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.
"Supporting the ability of our first responders to do their job effectively is vital to our quality of life," said State Representative Rick Hammel (D-Mt. Morris Twp.). "By protecting funding for the 911 systems that protect us all, House Democrats are making the safety of our residents a top priority. This plan provides a fair, stable method of ensuring that our 911 centers will serve residents in emergencies for years to come."
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.