130th Ohio General Assembly
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H. B. No. 360  As Introduced
As Introduced

129th General Assembly
Regular Session
2011-2012
H. B. No. 360


Representative Rosenberger 

Cosponsors: Representatives Butler, Murray, Grossman, Adams, J., Ruhl, Gonzales 



A BILL
To amend sections 4927.03, 4927.15, 4931.40, 4931.41, 4931.44, 4931.49, 4931.50, 4931.60, 4931.61, 4931.62, 4931.63, 4931.64, 4931.65, 4931.66, 4931.67, 4931.69, and 4931.99, to enact sections 4931.611, 4931.621, and 4931.622, and to repeal section 4931.70 of the Revised Code to revise the amount and methods of collection and remittance of the wireless 9-1-1 charge for prepaid wireless services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 4927.03, 4927.15, 4931.40, 4931.41, 4931.44, 4931.49, 4931.50, 4931.60, 4931.61, 4931.62, 4931.63, 4931.64, 4931.65, 4931.66, 4931.67, 4931.69, and 4931.99 be amended and sections 4931.611, 4931.621, and 4931.622 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 4927.03. (A) Except as provided in divisions (A) and (B) of section 4927.04 of the Revised Code and except to the extent required to exercise authority under federal law, the commission has no authority over any interconnected voice over internet protocol-enabled service or any telecommunications service that is not commercially available on the effective date of this section September 13, 2010, and that employs technology that became available for commercial use only after the effective date of this section September 13, 2010, unless the commission, upon a finding that the exercise of the commission's authority is necessary for the protection, welfare, and safety of the public, adopts rules specifying the necessary regulation. A consumer purchase of a service that is not commercially available on the effective date of this section September 13, 2010, and that employs technology that became available for commercial use only after the effective date of this section September 13, 2010, shall constitute a consumer transaction for purposes of sections 1345.01 to 1345.13 of the Revised Code, notwithstanding any provision of those sections to the contrary, unless the commission exercises jurisdiction over the service in accordance with this division. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of Chapter 4911. of the Revised Code, to the extent that the commission adopts rules under division (A) of this section regarding any interconnected voice over internet protocol enabled service provided to residential customers or regarding any telecommunications service that is provided to residential customers, that is not commercially available on the effective date of this section September 13, 2010, and that employs technology that became available for commercial use only after the effective date of this section September 13, 2010, the office of the consumers' counsel shall have authority to assist and represent residential customers in the implementation and enforcement of those rules.
(B)(1) The commission has no authority over wireless service, resellers of wireless service, or wireless service providers, except as follows:
(a) As provided under sections 4905.84, 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69, and 4931.99 of the Revised Code;
(b) With respect to division (C) of section 4927.15 of the Revised Code;
(c) As provided in divisions (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this section.
(2) The commission has authority over wireless service and wireless service providers as follows, but only to the extent authorized by federal law, including federal regulations:
(a) To the extent that the commission carries out the acts described in divisions (A), (B), (C), (D), and (F) of section 4927.04 of the Revised Code;
(b) As provided in sections 4927.05, 4927.20, and 4927.21 of the Revised Code.
(3) The requirements of sections 4905.10, 4905.14, and 4911.18 of the Revised Code shall apply to a wireless service provider.
(4) The commission has such authority as is necessary to enforce division (B) of this section.
(C) For purposes of sections 4927.01 to 4927.21 of the Revised Code, sections 4903.02, 4903.03, 4903.24, 4903.25, 4905.04, 4905.05, 4905.06, 4905.13, 4905.15, 4905.16, 4905.17, 4905.22, 4905.26, 4905.27, 4905.28, 4905.29, 4905.31, 4905.32, 4905.33, 4905.35, 4905.37, 4905.38, 4905.39, 4905.48, 4905.54, 4905.55, 4905.56, and 4905.60 of the Revised Code do not apply to a telephone company or, as applicable, to an officer, employee, or agent of such company or provider, except to the extent necessary for the commission to carry out sections 4927.01 to 4927.21 of the Revised Code.
(D) Except as specifically authorized in sections 4927.01 to 4927.21 of the Revised Code, the commission has no authority over the quality of service and the service rates, terms, and conditions of telecommunications service provided to end users by a telephone company.
(E) The commission shall initially adopt the rules required by this chapter not later than one hundred twenty days after the effective date of this section September 13, 2010. Subject to the authority granted to the commission under this chapter, the commission may adopt other rules, including rules regarding the removal from tariffs of services that were required to be filed in tariffs prior to the effective date of this section September 13, 2010, as it finds necessary to carry out this chapter.
Sec. 4927.15.  (A) The rates, terms, and conditions for 9-1-1 service provided in this state by a telephone company or a telecommunications carrier and each of the following provided in this state by a telephone company shall be approved and tariffed in the manner prescribed by rule adopted by the public utilities commission and shall be subject to the applicable laws, including rules or regulations adopted and orders issued by the commission or the federal communications commission and, including, as to 9-1-1 service, sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 and 4931.99 of the Revised Code:
(1) Carrier access;
(2) N-1-1 services, other than 9-1-1 service;
(3) Pole attachments and conduit occupancy under section 4905.71 of the Revised Code;
(4) Pay telephone access lines;
(5) Toll presubscription;
(6) Telecommunications relay service.
(B) The public utilities commission may order changes in a telephone company's rates for carrier access in this state subject to this division. In the event that the public utilities commission reduces a telephone company's rates for carrier access that are in effect on the effective date of this section September 13, 2010, that reduction shall be on a revenue-neutral basis under terms and conditions established by the public utilities commission, and any resulting rate changes necessary to comply with division (B) or (C) of this section shall be in addition to any upward rate alteration made under section 4927.12 of the Revised Code.
