Chapter 06-228

2006 -- H 7662 SUBSTITUTE B AS AMENDED

Enacted 06/28/06

A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER ACT

Introduced By: Representatives Ginaitt, Anguilla, Naughton, McNamara, and Lima

Date Introduced: February 16, 2006

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 39-21.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-21.1 entitled "911

Emergency Telephone Number Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

39-21.1-4. Confidentiality. -- Automatic number identification (ANI) and automatic

location identification (ALI) information that consists of the name, address, and telephone

numbers of telephone subscribers shall be confidential. Dissemination of the information

contained in the 911 automatic number and automatic location data base is prohibited except for

the following purposes:

      (1) The information will be provided to the public safety answering point (PSAP) on a

call-by-call basis only for the purpose of handling emergency calls, or for training and any

permanent record of the information shall be secured by the public safety answering points and

disposed of in a manner which will retain that security except as otherwise required by applicable

law.

      (2) All telephone calls and telephone call transmissions received pursuant to this chapter

and all tapes containing records of telephone calls shall remain confidential and used only for the

purpose of handling emergency calls and for public safety purposes as may be need for law

enforcement, fire, medical, rescue or other emergency services. The calls shall not be released to

any other parties without the written consent of the person whose voice is recorded, or upon order

of the court.

(3) The ALI - ANI Database may be provided to all city, state and town emergency

management agencies, fire departments and police departments of the state of Rhode Island for

the purposes of, and restricted to, establishing systems of emergency public warning. ALI – ANI

Database shall be defined as automatic location identification and automatic number

identification information identifying the land-line telephone numbers and addresses (but shall

not include the names, whether listed, unlisted or unpublished) of subscribers to telephone

common carrier services in the state.

(4) Telephone numbers, including listed, unlisted and unpublished numbers, and street

numbers and addresses (excluding individual names), if contained within the Rhode Island E-911

ALI – ANI Database, may be provided by Rhode Island E-911, on a reasonable basis as

determined by Rhode Island E-911 to city, state and town emergency management agencies, fire

departments and police departments for the sole purpose of allowing individual city, state or town

emergency management agency, fire department, and/or police department to warn local residents

of imminent and significant threats to public safety.

(5) The city or town local emergency warning system ALI - ANI Database shall be

located in a restricted access and secured facility located within the local emergency management

office, fire department and/or police department. Additionally the local emergency warning

system ALI - ANI Database shall be secure from unauthorized access and shall be accessible only

by the city or town emergency management director, fire chief or police chief and no more than

three (3) department members (who shall be known as emergency warning officers) appointed in

writing by the respective department director or chief with a copy of the appointment which

includes the name, title, and duration of appointment sent to Rhode Island E-911. The activation

of the local emergency warning system can only be approved and authorized by the department

director or chief or his/her authorized emergency warning officer any access to the local ALI-ANI

data base shall be documented by use of a secure electronic log that records such access and

which shall be maintained for a period of no less than twelve (12) months. Any unauthorized

and/or inappropriate access of the local emergency warning system ALI – ANI Database is to be

reported immediately in writing to Rhode Island E-911.

(6) A violation of the provisions of this section shall be a criminal offense punishable by

up to one year imprisonment and/or a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02074/SUB B

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