Rep. Karickhoff works to increase public safety
STATEHOUSE – State Representative Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo) authored legislation that works to streamline communication services and increase disaster preparedness during emergency situations. House Bill (HB) 1475 would increase funding for the statewide 911 system as well as provide flexibility for local fiscal bodies to fairly distribute more funds to support their Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). This legislation passed out of the House with an 79-12 vote.
“The bill is intended to increase funding for our statewide 911 system, which is critical to public safety and emergency preparedness,” said Rep. Karickhoff. “We need to ensure that every community in Indiana has the ability to effectively and efficiently communicate in the event that an emergency occurs.”
To supplement the revenue generated at the local level, a statewide 911 user fee is also collected to support PSAPs around the state. This legislation provides greater flexibility for local fiscal bodies to fund their PSAPs while standardizing the user fee provide additional financial support.
“Under this bill, our statewide 911 response centers will be able to more effectively handle emergency calls and allow systems to receive updated technologies,” said Rep. Karickhoff.
HB 1475 also increases accountability by allowing the state 911 board to audit telecommunications service providers by collecting reports from PSAPs, and by adding the directors of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and Geographic Information Systems to the statewide 911 board.This bill now moves on to the Senate for further consideration.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about HB 1475.
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State Rep. Mike Karickhoff serves as Budget Subcommittee Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and on the Natural Resources Committee. He is also the chair of the Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. Rep. Karickhoff represents portions of Howard and Grant counties, most of the city of Kokomo and the towns of Swayzee and Greentown.
