Bill
H 4084
Massachusetts would impose a $0.75 monthly surcharge on most communication services to fund enhanced 988 crisis-response systems, with funds and oversight by state regulators.
Note: The materials provided appear to contain two distinct measures merged into a single file. One is a Massachusetts House bill (House No. 4084) that would establish a surcharge to fund enhanced 988 crisis-call systems. The other is a South Carolina concurrent resolution honoring Dr. Keith Miller on his retirement. Below are concise summaries of both, with jurisdiction and key provisions identified.
Jurisdiction: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Introduced: 1/16/2025 (House Docket No. 2584)
Committee: Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Purpose
- Create statutory definitions and a funding mechanism (surcharge) to support enhanced 988 crisis-hotline services and infrastructure.
Key provisions
- New definitions: “Enhanced 988 service” and “Enhanced 988 systems” (network routing, PSAP connectivity, ANI/ALI, selective routing, etc.).
- Imposes a monthly surcharge of $0.75 per subscriber/end user whose communication service can access enhanced 988. Specifics:
- Wireline: per voice-grade exchange telephone line; equivalency rules for Centrex and ISDN PRI.
- Wireless: per wireless mobile number (area code-based), with department approval for billing-address or other lawful methods.
- Interconnected VoIP: per voice-grade line within the Commonwealth; equivalency rules for Centrex-like services.
- IP-enabled and other services: imposed based on subscriber billing address unless otherwise approved.
- Prepaid wireless: department to promulgate equitable collection/remittance regulations.
- Collection and display: Carriers collect the surcharge, show it on bills as “988 Service Surcharge” (or abbreviation). Surcharge not subject to sales/use tax. Subscribers are liable; carriers are not financially liable for uncollected amounts.
- Governance and oversight:
- Funds flow into an Enhanced 988 Fund (referenced to section 35 JJ½ of chapter 10).
- The Department (presumably Executive Office/agency administering 988) must report annually on fund condition and developments.
- Department may petition the Department of Telecommunications and Cable (DTC) to adjust the surcharge; DTC to set new surcharge and may review prudence of revenues/expenditures (investigations/reviews generally limited to once per calendar year).
- DTC may hire experts; reasonable expert costs charged to the Enhanced 988 Fund but capped at $200,000 (adjustable by CPI).
- Review/decision timeframes: DTC reviews and issues decisions within 90 days (silence deemed approval); approvals for projected spending increases of 10%+ require DTC sign-off with similar timing rules.
- Other details in the bill text are truncated in the provided file (further administrative and operational provisions likely follow).
Who is affected
- Massachusetts communications service subscribers (wireline, wireless, VoIP, IP-enabled), telecommunications carriers and providers, Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), and the state agencies that administer 988 operations and fund oversight.
Potential fiscal impact
- $0.75/month per covered subscriber → revenue depends on number of covered lines/numbers; pays for operation and capital/expenditure needs of enhanced 988 services. Administrative review costs up to the stated cap may be charged to the fund.
Procedural status (from file)
- Referred to Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (05/05/2025). Additional hearings and actions noted in the file; portions of the text are truncated.
Jurisdiction: State of South Carolina
Filed/Adopted: Introduced and adopted in House (02/25/2025); returned with concurrence (02/27/2025) — further actions indicate Senate concurrence on 05/08/2025
Purpose
- A ceremonial concurrent resolution honoring Dr. Keith Miller, President of Greenville Technical College, on his retirement (effective July 1, 2025), and expressing appreciation for 17 years of service.
Content highlights
- Recites Dr. Miller’s accomplishments since 2008: leadership at Greenville Technical College, creation/support of workforce and education initiatives (Center for Manufacturing Innovation, Truist Culinary & Hospitality Innovation Center, Prisma Health Center for Health & Life Sciences, plans for Welding and Automation Excellence Center).
- Notes community involvement (board memberships such as United Way of Greenville County, Greenville Chamber, Urban League of the Upstate).
- Mentions a celebratory event planned for June 14, 2025.
- Resolves that the General Assembly honors Dr. Miller and directs a copy of the resolution be presented to him.
Effect
- Ceremonial and non-binding; no legal or fiscal effect.
Procedural notes
- File shows hearings and scheduling entries (some dated later in 2025); the resolution was adopted with concurrence per legislative actions recorded.
If you want, I can:
- Produce a streamlined one-page summary focused only on the Massachusetts 988 surcharge (including likely revenue estimates if you provide subscriber counts), or
- Produce a finalized version of the ceremonial resolution summary suitable for publication.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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