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HB97 ENGROSSED
Page 0
HB97
V7SZQLL-2
By Representative Pringle
RFD: State Government
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 17-Dec-25
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PFD: 17-Dec-25
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to geographic information technology; to add
Chapter 27A, commencing with Section 41-27A-1, to Title 41 of
the Code of Alabama 1975, to establish the Alabama Geographic
Information Executive Council, the Alabama Geographic
Information Program Office, the State of Alabama Geographic
Information Officer, and an advisory committee; and to provide
for coordination between the Alabama Geographic Information
Executive Council and Alabama Geographic Information Program
Office with the 911 Board; to amend Section 11-98-4.1, Code of
Alabama 1975, to further provide for the authority of the 911
Board to compile and maintain geographic information system
data for emergency 911 services; and to make nonsubstantive,
technical revisions to update existing code language to
current style.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Chapter 27A, commencing with Section
41-27A-1, is added to Title 41 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to
read as follows:
§41-27A-1
The Legislature finds all of the following:
(1) The development, use, and sharing of geographic
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(1) The development, use, and sharing of geographic
information, geospatial data, and the efficient use of
geographic information system (GIS) technology are yielding
sustained, long-term benefits to the people of Alabama, with
innumerable applications that serve economic development,
enhance governmental operations, protect natural resources,
and simplify human activity.
(2) Because public agencies expend considerable
resources collecting and managing geographic information in
diverse formats and scales, it is necessary to require
coordination and direction in the development and
implementation of GIS to continually improve the delivery of
public services, to reduce redundancy and duplication of
effort, and to prevent the spread of erroneous geographic
information in activities that demand urgency such as
emergency response.
(3) The management and coordination of GIS is currently
entrusted to the Alabama Geographic Information Executive
Council, the Alabama Geographic Information Program Office,
and the Advisory Committee, all created by executive order.
(4) The 911 Board, and by extension the local emergency
communication districts, are charged by legislative act with
the "efficient and effective delivery" of enhanced 911
service, a duty that explicitly requires the collection and
remediation of geospatial information into GIS mapping.
(5) The Legislature wishes to enable formal
coordination between the Alabama Geographic Information
Program Office, as the operating arm of the Alabama Geographic
Information Executive Council, and the 911 Board, while
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Information Executive Council, and the 911 Board, while
maintaining the boundaries of their authorized duties and
functions.
§41-27A-2
(a) The Alabama Geographic Information Executive
Council (Executive Council) is established as an independent
council to develop policies regarding the use of geographic
information, geographic information systems (GIS), and other
related technologies, to include all of the following
responsibilities:
(1) Strategic planning for a sustainable state program
for GIS.
(2) Resolution of policy and technology issues.
(3) Coordination of interagency development of a high
quality, accurate framework for geospatial data.
(4) Coordination, direction, and facilitation of state,
county, and local government GIS efforts.
(5) Development of educational outreach to coordinate
geospatial training initiatives.
(6) Provision of advice to the Governor, Legislature,
and local governing bodies on needed direction,
responsibilities, and funding regarding geospatial
information.
(7) Evaluation and determination of staffing
requirements for GIS coordination at the state level.
(8) Solicitation of input from all stakeholders at all
levels of government and the private sector, including public
utilities, business professionals, industry leaders, and
others with a vested interest in GIS.
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others with a vested interest in GIS.
(b)(1) The membership of the Executive Council shall
consist of all of the following, or their designees:
a. The Commissioner of the Alabama Department of
Agriculture and Industries.
b. The Commissioner of the Alabama Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources.
c. The Commissioner of the Department of Revenue.
d. The Director of the Department of Economic and
Community Affairs.
e. The Director of the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management.
f. The Executive Director of the 911 Board.
g. The Director of the Alabama Criminal Justice
Information Center.
h. The Director of the Department of Finance.
i. The Director of the Alabama Department of Workforce.
j. The Director of the Department of Public Safety.
k. The Director of the State Department of
Transportation.
l. The Director of the Alabama Emergency Management
Agency.
m. The Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement
Agency.
n. The Secretary of the State Office of Information
Technology.
o. The State Geologist & Oil and Gas Supervisor of the
Geological Survey of Alabama.
p. The Director of the Association of County
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p. The Director of the Association of County
Commissions of Alabama.
q. The Director of the Alabama League of
Municipalities.
r. Any additional member appointed by the Governor.
(2) Appointments to the Executive Council shall be
coordinated to assure that council membership is inclusive and
reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and
economic diversity of the state.
(3) Members shall serve terms that coincide with their
respective offices or appointments. No individual shall
continue to serve on the Executive Council when he or she, or
if applicable, the designating officer, no longer serves in
the office to which he or she was elected or appointed.
(4) The Governor shall designate a Chair from the
membership.
(5) The Executive Council shall meet at the call of the
Chair and proceedings shall be subject to state law and
administrative procedure.
(6) The Executive Council may subdivide itself into
standing committees and work groups to accomplish its
responsibilities.
(7) Members shall serve without compensation and be
reimbursed by their respective departments or agencies or, if
applicable, according to the policy of their respective
organizations.
§41-27A-3
(a) The Alabama Geographic Information Program Office
(GIS Office) is established to be the operating arm of the
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(GIS Office) is established to be the operating arm of the
Executive Council. Except as provided in Section 41-27A-5, the
GIS Office shall be the sole instrumentality of the state for
coordination of geographic information, GIS, and other
geospatial-related technologies by all state departments and
agencies or state-funded entities.
(b) The GIS Office shall be a division in the Alabama
State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), which shall provide
administrative services for the GIS office.
(c)(1) The GIS Office shall be managed by a director,
who shall be the Geographic Information Officer (GIO), who
shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Alabama State Law
Enforcement Agency and employed in the classified service of
the Merit System.
(2) The GIO shall be assisted by a deputy, who shall be
appointed by the Secretary of the Alabama State Law
Enforcement Agency and employed in the classified service of
the Merit System.
(3) The GIO shall manage the GIS Office subject to the
policies, standards, guidance, and instruction of the
Executive Council.
(d) The GIS Office shall identify, plan, and implement
the most efficient and effective means to use and integrate
geographic information as a strategic management resource, to
include all of the following duties:
(1) Identify duplicative geospatial acquisitions,
initiatives, and operations across state government and
recommend efforts to minimize duplication of such activities.
(2) Maintain a master index of all geographic
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(2) Maintain a master index of all geographic
information maintained by any political subdivision of the
state or other state-funded entity.
(3) Maintain a central repository and data services for
the storage of, or access to, any geographic information that
may be lawfully used for state or for local government
geospatial-related operations or for any lawful private sector
activity.
(4) Assist government operations with implementation of
state geospatial standards as adopted by the Executive
Council.
(5) Through ALEA, coordinate procurements, pool funds,
negotiate and enter into contracts or memoranda of
understanding in furtherance of GIS Office duties.
(6) Provide administrative and technical support to the
Executive Council.
(e)(1) The GIS Office may receive funds from the State
General Fund or Education Trust Fund which are appropriated by
the Legislature for the purposes provided in this chapter,
subject to any law governing any expenditure of appropriations
from the State General Fund or Education Trust Fund.
(2) The GIS Office may receive gifts, grants, and any
other funding available by law and may recoup costs for
services rendered or other expenditures directly related to
the duties enumerated in subsection (d).
(3) The GIS Office shall provide, upon request, an
accounting to ALEA of all funds expended, available,
committed, or encumbered.
§41-27A-4
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§41-27A-4
(a)(1) An Advisory Committee is established to ensure
that state and local interests are considered by the GIS
Executive Council.
(2) The Advisory Committee shall have all of the
following purposes:
a. Foster communication and cooperation among state,
local, and federal agencies, educational institutions, private
industry, and others concerning GIS.
b. Provide guidance and advice to the Executive Council
in the fulfillment of the council's responsibilities.
c. Promote discussion among stakeholders of GIS issues
relevant to the state and provide advice to the GIS community.
(b) The GIO shall serve as the Chair of the Advisory
Committee.
(c) The GIO shall select advisory committee members who
shall serve at the pleasure of the GIO. The GIO shall ensure
that the committee has a statewide representation of
stakeholders who are familiar with water resources, air
resources, agricultural resources, energy resources, cultural
resources, land resources, mineral resources, environmental
management, forestry, geology, health, local government,
planning, public safety, criminal justice, social services,
transportation, utilities, waste management, homeland
security, and wildlife management.
(d) The GIO may create subcommittees with defined
tasks, appoint, replace, or remove members of the
subcommittees, and abolish subcommittees.