(C) The public utilities commission has authority to address carrier access policy and to create and administer mechanisms for carrier access reform, including, but not limited to, high cost support.
Sec. 4931.40.  As used in sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code:
(A) "9-1-1 system" means a system through which individuals can request emergency service using the telephone number 9-1-1.
(B) "Basic 9-1-1" means a 9-1-1 system in which a caller provides information on the nature of and the location of an emergency, and the personnel receiving the call must determine the appropriate emergency service provider to respond at that location.
(C) "Enhanced 9-1-1" means a 9-1-1 system capable of providing both enhanced wireline 9-1-1 and wireless enhanced 9-1-1.
(D) "Enhanced wireline 9-1-1" means a 9-1-1 system in which the wireline telephone network, in providing wireline 9-1-1, automatically routes the call to emergency service providers that serve the location from which the call is made and immediately provides to personnel answering the 9-1-1 call information on the location and the telephone number from which the call is being made.
(E) "Wireless enhanced 9-1-1" means a 9-1-1 system that, in providing wireless 9-1-1, has the capabilities of phase I and, to the extent available, phase II enhanced 9-1-1 services as described in 47 C.F.R. 20.18 (d) to (h).
(F)(1) "Wireless service" means federally licensed commercial mobile service as defined in 47 U.S.C. 332(d) and further defined as commercial mobile radio service in 47 C.F.R. 20.3, and includes service provided by any wireless, two-way communications device, including a radio-telephone communications line used in cellular telephone service or personal communications service, a network radio access line, or any functional or competitive equivalent of such a radio-telephone communications or network radio access line.
(2) Nothing in sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code applies to paging or any service that cannot be used to call 9-1-1.
(G) "Wireless service provider" means a facilities-based provider of wireless service to one or more end users in this state.
(H) "Wireless 9-1-1" means the emergency calling service provided by a 9-1-1 system pursuant to a call originating in the network of a wireless service provider.
(I) "Wireline 9-1-1" means the emergency calling service provided by a 9-1-1 system pursuant to a call originating in the network of a wireline service provider.
(J) "Wireline service provider" means a facilities-based provider of wireline service to one or more end-users in this state.
(K) "Wireline service" means basic local exchange service, as defined in section 4927.01 of the Revised Code, that is transmitted by means of interconnected wires or cables by a wireline service provider authorized by the public utilities commission.
(L) "Wireline telephone network" means the selective router and data base processing systems, trunking and data wiring cross connection points at the public safety answering point, and all other voice and data components of the 9-1-1 system.
(M) "Subdivision" means a county, municipal corporation, township, township fire district, joint fire district, township police district, joint police district, joint ambulance district, or joint emergency medical services district that provides emergency service within its territory, or that contracts with another municipal corporation, township, or district or with a private entity to provide such service; and a state college or university, port authority, or park district of any kind that employs law enforcement officers that act as the primary police force on the grounds of the college or university or port authority or in the parks operated by the district.
(N) "Emergency service" means emergency law enforcement, firefighting, ambulance, rescue, and medical service.
(O) "Emergency service provider" means the state highway patrol and an emergency service department or unit of a subdivision or that provides emergency service to a subdivision under contract with the subdivision.
(P) "Public safety answering point" means a facility to which 9-1-1 system calls for a specific territory are initially routed for response and where personnel respond to specific requests for emergency service by directly dispatching the appropriate emergency service provider, relaying a message to the appropriate provider, or transferring the call to the appropriate provider.
(Q) "Customer premises equipment" means telecommunications equipment, including telephone instruments, on the premises of a public safety answering point that is used in answering and responding to 9-1-1 system calls.
(R) "Municipal corporation in the county" includes any municipal corporation that is wholly contained in the county and each municipal corporation located in more than one county that has a greater proportion of its territory in the county to which the term refers than in any other county.
(S) "Board of county commissioners" includes the legislative authority of a county established under Section 3 of Article X, Ohio Constitution, or Chapter 302. of the Revised Code.
(T) "Final plan" means a final plan adopted under division (B) of section 4931.44 of the Revised Code and, except as otherwise expressly provided, an amended final plan adopted under section 4931.45 of the Revised Code.
(U) "Subdivision served by a public safety answering point" means a subdivision that provides emergency service for any part of its territory that is located within the territory of a public safety answering point whether the subdivision provides the emergency service with its own employees or pursuant to a contract.
(V) A township's population includes only population of the unincorporated portion of the township.
(W) "Telephone company" means a company engaged in the business of providing local exchange telephone service by making available or furnishing access and a dial tone to persons within a local calling area for use in originating and receiving voice grade communications over a switched network operated by the provider of the service within the area and gaining access to other telecommunications services. "Telephone company" includes a wireline service provider and a wireless service provider unless otherwise expressly specified. For purposes of sections 4931.52 and 4931.53 of the Revised Code, "telephone company" means a wireline service provider.
(X) "Prepaid wireless calling service" has the same meaning as in division (AA)(5) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code.
(Y) "Provider of a prepaid wireless calling service" means a wireless service provider that provides a prepaid wireless calling service.
(Z) "Retail sale" means a sale that is for use or consumption by the purchaser, and not for resale.
Sec. 4931.41.  (A)(1) A countywide 9-1-1 system shall include all of the territory of the townships and municipal corporations in the county and any portion of such a municipal corporation that extends into an adjacent county.
