) RCW 38.52.545 specifies rules defining the purposes for which available state 911 moneys may be expended in which the state 911 coordinator, with the advice and assistance of the 911 advisory committee, must consider needs necessary to provide a baseline level of service by individual counties and their designated Washington state patrol public safety answering points. Priorities are available for 911 emergency communications system funding are as follows:

(a) To procure, fund, and manage the statewide network and supporting services, and assure that 911 dialing is operational statewide; and

(b) To assist counties and Washington state patrol public safety answering points to provide 911 emergency communications systems and associated administrative and operational costs as necessary to assure they can achieve a baseline level of service for 911 operations; and

(c) To assist counties and their designated Washington state patrol public safety answering points to acquire 911 hardware, software, and technology to support a 911 emergency communications system baseline level of service.

(4) The state 911 coordinator, with the advice and assistance of the 911 advisory committee, is authorized to enter into statewide agreements to improve the efficiency of 911 services for all counties and to specify by rule the additional purposes for which moneys, if available, may be expended from the state 911 account.

(1) " 911 call(s)" is a generic term referring to any request for public safety assistance, regardless of the media used to make that request. This term may appear in conjunction with specific media, such as "voice call," "video call," "text call," or "data-only call" when the specific media is of importance. The term "noninteractive call" refers to an emergency call that is initiated automatically, carries data, does not establish a two-way interactive media session, and typically does not involve a human at the "initiating" end.

(2) "911 coordinator electronic mobile device" shall mean equipment capable of receiving and delivering text, data, graphics, or other electronic media via a private computer network or the internet.

(3) "911 emergency communications system" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010.

(4) "911 information technology services" shall mean the technical support and maintenance of eligible 911 equipment.

(5) "911 mapping administration" shall mean personnel, hardware, and software necessary to create and maintain geographical information system (GIS) data necessary for geospatial routing, location, interpretation, and to display the data on a PSAP call answering position.

(6) "911management information system (MIS)" shall mean equipment that collects, stores, and collates 911 call information into reports and statistics.

(7) "911 network" also referred to as the next generation 911 emergency services internet protocol network. This network shall meet the service level standards adopted by the state 911 coordination office.

(8) "911 public education coordination" shall mean the development and delivery of 911 public education.

(9) "911 training coordination" shall mean the development and delivery of a 911 call receiver training program.

(10) "Advisory committee" shall mean the 911 advisory committee as established by RCW 38.52.530.

(11) "Alternate routing" shall mean the capability of routing 911 calls to a designated alternate location(s) if all 911 connections are busy, unavailable, or out of service. May be activated upon request or automatically, if detectable, when 911 equipment fails or the PSAP itself is unavailable. This includes default routing which is a predetermined routing path coordinated between a carrier and a PSAP.

(12) "Automatic location identification (ALI)" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010.

(13) "Automatic location identification (ALI) database service" shall mean the set of records residing on computer systems and the associated process, procedures, and programs used to create, store, and update the data for presentation to the public safety telecommunicator when a customer accesses the 911 emergency communications system.

(14) "Baseline level of 911 service" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010.

(15) "Call handling equipment (CHE)" shall mean equipment and/or systems utilized by the PSAP to receive and process 911 communications. Sometimes this is referred to as customer premise equipment (CPE).

(16) "Computer aided dispatch (CAD)" shall mean equipment capable of receiving and disseminating detailed information related to call taking and dispatching.

(17) "Coordinator professional development (CPD)" shall mean a defined group of support elements provided to all counties and Washington state patrol.

(18) "Eligible entities" shall mean the counties and Washington state patrol determined to be eligible for reimbursement of costs for a specified item.

(19) "Emergency services communication system" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010 and 82.14B.020.

(20) "Geographical information system (GIS)" shall mean an integrated system of hardware and software for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information.

(21) "Language interpreter services" shall mean language translation services for 911 calls.

(22) "Location" shall mean a civic location or geodetic location that contains enough detail for accurately routing a call to a PSAP serving the location.

(23) "Logging recorder" shall mean a device that is capable of time stamping, recording, and replaying 911 voice and data.

(24) "Mapping display" shall mean equipment capable of displaying 911 call locations on a map.

(25) "Next generation 911 emergency communications system" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010 and 82.14B.020.

(26) "Next generation 911 demarcation point" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010.

(27) "Place of primary use" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010 and 82.14B.020.

(28) "Public safety answering point (PSAP)" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010.

(29) "Radio communications service company (RCSC)" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010 and 82.14B.020.

(30) "Statewide services" shall mean services which benefit all counties and the Washington state patrol and does not require local 911 excise tax revenue to be used prior to state reimbursement. Some are paid directly by the state 911 office and some are reimbursed through county contracts.

(31) "Telecommunications provider" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 38.52.010.

(32) "Telecommunications services priority (TSP)" shall mean a service that assigns a priority to telecommunications lines for service restoration.

(33) "Teletype (TTY)" shall mean a telecommunications device that permits typed telephone conversations with or between deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired people with a machine at their location.

(34) "Traffic studies" shall mean 911 call studies performed by a telecommunications provider.

(35) "Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)" shall mean a system designed to provide power, without delay or electrical transients, during a period when the normal power supply is incapable of performing acceptably and before generator or other auxiliary power is made available.

(36) "Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service" shall mean as defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 47 C.F.R. Sec. 9.3.

(1) As required by RCW 38.52.510, each county must provide funding for the 911 emergency communications system in the county in an amount equal to the amount the maximum taxes under RCW 82.14B.030(1) would generate in the county or the amount necessary to provide full funding of the system in the county.

