(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that dialing 911 is the most effective and familiar way the public has of seeking emergency assistance. Basic emergency service and public safety is fundamentally a government concern and the exercise of police powers for the protection and betterment of the health, safety, security, and welfare of the public. This part 1 as amended by House Bill 20-1293, enacted in 2020, is intended to provide funding mechanisms for the continued technological advancement of emergency telephone service for all users of the system.
(2) The general assembly further finds and declares that:
In order to provide for the future of 911 technology advancement in Colorado, localfunding and local control must be maintained, while at the same time, additional funding for projects, programs, and services must also be provided. It is therefore the intent of the general assembly to maintain and strengthen the existing local funding structure for emergency telephone service in the state while also creating a new funding mechanism for local expenditures that will improve the quality of the emergency telephone service statewide.
Nothing in this part 1 should be construed:
To alter the method of regulation or deregulation of providers of telecommunicationsservice as set forth in article 15 of title 40; and
To impose a tax. The primary purpose of the charges and surcharges authorized inthis part 1 is to defray the reasonable direct and indirect costs of providing emergency telephone service. The charges authorized in this part 1 do not raise revenue for the general expenses of government.
Source: L. 2020: Entire section added, (HB 20-1293), ch. 267, p. 1280, § 1, effective July 10.