§41-27A-5
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§41-27A-5
(a) In aid of the role and duties of the GIS Office as
the statewide coordinator and central repository for
geographic information pursuant to Section 41-27A-3, the 911
Board is recognized as the sole authority for the gathering,
remediation, and maintenance of geographic information for the
provision of emergency 911 services to the residents of
Alabama, pursuant to Section 11-98-4.1.
(b) The 911 Board shall regularly inform the Executive
Council and the GIO on its GIS data gathering and remediation
activities, GIS auditing and monitoring protocols, and
operational policies to ensure the utmost coordination between
the GIS Office and the 911 Board in similar or parallel tasks
and responsibilities to avoid duplication and enhance
uniformity in protocols, standards, data gathering,
maintenance, and storage wherever possible and efficient.
(c) Pursuant to its duties, the GIS Office shall
recognize the unique competence of the 911 Board and the local
emergency communication districts due to the critical function
of emergency response for which the 911 Board and the local
emergency communication districts are responsible.
Section 2. Section 11-98-4.1, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§11-98-4.1
(a) There is created a statewide 911 Board. The board
shall be comprised of 13 members. All appointing authorities
shall coordinate their appointments to assure the board
membership is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender,
geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state.
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geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state.
The 911 Board shall be created effective July 1, 2012, and
until the effective date of the statewide 911 charge pursuant
to Section 11-98-5, with cooperation of the CMRS Board, shall
plan for the implementation of the statewide 911 charge and
the distribution of the revenues as provided herein in this
chapter . The reasonable administrative expenses incurred by
the 911 Board prior to the implementation of the statewide 911
charge may be deducted from the existing CMRS Fund. Upon the
effective date of the new statewide 911 charge, the 911 Board
shall replace and supersede the CMRS Board formerly created
pursuant to this chapter, and the CMRS Fund shall be
incorporated into, and considered part of, the 911 Fund.
(b) The 13 members of the 911 Board, each of whom shall
serve for a term of four years, shall be appointed by the
Governor as follows:
(1) Seven members recommended by the Alabama
Association of 911 Districts, one from each of the seven
congressional districts, with each recommended district
representative recommended selected by vote of the Alabama
Association of 911 Districts members from that congressional
district. The initial appointments shall include the three
district representatives on the CMRS Board who shall serve
through March 31, 2014, and a member from the first, third,
fifth, and seventh congressional districts as provided
herein in this section . Following the March 31, 2014,
expiration of the terms of the district representatives drawn
from the CMRS Board, the Governor shall appoint a member
recommended by the Association of 911 Districts from each of
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recommended by the Association of 911 Districts from each of
the second, fourth, and sixth congressional districts, it
being the intent of this section that each of the seven
district representatives on the board be from a different
congressional district, as such districts exist on May 8,
2012.
(2) Two members recommended by CMRS providers licensed
to do business in Alabama.
(3) Two members recommended by incumbent local exchange
carriers operating in Alabama, who shall not be from the same
local exchange carrier.
(4) Two members recommended by cable companies that
provide interconnected VoIP services in Alabama, who shall not
be from the same cable company.
(c) For purposes of the initial board appointments ,:
(1)(i) five members of the board shall be appointed for a
four-year term; (2)(ii) four members for a three-year term;
(3)(iii) the three members of the CMRS Board who are appointed
pursuant to subdivision (b)(1) to terms ending on March 31,
2014; and (4)(iv) the remaining member for a two-year term.
Thereafter, board members shall serve staggered terms of four
years. In the event of a vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled
for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as
the original appointment. Any vacancy occurring on the 911
Board, whether for an expired or unexpired term, shall be
filled by appointment as soon as practicable after the vacancy
occurs, whether for an expired or unexpired term.
(d) For all terms expiring after June 1, 2014, the
governmental entities or industry groups identified in
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governmental entities or industry groups identified in
subsection (b) shall recommend at least two different
individuals for each board position for which they are charged
with making a recommendation, with the Governor appointing a
member from among suchthe recommended candidates. For all
terms expiring after July 1, 2015, appointments made by the
Governor shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate as
provided in this subsection. Appointments made at times when
the Senate is not in session shall be effective immediately ad
interim and shall serve until the Senate acts on the
appointment as provided herein. Any appointment made while the
Senate is not in session shall be submitted to the Senate not
later than the third legislative day following the reconvening
of the Legislature. In the event If the Senate fails or refuses
to act on the appointment, the individual whose name was
submitted shall continue to serve until action is taken on the
appointment by the Senate.