(2) The system shall exclude any territory served by a wireline service provider that is not capable of reasonably meeting the technical and economic requirements of providing the wireline telephone network portion of the countywide system for that territory. The system shall exclude from enhanced 9-1-1 any territory served by a wireline service provider that is not capable of reasonably meeting the technical and economic requirements of providing the wireline telephone network portion of enhanced 9-1-1 for that territory. If a 9-1-1 planning committee and a wireline service provider do not agree on whether the provider is so capable, the committee shall notify the public utilities commission, and the commission shall determine whether the wireline service provider is so capable. The committee shall ascertain whether such disagreement exists before making its implementation proposal under division (A) of section 4931.43 of the Revised Code. The commission's determination shall be in the form of an order. No final plan shall require a wireline service provider to provide the wireline telephone network portion of a 9-1-1 system that the commission has determined the provider is not reasonably capable of providing.
(B) A countywide 9-1-1 system may be a basic or enhanced 9-1-1 system, or a combination of the two, and shall be for the purpose of providing both wireline 9-1-1 and wireless 9-1-1.
(C) Every emergency service provider that provides emergency service within the territory of a countywide 9-1-1 system shall participate in the countywide system.
(D)(1) Each public safety answering point shall be operated by a subdivision and shall be operated constantly.
(2) A subdivision that operates a public safety answering point shall pay all of the costs associated with establishing, equipping, furnishing, operating, and maintaining that facility and shall allocate those costs among itself and the subdivisions served by the answering point based on the allocation formula in a final plan. The wireline service provider or other entity that provides or maintains the customer premises equipment shall bill the operating subdivision for the cost of providing such equipment, or its maintenance. A wireless service provider and a subdivision operating a public safety answering point may enter into a service agreement for providing wireless enhanced 9-1-1 pursuant to a final plan adopted under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code.
(E) Except to the extent provided in a final plan that provides for funding of a 9-1-1 system in part through charges imposed under section 4931.51 of the Revised Code, each subdivision served by a public safety answering point shall pay the subdivision that operates the answering point the amount computed in accordance with the allocation formula set forth in the final plan.
(F) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the purchase or other acquisition, installation, and maintenance of the telephone network for a 9-1-1 system and the purchase or other acquisition, installation, and maintenance of customer premises equipment at a public safety answering point made in compliance with a final plan or an agreement under section 4931.48 of the Revised Code, including customer premises equipment used to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1, are not subject to any requirement of competitive bidding.
(G) Each emergency service provider participating in a countywide 9-1-1 system shall maintain a telephone number in addition to 9-1-1.
(H) Whenever a final plan provides for the implementation of basic 9-1-1, the planning committee shall so notify the public utilities commission, which shall determine whether the wireline service providers serving the territory covered by the plan are capable of reasonably meeting the technical and economic requirements of providing the wireline telephone network portion of an enhanced 9-1-1 system. The determination shall be made solely for purposes of division (C)(2) of section 4931.47 of the Revised Code.
(I) If the public safety answering point personnel reasonably determine that a 9-1-1 call is not an emergency, the personnel shall provide the caller with the telephone number of an appropriate subdivision agency as applicable.
(J) A final plan adopted under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code, or an agreement under section 4931.48 of the Revised Code, may provide that, by further agreement included in the plan or agreement, the state highway patrol or one or more public safety answering points of another 9-1-1 system is the public safety answering point or points for the provision of wireline or wireless 9-1-1 for all or part of the territory of the 9-1-1 system established under the plan or agreement. In that event, the subdivision for which the wireline or wireless 9-1-1 is provided as named in the agreement shall be deemed the subdivision operating the public safety answering point or points for purposes of sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code, except that, for the purpose of division (D)(2) of this section, that subdivision shall pay only so much of the costs of establishing, equipping, furnishing, operating, or maintaining any such public safety answering point as are specified in the agreement with the patrol or other system.
(K) A final plan for the provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 shall provide that any wireless 9-1-1 calls routed to a state highway patrol-operated public safety answering point by default, due to a wireless service provider so routing all such calls of its subscribers without prior permission, are instead to be routed as provided under the plan. Upon the implementation of countywide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 pursuant to a final plan, the state highway patrol shall cease any functioning as a public safety answering point providing wireless 9-1-1 within the territory covered by the countywide 9-1-1 system so established, unless the patrol functions as a public safety answering point providing wireless enhanced 9-1-1 pursuant to an agreement included in the plan as authorized under division (J) of this section.
Sec. 4931.44.  (A) Within sixty days after receipt of the final plan pursuant to division (C) of section 4931.43 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners of the county and the legislative authority of each municipal corporation in the county and of each township whose territory is proposed to be included in a countywide 9-1-1 system shall act by resolution to approve or disapprove the plan, except that, with respect to a final plan that provides for funding of the 9-1-1 system in part through charges imposed under section 4931.51 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners shall not act by resolution to approve or disapprove the plan until after a resolution adopted under section 4931.51 of the Revised Code has become effective as provided in division (D) of that section. A municipal corporation or township whose territory is proposed to be included in the system includes any municipal corporation or township in which a part of its territory is excluded pursuant to division (A)(2) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code. Each such authority immediately shall notify the board of county commissioners in writing of its approval or disapproval of the final plan. Failure by a board or legislative authority to notify the board of county commissioners of approval or disapproval within such sixty-day period shall be deemed disapproval by the board or authority.
(B) As used in this division, "county's population" excludes the population of any municipal corporation or township that, under the plan, is completely excluded from 9-1-1 service in the county's final plan. A countywide plan is effective if all of the following entities approve the plan in accordance with this section:
(1) The board of county commissioners;
(2) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation that contains at least thirty per cent of the county's population, if any;
(3) The legislative authorities of municipal corporations and townships that contain at least sixty per cent of the county's population or, if the plan has been approved by a municipal corporation that contains at least sixty per cent of the county's population, by the legislative authorities of municipal corporations and townships that contain at least seventy-five per cent of the county's population.
