STATE OF WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
Competitive Grants for Public Safety Answering Points
The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs proposes to create Chapter DMA 2, relating to eligibility criteria and appropriate purposes for competitive grants to public safety answering points. Analysis Prepared by the Department of Military Affairs
1. Statutes Interpreted:
2. Statutory Authority:
3. Explanation of Agency Authority:
Section 256.35 (3s) (bm), Stats., provides that the department shall promulgate rules that identify appropriate grant purposes and eligibility criteria for grants to public safety answering points based on recommendations of the 911 subcommittee under Section 256.35 (3s) (d) 4, Stats. Section 256.35 (3s) (bm) 2, Stats., provides that grant purposes may include advanced training of telecommunicators, equipment or software expenses, and incentives to consolidate some or all of the functions of 2 or more public safety answering points. The grant purposes are restricted from including general public safety answering point overhead costs or staffing costs or costs for providing emergency services or emergency services equipment. Section 256.35 (3s) (d) 4, Stats., requires that the 911 subcommittee’s recommended eligibility criteria include basic training and service standards that grant applicants must satisfy. 4. Related Statutes or Rules: Not applicable.
5. Plain Language Analysis:
The department is required under s. 256.35 (3s) (bm), Stats., to establish rules that identify appropriate grant purposes and eligibility criteria for grants to public safety answering points based on recommendations of the 911 subcommittee under Section 256.35 (3s) (d) 4, Stats. Section 256.35 (3s) (bm) 1, Stats., requires the department to award grants to public safety answering points for purposes and criteria identified in the proposed rules. Section 256.35 (3s) (bm) 2, Stats., provides that grant purposes may include advanced training of telecommunicators, equipment or software expenses, and incentives to consolidate some or all of the functions of 2 or more public safety answering points. The grant purposes are restricted from including general public safety answering point overhead costs or staffing costs or costs for providing emergency services or emergency services equipment. Section 256.35 (3s) (bm) 4, Stats., specifies that the department may not award a grant to more than one PSAP per county. Section 256.35 (3s) (d) 4, Stats., requires that the 911 subcommittee’s recommended eligibility criteria include basic training and service standards that grant applicants must satisfy. The department proposed rules will be used by the department to administer grants and for PSAPs to apply for grants. Specifically, the rules outline the process for identifying one PSAP per county that would be eligible to apply for grant funds, minimum eligibility criteria, including basic level of telecommunicator training and PSAP service standards, appropriate purposes and ineligible uses of grant funds, and a process for reconsideration of grant funding decisions made by the department.
In order to be eligible for grant funding under the proposed rule, a PSAP must be designated as the single PSAP to receive grants in a given county for the life of the grant program. This designation is made through a county board resolution, except in first class cities where the determination is made by a majority vote of an intergovernmental cooperation council established under s. 66.0301, Stats. A PSAP must also have established a basic training program that covers the areas outlined in the proposed s. DMA 2.02 (1). The basic training program may be developed in-house or through a commercially available training program. Newly hired telecommunicators must have started the training prior to the submission of an application and be trained within 12 months of hiring in order to maintain eligibility. In addition, the following service standards must be met in order to maintain eligibility:
- The PSAP answers both wireline and wireless 911 calls.
- The PSAP operates 24/7 and has a minimum of two telecommunicators on duty and available to receive requests for emergency assistance.
- The PSAP has established, implemented, and provide annual training on a continuity of operations plan (COOP).
90% of requests for emergency assistance are answered within 10 seconds and 95% of requests for emergency assistance are answered within 20 seconds.
- Within three years of their first grant application, a PSAP must provide emergency medical dispatching (EMD) with pre-arrival instruction either by transferring the call to another PSAP or third party that provides EMD, or by certifying in-house telecommunicators in EMD.
Under the proposed rule, grants may be awarded for the following purposes:
- Advanced telecommunicator training.
- PSAP equipment and software for enabling Next Generation 911 services.
- Activities to consolidate some or all functions of 2 or more PSAPs.
- Enhanced continuity of operations planning and equipment. Grants are strictly prohibited from being used on:
- General PSAP overhead and staffing costs.
- Costs for providing emergency services or emergency services equipment.
- Costs related to facility construction.
When awarding grants, the department will work in consultation with the 911 subcommittee under s. 256.35 (3s) (d) 4, Stats., to determine the local rate of matching funds (not to exceed 25% of the total award amount) and set the maximum award amount under each grant period, as that phrase is defined in proposed s. DMA 2.02 (6). For activities related to PSAP consolidation, the department may reduce or waive local match and maximum award amount requirements. An applicant may challenge a grant award decision made by the department within 30 days after receipt of the notice of a decision by submitting a request in writing that provides rationale for overturning the decision. The department has 14 days to respond with a final determination.
6. Summary of, and Comparison with, Existing or Proposed Federal Statutes and Regulations:
