u?t 96- .- STATE OF RHODE ISLAND CHAPTER IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY '86- 1 8 0 JANUARY, AD. 1996 com. LEGISLATIVE saw LAW REVISION mice cs8 AN ACT RELATING TO 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALLS 96-3 2322 Introduced By: Senators Gorham, Porter and Blais Date Introduced: January 18, 1996 Referred To: Senate Committee on Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 39-21.1 of the general laws is hereby amended by adding the following section thereto: 39-21.1-17. Con?dentiality of oak All telephone calls and telephone call transmissions received pursuant to this chapter and all tapes containing records of telephone calls shall remain con?dential and used only for the purpose of handling emergency calls and for public safety purposes as may be needed for law enforcement, ?re, medical, rescue or other emergency services. Such calls shall not be released to any other parties without the written consent (Bf/kl! of the person-whose voice is recorded, or upon order of court. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. Emma? Momma: oil 1mm EXPLANATION OF AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALLS 1 This act would provide for the con?dentiality of taped 911 emergency 2 telephone calls. - IN THE SENATE MN 13 1996 Road and referred to 1119 Committee on JUDICIARY THE commas an JUDICIARY 2g 4 (W ?nacouueno THE PASSAO L?s- cunneuce ?nding an): or THE WITHIN BILLcamr??aaf JUD THE PASSAGE 0 IN THE SENATE APR 9 1995 Ordered to be placed upon the Read and ?.555 -. . Reading Clerk IN Home OF massemmvs? memo TO commas 0H I a A a IN HOUSE OF RECEIVED Ah ,3 IROERED TO BE PURSE THE JUN 11 1996 IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTQWE l. READ 81 JUN 18 1996 a; ?aw mm comma AUG 1 1996 ?mg; Read and Mia!) IN CONCURRENCE ?4.17:ka Reading Clerk RELATING TO 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE b31451. LEGISLATIVE LAW REVISION magmas mm 309 96?2322 AN ACT has- 180 PUBLIC CHAPTER State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations State House Providence, Rhode Island 02903-1196 401-277-2080 LINCOLN ALMOND GOVERNOR August 5, 1996 TO THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE: I am transmitting to the Secretary of State, with my signature, 96-8-2322, as amended, ?An Act Relating to 911 Emergency Telephone Calls.? This Act prohibits the public disclosure of telephone calls made to the State 911 system absent the written consent of the caller or an order of the court. I support this legislation. By providing con?dentiality for 911 calls, this Act serves to protect 911 callers from unwanted invasions of privacy and potential public embarrassment. Such protections reasonably can be expected to enhance the use of this important emergency telephone system by removing reservations by some individuals to make 911 calls. Opponents have expressed concern that this legislation may limit accountability of the 911 authority to the public. I believe, however, that this legislation provides safeguards suf?cient to ensure such accountability. Since the protection from disclosure applies only to the substance of the call and the identity of the caller, information could be made available as to the number of calls received by the 911 system and the timeliness of actions taken by the system in response. Individual callers to 911 who believe that their calls are not being handled appropriately can give permission to release the substance of the call for public review. In addition, those third parties, including governmental agencies, who have concerns about the operation of 911 can bring a legal action seeking to obtain a court order for release of appropriate information. These safeguards adequately protect the public?s interest in and oversight of the operation of 91 1. With this message, I sign this bill into law. Since inc 1n Almond A 6? State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations State House Providence, Rhode Island 02903-1 196 401-277-2080 LINCOLN ALMOND GOVERNOR August 5, 1996 TO THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE: I am transmitting to the Secretary of State, with my signature, 96-3-2322, as amended, ?An Act Relating to 911 Emergency Telephone Calls.? This Act prohibits the public disclosure of telephone calls made to the State 911 system absent the written consent of the caller or an order of the court. I support this legislation. By providing con?dentiality for 911 calls, this Act serves to protect 911 callers from unwanted invasions of privacy and potential public embarrassment. Such protections reasonably can be expected to enhance the use of this important emergency telephone system by removing reservations by some individuals to make 911 calls. Opponents have expressed concern that this legislation may limit accountability of the 911 authority to the public. I believe, however, that this legislation provides safeguards suf?cient to ensure such accountability. Since the protection from disclosure applies only to the substance of the call and the identity of the caller, information could be made available as to the number of calls received by the 911 system and the timeliness Of actions taken by the system in response. Individual callers to 911 who believe that their calls are not being handled appropriately can give permission to release the substance of the call for public review. In addition, those third parties, including governmental agencies, who have concerns about the operation Of 911 can bring a legal action seeking to obtain a court order for release of appropriate information. These safeguards adequately protect the public?s interest in and oversight Of the operation of 91 1 . With this message, I sign this bill into law. Since . inc 1n Almond