THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              48
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO STUDY THE
    FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF ESTABLISHING A "311"
    NON-EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII AS
    A MEANS OF INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF
    THE STATE'S "911" EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM.



 1        WHEREAS, in Hawaii, both emergency and non-emergency calls
 2   are processed through the "911" telephone system, which has the
 3   unintended effect of overtaxing the telephone system and
 4   emergency personnel.  Non-emergency calls include destruction
 5   of property not in progress, reports of thefts not in progress,
 6   follow-up information on property crime, non-threatening
 7   loitering or juvenile disturbances, loitering not causing a
 8   disturbance, animal disturbances, lost property, abandoned
 9   automobiles, minor flooding or temporary power outages, and
10   non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries; and
11   
12        WHEREAS, there is nothing more infuriating for the public
13   than having to wait helplessly for a "911" call to be answered
14   or for help to arrive when a few precious minutes can mean the
15   difference between life and death.  Similarly, there is nothing
16   more frustrating for emergency personnel than having to waste
17   time and energy answering non-emergency calls for assistance
18   that could have waited until the next business day; and
19   
20        WHEREAS, empirical evidence suggests that the
21   implementation of a "311" non-emergency telephone system for
22   the State of Hawaii could:
23   
24        (1)  Reduce the number of "911" calls for police service;
25   
26        (2)  Reduce telephone operators' average time to answer
27             "911" calls;
28   
29        (3)  Reduce the number of "911" callers getting either a
30             busy signal or a recorded message; and
31   
32        (4)  Reduce the number of "911" calls dispatched to police
33             officers on patrol;
34   
35   thereby increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the
36   "911" telephone system and emergency personnel; and
37   

 
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                                  S.R. NO.              48
                                                        
                                                        


 1        WHEREAS, empirical evidence also suggests that the
 2   implementation of a "311" non-emergency telephone system for
 3   the State of Hawaii could relieve some of the stress and
 4   fatigue experienced by emergency personnel, who field calls for
 5   assistance on a continual basis; and could give these emergency
 6   personnel more time and energy to work with individuals needing
 7   truly urgent assistance, thereby increasing the effectiveness
 8   and efficiency of the "911" system; now, therefore,
 9   
10        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
11   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, that the
12   Public Utilities Commission is requested to study the
13   feasibility and advisability of establishing a "311" non-
14   emergency telephone system for the State of Hawaii as a means
15   of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the State's
16   "911" emergency telephone system; and
17   
18        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities
19   Commission is requested to consult with the Director of Health,
20   the mayor of each county, and the chairperson of each county
21   council on the conduct of the commission's study; and
22   
23        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities
24   Commission is requested to submit its findings and
25   recommendations to the Legislature not less than twenty days
26   prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2001; and
27   
28        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
29   Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public
30   Utilities Commission, the Director of Health, the mayor of each
31   county, and the chairperson of each county council.
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35                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________