(e) The statewide 911 Board shall have the following
powers and duties:
(1) To develop and publish a 911 Annual Report. In
fulfilling this duty, the 911 Board shall monitor trends in
voice communications service technology and in enhanced 911
service technology, investigate, and incorporate Geographical
Information Systems (GIS) mapping and other resources into the
report, and include recommended strategies for the efficient
and effective delivery of enhanced 911 service. In addition,
the board shall study the rates charged for 911 services and
make adjustments to the rates as provided in this chapter;
recommend any statutory changes necessary to ensure the most
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recommend any statutory changes necessary to ensure the most
efficient and effective delivery of 911 services in Alabama
over both the long-long-term and short-term; and provide a
copy of its 911 Annual Report to members of the boards of the
districts in the state through the Alabama Association of 911
Districts.
(2) To administer the 911 Fund and the monthly
statewide 911 charge authorized by Section 11-98-5 .
(3) To ; to accept gifts, grants, or other monies for
the 911 Fund; and to distribute revenue in the 911 Fund in
accordance with this chapter.
(4)(3) To establish policies and procedures , adopted in
accordance with the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, to
fund for the funding of advisory services, grants, and
training for districts ; and to provide funds in accordance
with these policies and procedures to the extent funds are
available.
(5)(4) To make and enter into contracts and agreements
necessary or incidental to the performance of its powers and
duties under this chapter and to use revenue available to the
911 Board under Section 11-98-5 for administrative expenses to
pay its obligations under the contracts and agreements .
(6) To accept gifts, grants, or other money for the 911
Fund.
(7)(5) To undertake its duties in a manner that is
competitively and technologically neutral as to all voice
communications service providers.
(8)(6) To administer the deployment and operation of a
statewide 911 voice and data system that utilizes uses emerging
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statewide 911 voice and data system that utilizes uses emerging
communication technologies that are capable of connecting to a
911 system and delivering 911 and emergency information to
districts. The board shall use its available revenue to pay
obligations under the contracts and agreements for a statewide
911 voice and data system.
(9)(7) To the extent funds are available to cover all
costs, To establish a certification program to train and
certify public safety telecommunicators employed by a primary
PSAP receiving 911 calls ,. The board shall including
establishing establish minimum core competency topics and
minimum number of training hours, deciding decide whether a
written examination is required, and establishing establish any
necessary certification requirements , to the extent funds are
available to cover all costs for the training established by
the board . The board may establish rules for enforcement of to
enforce this subdivision as it concerns those PSAPs that fail
to participate in the certification program. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the training and certification requirements of
this section subdivision shall not apply to any public safety
telecommunicator employed by the state or an agency or
department thereof.
(10)(8) To adopt rules in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure Act to implement this chapter; to
establish the statewide 911 charge; and, in response to
technological changes, apply, collect, and remit the statewide
911 charge, without duplication, to the active service
connections of other originating service providers that are
technically capable of accessing a 911 system, subject to the
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technically capable of accessing a 911 system, subject to the
provisions applicable to voice communications service
providers under this chapter.
(9) Consistent with Chapter 27A of Title 41, to
exercise responsibility and control over the implementation,
use, and maintenance of geographic information system (GIS)
data for the statewide E-911 system. The board shall ensure
timely submission of accurate GIS data from communication
districts and other political subdivisions; reconcile
conflicting data; develop and implement protocols for
real-time auditing or monitoring of GIS data accuracy and
quality; ensure that all PSAPs comply with Next Generation 911
(NG911) services for location, accuracy, and routing; and
allocate funding and set operational policies for GIS data as
necessary to serve the effective delivery of NG911 services.
(11)(10) To take other necessary and proper action ,
including the adoption of rules in accordance with the APA, to
implement this chapter."
Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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1, 2026.
House of Representatives
Read for the first time and referred
to the House of Representatives
committee on State Government
................13-Jan-26
Read for the second time and placed
on the calendar:
1 amendment
................25-Feb-26
Read for the third time and passed
as amended
Yays 104
Nays 0
Abstains 0
................03-Mar-26
John Treadwell
Clerk
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