(2) A county in the state of Washington may be eligible to receive available funds from the state 911 account for certain eligible 911 emergency communications system expenses as described in this chapter only if the county has imposed the maximum county 911 tax allowed under RCW 82.14B.030 (1) and (2).

The state 911 coordinator is authorized to enter into statewide agreements to improve the efficiency of 911 emergency communications system for all counties, and may do so through execution of statewide agreements with RCSC(s).

Upon designation by a county as a primary PSAP for wireless 911 calls, a Washington state patrol communications center may be eligible to receive available wireless funds from the state 911 account for the following eligible categories, components of which are not listed in order of priority:

(1) Statewide dialing items:

(a) Coordinator professional development (CPD);

(b) Next generation 911 emergency communications system;

(c) Automatic location identification (ALI) database service;

(d) Traffic studies;

(e) Telecommunications services priority (TSP);

(f) Language interpretive service;

(g) Alternate routing;

(h) Call handling equipment (CHE) telephone system and maintenance;

(i) TTY required for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);

(j) Call handling equipment (CHE) display equipment for PSAPs;

(k) 911 coordinator duties;

(l) 911 coordinator electronic mobile device; and

(m) Associated administrative costs;

(2) Baseline service items:

(a) Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for PSAP 911 equipment and maintenance;

(b) 911 mapping administration;

(c) Mapping display for call answering positions;

(d) 911 Management information system;

(e) Headsets for 911 call receivers; and

(f) Associated administrative costs;

(3) Capital items:

(a) Logging recorder for 911 calls and maintenance;

(b) Computer aided dispatch (CAD) system hardware, software, and maintenance;

(c) Auxiliary generator and generator maintenance to provide 911 eligible equipment/telephone services backup power;

(d) Clock synchronizer and maintenance;

(e) Console furniture for 911 call receiving equipment and maintenance; and

(f) Associated administrative costs.

(1) A 911 emergency communications system is comprised of multiple features, functions, and services whose costs may be eligible, subject to available funds, for reimbursement by eligible entities. The components and services listed below may qualify for reimbursement to eligible entities from the state 911 account based on a reasonable prioritization by the state 911 coordinator, with the advice and assistance of the 911 advisory committee and in accordance with the purposes and priorities established by statute and regulation. The state 911 coordinator will adopt policies defining specific details related to reimbursement eligibility.

(2) Expenses for the items listed below may be eligible for reimbursement from the state 911 account from funds generated under the authority derived from RCW 82.14B.030 (5), (6), (7), and (8).

(a) Statewide dialing items:

(i) Coordinator professional development (CPD);

(ii) Next generation 911 emergency communications system;

(iii) Automatic location identification (ALI) database service;

(iv) Traffic studies;

(v) Telecommunications service priority (TSP);

(vi) Language interpretive service;

(vii) Alternate routing;

(viii) Call handling equipment (CHE) and maintenance;

(ix) TTY required for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);

(x) CHE display equipment for PSAPs;

(xi) PSAP mapping and maintenance;

(xii) 911 coordinator duties;

(xiii) 911 information technology services;

(xiv) 911 call receiver salaries and benefits;

(xv) 911 public education coordination;

(xvi) 911 training coordination;

(xvii) 911 coordinator electronic mobile device; and

(xviii) Associated administrative costs.

(b) Baseline service items:

(i) Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for PSAP 911 equipment and maintenance;

(ii) 911 Coordinator training;

(iii) Mapping/GIS training;

(iv) Information technology (IT) training;

(v) Call receiver training;

(vi) 911 mapping administration;

(vii) Mapping display for call answering positions;

(viii) 911 Management information system;

(ix) Headsets for 911 call receivers;

(x) 911 document destruction; and

(xi) Associated administrative costs.

(c) Capital:

(i) Logging recorder for 911 calls and maintenance;

(ii) Computer aided dispatch (CAD) system hardware, software, and maintenance;

(iii) Auxiliary generator and generator maintenance to provide 911 eligible equipment/telephone services backup power;

(iv) Clock synchronizer and maintenance;

(v) Console furniture for 911 call receiving equipment and maintenance; and

(vi) Associated administrative costs.

(1) In addition to the state reimbursement eligible items listed in WAC 118-66-020 [ 118-66-050] (1) through (3), PSAP and 911 administration cost items are eligible county 911 expenses, including the following items, which are not listed in order of priority:

(a) Management services;

(b) Human resources services;

(c) Legal costs;

(d) Financial services;

(e) PSAP and 911 administration lease/purchase costs;

(f) 911 building repair and maintenance, and major systems replacement/repair;

(g) 911 property and liability insurance;

(h) PSAP and 911 administrative telephone system; and

(i) 911/NG911 reserve accounts.

(2) The items listed above are not eligible for funding from the state 911 account nor shall such items be used in the determination of eligibility in receiving state assistance from the state 911 account.

(3) When the items listed above are used with other PSAP operations such as dispatching, the county 911 eligible amount shall be determined by percentage of use.

Requests for funding shall be submitted in accordance with application formats developed by the state 911 coordinator and shall include plans and budget information justifying the funding request, an annual schedule of eligible items, funding levels, and funding priority. The state 911 coordinator will establish a schedule of annual application dates.

Through other governmental agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission and the Washington utilities and transportation commission, rules have and will be adopted which will impact the statewide operation of 911. By this reference, this rule is intended to be consistent with and complementary to these other rules.