Congress reintroduces 9-1-1 SAVES Act
Author
Brett Mattson
Seamus Dowdall
Naomi Freel
Upcoming Events
Related News
Key Takeaways
On January 16, the 9-1-1 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (SAVES) Act was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation aims to officially reclassify 9-1-1 dispatchers as first responders, granting these professionals the recognition they deserve for their vital contributions to public safety.
9-1-1 SAVES Act
The 9-1-1 SAVES Act seeks to correct a long-standing oversight by officially reclassifying 9-1-1 dispatchers as first responders. Currently, dispatchers are excluded from this designation despite their critical role in public safety.
At no cost to taxpayers, the legislation has broad bipartisan support to highlight the indispensable contributions of dispatchers to emergency response systems.
Importance to counties
Counties play a pivotal role in managing and funding 9-1-1 operations. By elevating dispatchers to first responder status, the 9-1-1 SAVES Act is expected to improve recruitment and retention for this profession. The legislation also reinforces the broader importance of county investments in emergency communication systems and personnel.
Building on bipartisan momentum and a track record of unanimous committee support in the 118th Congress, NACo strongly supports this legislation. The 9-1-1 SAVES Act will enhance public safety systems while ensuring no additional costs for counties or their intergovernmental partners.
County News
North Carolina county decreases 911 non-emergency calls by connecting residents to services they need
Guilford County, N.C. was inundated with 911 calls until the county connected residents to resources, including primary care physicians and access to food, so they don’t feel the need to call an emergency line.
Related News
Expert warns Mid-Size County Caucus of rising cybersecurity risks as AI expands
Counties must prepare for increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, particularly if they still rely on aging technology systems, some decades old, which can make them vulnerable to attacks.
‘Zero drowning’ program boosts safety and prevents deaths
Miami-Dade County, Fla. teaches children how to swim at no-cost and provide more community education around water safety, cutting down on what had been the leading cause of death for children ages 1-14.
PDFs are DOA as new web standards approach
Counties with 50,000 residents or more have until April 24 to meet accessibility guidelines for their websites and social media accounts, while smaller counties have another year.