SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Das Williams’ 9-1-1 emergency dispatch bill was approved by the Senate and is now headed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s office for his signature.
Assembly Bill 1564 specifies that a 9-1-1 call from a cell phone be routed directly to the local police department dispatch center without delay. Currently, depending on your cell phone carrier, if a person on a cell phone calls 9-1-1 from downtown Santa Barbara, the call may be routed to the Ventura CHP center, 30 miles south.
“When it comes to saving lives, seconds matter,” said Assemblymember Das Williams. “This bill will improve 9-1-1 call efficiency and help emergency responder arrive sooner, which could make the difference between life and death. I am elated that my colleagues in the Legislature agree and I am hopeful that the governor will sign the bill.”
Williams proposed the bill after a man in 2014 found his 23-year-old sister unresponsive. He called 9-1-1 from his cell phone and his call was first routed to the CHP, delaying the response time. The woman died. This is not an isolated incident as many non-freeway wireless 9-1-1 calls in California are routed to CHP and delays in response time can result in tragedy.
This bill requires the Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) work closely with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the local PSAPs, and the wireless industry to take all the necessary actions to improve the 9-1-1 system, undertaking an annual comprehensive review and decision-making process. A new process would ensure that people in emergency situations can get through to emergency responders in a safe and timely manner.
The bill received unanimous approval through every stage of the legislative process and was approved Tuesday by the Senate 38-0.