(C) After a countywide plan approved in accordance with this section is adopted, all of the telephone companies and subdivisions included in the plan are subject to the specific requirements of the plan and to sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4931.49.  (A)(1) The state, the state highway patrol, or a subdivision participating in a 9-1-1 system established under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code and any officer, agent, employee, or independent contractor of the state, the state highway patrol, or such a participating subdivision is not liable in damages in a civil action for injuries, death, or loss to persons or property arising from any act or omission, except willful or wanton misconduct, in connection with developing, adopting, or approving any final plan or any agreement made under section 4931.48 of the Revised Code or otherwise bringing into operation the 9-1-1 system pursuant to sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code.
(2) The Ohio 9-1-1 council, the wireless 9-1-1 advisory board, and any member of that council or board are not liable in damages in a civil action for injuries, death, or loss to persons or property arising from any act or omission, except willful or wanton misconduct, in connection with the development or operation of a 9-1-1 system established under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in section 4765.49 of the Revised Code, an individual who gives emergency instructions through a 9-1-1 system established under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code, and the principals for whom the person acts, including both employers and independent contractors, public and private, and an individual who follows emergency instructions and the principals for whom that person acts, including both employers and independent contractors, public and private, are not liable in damages in a civil action for injuries, death, or loss to persons or property arising from the issuance or following of emergency instructions, except where the issuance or following of the instructions constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.
(C) Except for willful or wanton misconduct, a telephone company, and any other installer, maintainer, or provider, through the sale or otherwise, of customer premises equipment, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and suppliers are not liable in damages in a civil action for injuries, death, or loss to persons or property incurred by any person resulting from any of the following:
(1) Such an entity's or its officers', directors', employees', agents', or suppliers' participation in or acts or omissions in connection with participating in or developing, maintaining, or operating a 9-1-1 system, whether that system is established pursuant to sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code or otherwise in accordance with schedules regarding 9-1-1 systems filed with the public utilities commission pursuant to section 4905.30 of the Revised Code by a telephone company that is a wireline service provider;
(2) Such an entity's or its officers', directors', employees', agents', or suppliers' provision of assistance to a public utility, municipal utility, or state or local government as authorized by divisions (F)(G)(4) and (5) of this section.
(D) Except for willful or wanton misconduct, a provider of and a seller of a prepaid wireless calling service and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and suppliers are not liable in damages in a civil action for injuries, death, or loss to persons or property incurred by any person resulting from anything described in division (C) of this section.
(E) No person shall knowingly use the telephone number of a 9-1-1 system established under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code to report an emergency if the person knows that no emergency exists.
(E)(F) No person shall knowingly use a 9-1-1 system for a purpose other than obtaining emergency service.
(F)(G) No person shall disclose or use any information concerning telephone numbers, addresses, or names obtained from the data base that serves the public safety answering point of a 9-1-1 system established under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code, except for any of the following purposes or under any of the following circumstances:
(1) For the purpose of the 9-1-1 system;
(2) For the purpose of responding to an emergency call to an emergency service provider;
(3) In the circumstance of the inadvertent disclosure of such information due solely to technology of the wireline telephone network portion of the 9-1-1 system not allowing access to the data base to be restricted to 9-1-1 specific answering lines at a public safety answering point;
(4) In the circumstance of access to a data base being given by a telephone company that is a wireline service provider to a public utility or municipal utility in handling customer calls in times of public emergency or service outages. The charge, terms, and conditions for the disclosure or use of such information for the purpose of such access to a data base shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission.
(5) In the circumstance of access to a data base given by a telephone company that is a wireline service provider to a state and local government in warning of a public emergency, as determined by the public utilities commission. The charge, terms, and conditions for the disclosure or use of that information for the purpose of access to a data base is subject to the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission.
Sec. 4931.50. (A) The attorney general, upon request of the public utilities commission or on the attorney general's own initiative, shall begin proceedings against a telephone company that is a wireline service provider to enforce compliance with sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code or with the terms, conditions, requirements, or specifications of a final plan or of an agreement under section 4931.48 of the Revised Code as to wireline or wireless 9-1-1.
(B) The attorney general, upon the attorney general's own initiative, or any prosecutor, upon the prosecutor's initiative, shall begin proceedings against a subdivision as to wireline or wireless 9-1-1 to enforce compliance with sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code or with the terms, conditions, requirements, or specifications of a final plan or of an agreement under section 4931.48 of the Revised Code as to wireline or wireless 9-1-1.
Sec. 4931.60.  There is hereby created within the public utilities commission the 9-1-1 service program, headed by an Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator in the unclassified civil service pursuant to division (A)(9) of section 124.11 of the Revised Code. The coordinator shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the commission chairperson and shall report directly to the chairperson. Upon the effective date of this section On May 6, 2005, the chairperson shall appoint an interim coordinator and, upon submission of a list of nominees by the Ohio 9-1-1 council pursuant to section 4931.69 of the Revised Code, shall consider those nominees in making the final appointment and in appointing any subsequent coordinator. The chairperson may request the council to submit additional nominees and may reject any of the nominees. The chairperson shall fix the compensation of the coordinator. The chairperson shall evaluate the performance of the coordinator after considering the evaluation and recommendations of the council under section 4931.68 of the Revised Code.
The Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator shall administer the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund as specified in sections 4931.63 and 4931.64 of the Revised Code and otherwise carry out the coordinator's duties under sections 4931.60 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code. The chairperson may establish additional duties of the coordinator based on a list of recommended duties submitted by the Ohio 9-1-1 council pursuant to section 4931.68 of the Revised Code. The chairperson may assign one or more commission employees to assist the coordinator in carrying out the coordinator's duties.
Sec. 4931.61. (A) Beginning on the first day of the third month following May 6, 2005, and ending December 31, 2012, there is hereby imposed, on each wireless telephone number of a wireless service subscriber who has a billing address in this state, except prepaid wireless telephone numbers, a wireless 9-1-1 charge of twenty-eight cents per month. The subscriber shall pay the wireless 9-1-1 charge for each such wireless telephone number assigned to the subscriber. Each wireless service provider and each reseller of wireless service shall collect the wireless 9-1-1 charge as a specific line item on each subscriber's monthly bill. The line item shall be expressly designated "State/Local Wireless-E911 Costs ($0.28/billed number)." If a provider bills a subscriber for any wireless enhanced 9-1-1 costs that the provider may incur, the charge or amount is not to appear in the same line item as the state/local line item. If the charge or amount is to appear in its own, separate line item on the bill, the charge or amount shall be expressly designated "[Name of Provider] Federal Wireless-E911 Costs." For any subscriber of prepaid wireless service, a wireless service provider or reseller shall collect the wireless 9-1-1 charge in any of the following manners:
(1) At the point of sale. For purposes of prepaid wireless services, point of sale includes the purchasing of additional minutes by the subscriber along with any necessary activation of those minutes.
(2) If the subscriber has a positive account balance on the last day of the month and has used the service during that month, by reducing that balance not later than the end of the first week of the following month by the amount of the charge or an equivalent number of airtime minutes;
(3) By dividing the total earned prepaid wireless telephone revenue from sales within this state received by the wireless service provider or reseller during the month by fifty, multiplying the quotient by twenty-eight cents, and remitting this amount pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 4931.62 of the Revised Code.
(B)(1) Beginning on the first day of the month following the effective date of this section and ending December 31, 2012, there is hereby imposed, on each retail sale of a prepaid wireless calling service occurring in this state, a wireless 9-1-1 charge of sixteen cents per line transaction.
(2) For purposes of division (B)(1) of this section, a retail sale occurs in this state if it is effected by the consumer appearing in person at a seller's business location in this state, or if the sale is sourced to this state under division (E)(3) of section 5739.034 of the Revised Code, except that under that division, in lieu of sourcing a sale under division (C)(5) of section 5739.033 of the Revised Code, the seller, rather than the service provider, may elect to source the sale to the location associated with the mobile telephone number.
(3)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(3)(b) of this section, the seller of the prepaid wireless calling service shall collect the charge from the consumer at the time of each retail sale and disclose the amount of the charge to the consumer at the time of the sale by itemizing the charge on a receipt, invoice, or similar form of written documentation.
(b) The seller of the prepaid wireless calling service may elect to charge the consumer only the price of the prepaid wireless calling service. In this case, the seller shall provide the consumer at the time of the retail sale with written documentation that the amount paid by the consumer for the wireless calling service includes the wireless 9-1-1 charge imposed under division (B)(1) of this section. The documentation shall state the amount of the charge.
(c) Whether the seller of a prepaid wireless calling service collects the wireless 9-1-1 charge under division (B)(3)(a) of this section or elects the option provided under division (B)(3)(b) of this section, the seller shall comply with the appropriate remittance requirement under division (B)(1) of section 4931.62 of the Revised Code.
(C) The wireless 9-1-1 charge charges shall be exempt from state or local taxation.
Sec. 4931.611.  The department of taxation shall provide notice to all sellers of prepaid wireless calling services of any increase or decrease in the wireless 9-1-1 charge imposed under division (B)(1) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code. Each notice shall be provided not less than thirty days before the effective date of the increase or decrease.
Sec. 4931.62. (A)(1) Beginning with the second month following the month in which the wireless 9-1-1 charge is first imposed under division (A) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code, a wireless service provider or reseller of wireless service, not later than the last day of each month, shall remit the full amount of all such wireless 9-1-1 charges it collected for the second preceding calendar month to the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, with the exception of charges equivalent to the amount authorized as a billing and collection fee under division (A)(2) of this section. In doing so, the provider or reseller may remit the requisite amount in any reasonable manner consistent with its existing operating or technological capabilities, such as by customer address, location associated with the wireless telephone number, or another allocation method based on comparable, relevant data. If the wireless service provider or reseller receives a partial payment for a bill from a wireless service subscriber, the wireless service provider or reseller shall apply the payment first against the amount the subscriber owes the wireless service provider or reseller and shall remit to the coordinator such lesser amount, if any, as results from that invoice.
(2) A wireless service provider or reseller of wireless service may retain as a billing and collection fee two per cent of the total wireless 9-1-1 charges it collects in any month and shall account to the coordinator for the amount retained.
(3) The coordinator shall return to, or credit against the next month's remittance of, a wireless service provider or service reseller the amount of any remittances the coordinator determines were erroneously submitted by the provider or reseller.
(B)(1) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section:
(a) A seller of a prepaid wireless calling service that collected prepaid wireless 9-1-1 charges under division (B)(3)(a) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code shall remit the full amount of all such charges collected to the department of taxation in accordance with section 4931.622 of the Revised Code. For purposes of this division, a charge shall be deemed to have been collected if it was itemized as required under division (B)(3)(a) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code.
(b) A seller of a prepaid wireless calling service that elected the option provided under division (B)(3)(b) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code shall remit the full amount of all wireless 9-1-1 charges due under division (B)(1) of that section to the department of taxation in accordance with section 4931.622 of the Revised Code.
