[Text of section effective in a city or town which accepts the provisions of 1990, 291.]

Section 18B. (a) There shall be, within the executive office of public safety, a statewide emergency telecommunications board consisting of the secretary of public safety; the director of the office of consumer affairs and business regulation; the director of the Massachusetts emergency management agency and office of emergency preparedness; the chief information officer of the information technology division; the state fire marshal; the colonel of state police and the police commissioner of the city of Boston; the executive director of the state office of handicapped affairs; and thirteen members to be appointed by the governor, three of whom shall be representatives of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, three of whom shall be representatives of the Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association, one of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Emergency Medical Care Advisory Board, one of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Police Association, one of whom shall be a representative of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, one of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, one of whom shall represent the interests of the vision impaired, one of whom shall represent the interests of the hearing impaired, and one of whom shall represent the interests of the mobility impaired.

(b) The board shall coordinate and effect the implementation of enhanced 911 service and wireless enhanced 911 service, and administer such service in the commonwealth. The board shall promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of such service in accordance with chapter 30A. Not later than 6 months after its organization, the board shall establish technical and operational standards for the establishment of public safety answering points which utilize enhanced 911 network features in accordance with section 14A of chapter 166 and section 18C of this chapter. Cities and towns shall comply with such standards in the design, implementation and operation of public safety answering points. The board may inspect each public safety answering point that utilizes enhanced 911 network features to determine if it meets the requirements of said section and all other technical and operational standards required by law. In implementing wireless enhanced 911 service, the board shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with the provisions required by the Federal Communications Commission.

The number of public safety answering points and answering positions at primary public safety answering points shall be determined by the board according to a formula that takes into account cost, efficiency and the public safety needs of cities and towns. Applications for secondary public safety answering points shall be reviewed and approved by the board. The installation and operation costs of secondary public safety answering points shall be the responsibility of the applicant.

(c) The governor shall annually designate the chairperson of the board from among its members. The board shall meet at least annually, and at other times as determined by the chairperson, who shall notify all members of the time and place of all such meetings; provided, however, that a special meeting may be called at any time by a request of a majority of the board members. Members of the board shall receive no compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the discharge of their duties.

(d) The secretary of public safety shall appoint and, subject to appropriation or funds otherwise available from other sources, fix the salary of an executive director, after reviewing final applicants with the approval of the board. Said director shall be responsible for administering, directing and managing the affairs and business of the board, for the supervision of all personnel associated with the enhanced 911 system, and for the appointment of all such personnel except as otherwise provided by the board. The director shall not be subject to the provisions of section nine A of chapter thirty or chapter thirty-one, but shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five of said chapter thirty and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of said chapter thirty. The executive director, with the approval of the board, may appoint such other employees, including experts and consultants, as he deems necessary, subject to appropriation or available funds, to carry out the board’s responsibilities.

(e) The board shall file a written annual report to the governor and shall file a copy thereof with the state secretary, the clerk of the house of representatives and the clerk of the senate.

(f) The board is hereby authorized to enter into contracts and agreements with, and accept gifts, grants, contributions, and bequests of funds from, any department, agency, or subdivision of federal, state, county, or municipal government and any individual, foundation, corporation, association, or public authority for the purpose of providing or receiving services, facilities or staff assistance in connection with its work. Such funds shall be deposited with the state treasurer and may be expended by the board in accordance with the provisions of section seventeen B of chapter ten.

(g) No provision of this section shall be construed or interpreted to alter the regulation of providers of telecommunications services pursuant to chapter 159.

(h) The board shall work with the disability community and with cities and towns to ensure that wireless carriers are aware of the availability of and encouraged to use adaptive technology, and to ensure that wireless enhanced 911 service is accessible to persons with disabilities to the maximum extent feasible.