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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep.
Tony Melio |
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Governor signs Melio emergency service bill into law
HARRISBURG, June 29 – Rep. Tony Melio, D-Bucks, said today that Gov. Rendell has signed his bill into law that will preserve funding for the state's 911 call centers.
The new law allows for the continuation of state funding to Pennsylvania's 69 Public Safety Answering Points, or PSAPs.
"I am pleased the Senate recently approved this bill unanimously," said Melio. "Without this support, funding for call centers would have soon run out."
Under previous law, a $1 monthly surcharge placed on wireless telephone customers for 911 services provided throughout the Commonwealth was set to expire on June 30 of this year. Melio's bill will extend the law until June 30, 2014.
"The main thing is 911 call centers are open and operating and we can continue to help pay for improvements," Melio said. "In an emergency, without question or hesitation, someone is always there to pick up. It's comforting to know that if we give a little, we get a lot in return."
The funding will be administered through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, or PEMA, which distributes the funding to countywide 911 call centers and wireless providers for 911 operating expenses.
Melio is the chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
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