(2) A seller may retain as a collection fee three per cent of the total wireless 9-1-1 charges described under either division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of this section, and shall account to the department for the amount retained.
(C)(1) Each subscriber on which a wireless 9-1-1 charge is imposed under division (A) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code is liable to the state for the amount of the charge. If a wireless service provider or reseller fails to collect the charge under that division from a subscriber of prepaid wireless service, or fails to bill any other subscriber for the charge imposed under division (A) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code, the wireless service provider or reseller is liable to the state for the amount not collected or billed. If a wireless service provider or reseller collects charges under that division and fails to remit the money to the coordinator, the wireless service provider or reseller is liable to the state for any amount collected and not remitted.
(C)(2) No provider of a prepaid wireless calling service shall be liable to the state for any wireless 9-1-1 charge imposed under division (B)(1) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code that was not collected or remitted.
(D)(1) If the public utilities commission has reason to believe that a wireless service provider or reseller has failed to bill, collect, or remit the wireless 9-1-1 charge as required by divisions (A)(1) and (B)(C)(1) of this section or has retained more than the amount authorized under division (A)(2) of this section, and after written notice to the provider or reseller, the commission may audit the provider or reseller for the sole purpose of making such a determination. The audit may include, but is not limited to, a sample of the provider's or reseller's billings, collections, remittances, or retentions for a representative period, and the commission shall make a good faith effort to reach agreement with the provider or reseller in selecting that sample.
(2) Upon written notice to the wireless service provider or reseller, the commission, by order after completion of the audit, may make an assessment against the provider or reseller if, pursuant to the audit, the commission determines that the provider or reseller has failed to bill, collect, or remit the wireless 9-1-1 charge as required by divisions (A)(1) and (B)(C)(1) of this section or has retained more than the amount authorized under division (A)(2) of this section. The assessment shall be in the amount of any remittance that was due and unpaid on the date notice of the audit was sent by the commission to the provider or reseller or, as applicable, in the amount of the excess amount under division (A)(2) of this section retained by the provider or reseller as of that date.
(3) The portion of any assessment not paid within sixty days after the date of service by the commission of the assessment notice under division (C)(D)(2) of this section shall bear interest from that date until paid at the rate per annum prescribed by section 5703.47 of the Revised Code. That interest may be collected by making an assessment under division (C)(D)(2) of this section. An assessment under this division and any interest due shall be remitted in the same manner as the wireless 9-1-1 charge imposed under division (A) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code.
(4) An assessment is final and due and payable and shall be remitted to the commission unless the assessed party petitions for rehearing under section 4903.10 of the Revised Code. The proceedings of the commission specified in division (C)(D)(4) of this section are subject to and governed by Chapter 4903. of the Revised Code, except that the court of appeals of Franklin county has exclusive, original jurisdiction to review, modify, or vacate an order of the commission under division (C)(D)(2) of this section. The court shall hear and determine such appeal in the same manner and under the same standards as the Ohio supreme court hears and determines appeals under Chapter 4903. of the Revised Code.
The judgment of the court of appeals is final and conclusive unless reversed, vacated, or modified on appeal. Such an appeal may be made by the commission or the person to whom the order under division (C)(D)(2) of this section was issued and shall proceed as in the case of appeals in civil actions as provided in Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code.
(5) After an assessment becomes final, if any portion of the assessment remains unpaid, including accrued interest, a certified copy of the commission's entry making the assessment final may be filed in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas in the county in which the place of business of the assessed party is located. If the party maintains no place of business in this state, the certified copy of the entry may be filed in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas of Franklin county. Immediately upon the filing, the clerk shall enter a judgment for the state against the assessed party in the amount shown on the entry. The judgment may be filed by the clerk in a loose-leaf book entitled "special judgments for wireless 9-1-1 charges" and shall have the same effect as other judgments. The judgment shall be executed upon the request of the commission.
(6) An assessment under this division does not discharge a subscriber's liability to reimburse the provider or reseller for the wireless 9-1-1 charge imposed under division (A) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code. If, after the date of service of the audit notice under division (C)(D)(1) of this section, a subscriber pays a wireless 9-1-1 charge for the period covered by the assessment, the payment shall be credited against the assessment.
(7) All money collected by the commission under this division shall be paid to the treasurer of state, for deposit to the credit of the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund.
Sec. 4931.621.  (A) The department of taxation shall transfer the total amount of remitted wireless 9-1-1 charges to the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, except for the amount authorized under division (B) of this section, not later than thirty days after receipt of the charges.
(B) The department may retain two per cent of remitted wireless 9-1-1 charges as an administrative fee.
Sec. 4931.622.  (A) A seller of a prepaid wireless calling service subject to the remittance requirement of either division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of section 4931.62 of the Revised Code shall also be subject to the provisions of Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code regarding the excise tax on retail sales levied under section 5739.02 of the Revised Code, as those provisions apply to filing returns, remittance, audits, assessments, appeals, enforcement, liability, and penalties.
(B) The department of taxation shall establish procedures by which a seller may document that a sale is not a retail sale of a prepaid wireless calling service. The procedures shall substantially coincide with similar procedures under Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4931.63.  (A) There is hereby created the wireless 9-1-1 administrative fund in the state treasury. A sufficient percentage, determined by the chairperson of the public utilities commission but not to exceed two per cent, of the periodic remittances and transfers of the wireless 9-1-1 charge charges under section sections 4931.62 and 4931.621 of the Revised Code shall be deposited to the credit of the fund, to be used by the commission to cover such nonpayroll costs and, at the discretion of the commission such payroll costs, of the commission as are incurred in assisting the coordinator in carrying out sections 4931.60 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code and in conducting audits under division (C)(D) of section 4931.62 of the Revised Code. In addition, the compensation of the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, and any expenses of the coordinator in carrying out those sections, shall be paid from the fund.
