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Bill

A 2496

Prioritizes distribution of 9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund monies; permits use of funds for certain expenses incurred by counties and municipalities for the provision and maintenance of 9-1-1 emergency services.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by John DiMaio and 6 co-sponsors

Expands 9-1-1 fund eligibility to counties and municipalities and prioritizes grants to larger PSAPs, with remaining funds for other local PSAPs.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 2496

Overview

A 2496 (New Jersey, 2026) proposes revisions to how funds in the 9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account are spent and prioritized. The bill adds counties and municipalities as eligible recipients for 9-1-1 emergency services costs and establishes a clear priority framework for distributing fund dollars to public safety answering points (PSAPs).

Main purpose and intent

  • To authorize the use of trust fund money to cover costs incurred by counties and municipalities for the provision and maintenance of 9-1-1 emergency services.
  • To prioritize fund distribution to county, regionalized, or large centralized PSAPs, with remaining funds allocated to other local PSAPs as available.
  • To continue and codify the existing purposes for which the trust fund can be spent, while expanding eligible uses to explicitly include local government 9-1-1 costs.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment and funding source
    • The bill references the existing “9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account” within the Department of the Treasury’s General Fund.
  • Authorized uses (expanded to include counties/municipalities)
    • Maintains current eligible uses (as under existing law):
    • Costs related to the initial installation and ongoing operation of the Statewide enhanced 9-1-1 network.
    • County 9-1-1 coordinator costs (up to $25,000 per county coordinator), along with installation, operation, and maintenance for wireless enhanced 9-1-1 services.
    • State capital equipment, debt service, facilities, and operating expenses arising from emergency response.
    • Emergency response training and related Office of Emergency Management costs within the Division of State Police.
    • Costs of operating the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services.
    • Costs of operating the Statewide Public Safety Communications Commission.
    • Costs associated with FCC requirements for 9-1-1 that are not allocated to a carrier or reimbursed by law/regulation.
    • Costs for planning/designing/implementing automatic location identification technology not allocated to a wireless carrier or reimbursed.
    • Costs for planning/designing/acquiring replacement equipment or systems (including debt service) related to the enhanced 9-1-1 network.
    • New eligible uses:
    • Any costs incurred by counties and municipalities for the provision and maintenance of 9-1-1 emergency services, including emergency response training, operating expenses, and capital expenses.
  • Allocation and prioritization
    • The Attorney General must promulgate rules to allocate funds to county, regional, and municipal PSAPs.
    • Funds shall be prioritized for distribution to county, regionalized, or large centralized PSAPs; remaining funds, if any, go to other local PSAPs.
  • Effective date
    • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • State government: Department of the Treasury administers the fund; the Attorney General oversees allocation rules.
  • Local governments: Counties and municipalities that operate 9-1-1 services and PSAPs may receive fund allocations for operating, training, and capital costs.
  • Public safety entities: Statewide and local 9-1-1 networks, emergency response agencies, and PSAPs benefiting from funding for operations, training, equipment, and infrastructure.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Implementation: Immediate effect upon enactment (as indicated by “takes effect immediately”).
  • Administration: The Attorney General is tasked with promulgating rules to implement the allocation framework and prioritization.
  • Distribution: Funds are to be distributed first to larger PSAPs (county/regionalized/centralized), then to other local PSAPs as availability allows.

Potential impact

  • Increased funding flexibility for local 9-1-1s: Counties and municipalities can finance ongoing costs and capital needs, potentially improving response capabilities and technology investments.
  • Clear prioritization could streamline funding to the largest or regional PSAPs, potentially enhancing efficiency and interoperability in higher-volume areas.
  • Continued support for statewide 9-1-1 infrastructure and compliance with federal or regulatory requirements.

If you’d like, I can extract specific dollar ranges or compare this bill’s provisions to current law for a side-by-side view.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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