H.R. 7031: Making National Parks Safer Act

This bill, titled the Making National Parks Safer Act, aims to improve emergency communication systems in the National Park System by upgrading existing emergency communication centers to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) standards. Below are the key components of the bill:

Assessment Requirement

The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with completing an assessment of emergency communications centers in national parks within one year of the bill’s enactment. This assessment will include:

• Evaluating the implementation status of NG911 systems at existing emergency communication centers.
• Estimating costs for upgrading centers that have not yet implemented NG911 systems.
• Estimating the ongoing maintenance and operational costs associated with NG911 systems across all centers.

Reporting Requirements

Once the assessment is completed, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress and publish it on the Department of the Interior's website. The report will detail:

• The results of the assessment.
• Issues that could affect the implementation of NG911 across national parks, such as:
• Jurisdictional issues.
• Technological issues.
• Issues related to relevant authorities.
• Legal agreement issues.

Plan Development

Following the report, the Secretary must develop a plan within one year for installing NG911 systems in the identified emergency communications centers. Key points include:

• The plan must be based on the findings of the assessment.
• The Secretary is required to consult with various stakeholders, including:
• State and local emergency operations officials.
• State and local stakeholders deemed appropriate by the park superintendent.
• Relevant federal agencies, including the Departments of Commerce and Transportation, and the Federal Communications Commission.

The developed plan is not required to include emergency communications centers where it is deemed that sufficient NG911 systems are already implemented or in progress.

Definitions

The bill defines several important terms, including:

• Emergency Communications Center: A facility responsible for receiving 9-1-1 requests for aid and dispatching emergency services.
• Next Generation 9–1–1 System: An advanced 911 system that enhances the capability to manage emergency communications.
• Interoperability: The ability of emergency communication centers to effectively share information across systems and jurisdictions without compatibility issues.

Overall Intent

The overarching goal of the bill is to enhance the safety of national parks by ensuring that emergency communications meet modern standards, thereby improving response times and overall public safety.

Relevant Companies

None found.