(B) There is hereby created the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state but shall not be part of the state treasury. The periodic remittances and transfers of the wireless 9-1-1 charge charges remaining after the deposit required by division (A) of this section shall be deposited to the credit of the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund. The treasurer of state shall deposit or invest the moneys in this fund in accordance with Chapter 135. of the Revised Code and any other provision of law governing public moneys of the state as defined in section 135.01 of the Revised Code. The treasurer of state shall credit the interest earned to the fund. The treasurer of state shall disburse money from the fund solely upon order of the coordinator as authorized under section 4931.64 of the Revised Code. Annually, until the fund is depleted, the treasurer of state shall certify to the coordinator the amount of moneys in the treasurer of state's custody belonging to the fund.
Sec. 4931.64. (A) Prior to the first disbursement under this section and annually thereafter not later than the twenty-fifth day of January, until the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund is depleted, the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator shall do both of the following for the purposes of division (B) of this section:
(1) Determine, for a county that has adopted a final plan under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code for the provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 within the territory covered by the countywide 9-1-1 system established under the plan, the number of wireless telephone numbers assigned to wireless service subscribers that have billing addresses within the county. That number shall be adjusted between any two counties so that the number of wireless telephone numbers assigned to wireless service subscribers who have billing addresses within any portion of a municipal corporation that territorially lies primarily in one of the two counties but extends into the other county is added to the number already determined for that primary county and subtracted for the other county.
(2) Determine each county's proportionate share of the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund for the ensuing calendar year on the basis set forth in division (B) of this section; estimate the ensuing calendar year's fund balance; compute each such county's estimated proceeds for the ensuing calendar year based on its proportionate share and the estimated fund balance; and certify such amount of proceeds to the county auditor of each such county.
(B) The Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, in accordance with this division and not later than the last day of each month, shall disburse the amount credited as remittances to the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund during the second preceding month, plus any accrued interest on the fund. Such a disbursement shall be paid to each county treasurer. The amount to be so disbursed monthly to a particular county shall be a proportionate share of the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund balance based on the ratio between the following:
(1) The number of wireless telephone numbers determined for the county by the coordinator pursuant to division (A) of this section;
(2) The total number of wireless telephone numbers assigned to subscribers who have billing addresses within this state. To the extent that the fund balance permits, the disbursements to each county shall total at least ninety thousand dollars annually.
(C)(1) Each county that has not adopted a final plan for the provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 under sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code shall be deemed as having done so for the purposes of making the determinations under divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section.
(2) For each county described in division (C)(1) of this section, the coordinator shall retain in the wireless 9-1-1 government assistance fund an amount equal to what would otherwise be paid as the county's disbursements under division (B) of this section if it had adopted such a final plan, plus any related accrued interest, to be set aside for that county. If the board of county commissioners notifies the coordinator prior to January 1, 2010, that a final plan for the provision of wireless enhanced 9-1-1 has been adopted, the coordinator shall disburse and pay to the county treasurer, not later than the last day of the month following the month the notification is made, the total amount so set aside for the county plus any related accrued interest. As of January 1, 2010, any money and interest so retained and not disbursed as authorized under this division shall be available for disbursement only as provided in division (B) of this section.
(D) Immediately upon receipt by a county treasurer of a disbursement under division (B) or (C) of this section, the county shall disburse, in accordance with the allocation formula set forth in the final plan, the amount the county so received to any other subdivisions in the county that pay the costs of a public safety answering point providing wireless enhanced 9-1-1 under the plan.
(E) Nothing in sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code affects the authority of a subdivision operating or served by a public safety answering point of a 9-1-1 system to use, as provided in the final plan for the system or in an agreement under section 4931.48 of the Revised Code, any other authorized revenue of the subdivision for the purposes of providing basic or enhanced 9-1-1.
Sec. 4931.65.  Except as otherwise provided in section 4931.651 of the Revised Code:
(A) A countywide 9-1-1 system receiving a disbursement under section 4931.64 of the Revised Code shall provide countywide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 in accordance with sections 4931.40 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code beginning as soon as reasonably possible after receipt of the first disbursement or, if that service is already implemented, shall continue to provide such service. Except as provided in divisions (B) and (C) of this section, a disbursement shall be used solely for the purpose of paying either or both of the following:
(1) Any costs of designing, upgrading, purchasing, leasing, programming, installing, testing, or maintaining the necessary data, hardware, software, and trunking required for the public safety answering point or points of the 9-1-1 system to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1, which costs are incurred before or on or after May 6, 2005, and consist of such additional costs of the 9-1-1 system over and above any costs incurred to provide wireline 9-1-1 or to otherwise provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1. Annually, up to twenty-five thousand dollars of the disbursements received on or after January 1, 2009, may be applied to data, hardware, and software that automatically alerts personnel receiving a 9-1-1 call that a person at the subscriber's address or telephone number may have a mental or physical disability, of which that personnel shall inform the appropriate emergency service provider. On or after the provision of technical and operational standards pursuant to division (D)(1) of section 4931.68 of the Revised Code, a subdivision shall consider the standards before incurring any costs described in this division.
(2) Any costs of training the staff of the public safety answering point or points to provide wireless enhanced 9-1-1, which costs are incurred before or on or after May 6, 2005.
(B) Beginning one year following the imposition of the wireless 9-1-1 charge under division (A) of section 4931.61 of the Revised Code, a subdivision that certifies to the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator that it has paid the costs described in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section and is providing countywide wireless enhanced 9-1-1 may use disbursements received under section 4931.64 of the Revised Code to pay any of its personnel costs of one or more public safety answering points providing countywide wireless enhanced 9-1-1.
(C) After receiving its April 2013, disbursement under section 4931.64 of the Revised Code, a subdivision may use any remaining balance of disbursements it received under that section to pay any of its costs of providing countywide wireless 9-1-1, including the personnel costs of one or more public safety answering points providing that service.
(D) The costs described in divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section may include any such costs payable pursuant to an agreement under division (J) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4931.66.  (A)(1) A telephone company, the state highway patrol as described in division (J) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code, and each subdivision operating one or more public safety answering points for a countywide system providing wireless 9-1-1, shall provide the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator with such information as the coordinator requests for the purposes of carrying out the coordinator's duties under sections 4931.60 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, duties regarding the collection of the wireless 9-1-1 charge and regarding the provision of a report or recommendation under section 4931.70 of the Revised Code charges.
(2) A wireless service provider shall provide an official, employee, agent, or representative of a subdivision operating a public safety answering point, or of the state highway patrol as described in division (J) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code, with such technical, service, and location information as the official, employee, agent, or representative requests for the purpose of providing wireless 9-1-1.
(3) A subdivision operating one or more public safety answering points of a 9-1-1 system, and a telephone company, shall provide to the Ohio 9-1-1 council such information as the council requires for the purpose of carrying out its duties under division (D) of section 4931.68 of the Revised Code.
(B)(1) Any information provided under division (A) of this section that consists of trade secrets as defined in section 1333.61 of the Revised Code or of information regarding the customers, revenues, expenses, or network information of a telephone company shall be confidential and does not constitute a public record for the purpose of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.
(2) The public utilities commission, the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, and any official, employee, agent, or representative of the commission, of the state highway patrol as described in division (J) of section 4931.41 of the Revised Code, or of a subdivision operating a public safety answering point, while acting or claiming to act in the capacity of the commission or coordinator or such official, employee, agent, or representative, shall not disclose any information provided under division (A) of this section regarding a telephone company's customers, revenues, expenses, or network information. Nothing in division (B)(2) of this section precludes any such information from being aggregated and included in any report required under section 4931.70 or division (D)(2) of section 4931.69 of the Revised Code, provided the aggregated information does not identify the number of any particular company's customers or the amount of its revenues or expenses or identify a particular company as to any network information.
Sec. 4931.67.  The public utilities commission, after consultation with the Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator, shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to carry out sections 4931.60 to 4931.70 4931.69 of the Revised Code, including rules prescribing the necessary accounting for a wireless service provider's or reseller's billing and collection fee under division (A)(2) of section 4931.62 of the Revised Code and rules establishing a fair and reasonable process for recommending the amount of the wireless 9-1-1 charge as authorized under division (B) of section 4931.70 of the Revised Code. The amount of the wireless 9-1-1 charge shall be prescribed only by act of the general assembly.
Sec. 4931.69.  (A) There is hereby created the wireless 9-1-1 advisory board, consisting of the Ohio 9-1-1 council appointee that represents public safety communications officials and five members appointed by the governor as follows: one of the council appointees that represents wireless service providers in this state, whose council term expires after the council term of the council appointee representing public safety communications officials, one noncouncil representative of wireless service providers in this state, one noncouncil representative of public safety communications officials in this state, and two noncouncil representatives of municipal and county governments in this state.
(B) The terms of the advisory board members who are also council members shall be concurrent with their terms as members of the council, as prescribed under division (B) of section 4931.68 of the Revised Code. The terms of the initial noncouncil appointee to the advisory board who represents wireless service providers and of one of the initial noncouncil appointees who represents municipal and county government shall expire on January 31, 2009. The terms of the initial noncouncil appointee to the advisory board representing public safety communications officials and of the other initial noncouncil appointee representing municipal and county government shall expire on January 31, 2010. Thereafter, terms of the noncouncil appointees shall be for three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as the term it succeeds. The conditions of holding office, manner of filling vacancies, and other matters concerning service by any member of the advisory board shall be the same as set forth for council members under division (B) of section 4931.68 of the Revised Code.
(C) The Ohio 9-1-1 coordinator shall appoint the chairperson of the advisory board. Each member of the board shall be a voting member and shall have one vote in all deliberations of the board. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum.
(D)(1) The advisory board shall make a recommendation to the coordinator regarding the amount of the wireless 9-1-1 charge to be included in the report required by division (B) of section 4931.70 of the Revised Code and shall consult with the coordinator regarding that report.
(2) The advisory board shall make recommendations to and consult with the public utilities commission and the coordinator regarding any rules to be adopted under section 4931.67 of the Revised Code.
(E) The advisory board is not an agency, as defined in section 101.82 of the Revised Code, for purposes of sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4931.99.  (A) Whoever violates division (D)(E) of section 4931.49 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(B) Whoever violates division (B) of section 4931.06 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor in the first degree.
(C) Whoever violates division (E)(F) or (F)(G) of section 4931.49 or division (B)(2) of section 4931.66 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense and a felony of the fifth degree on each subsequent offense.
(D) Whoever violates section 4931.75 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense.
Section 2.  That existing sections 4927.03, 4927.15, 4931.40, 4931.41, 4931.44, 4931.49, 4931.50, 4931.60, 4931.61, 4931.62, 4931.63, 4931.64, 4931.65, 4931.66, 4931.67, 4931.69, and 4931.99 and section 4931.70 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
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