Code of Maine Rules
65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
625 - EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS BUREAU
Chapter 1 - STANDARDS FOR ESTABLISHING A STATEWIDE ENHANCED 9-1-1 SYSTEM
Section 625-1-3 - Minimum Public Safety Answering Point Requirements and Public Safety Dispatcher Requirements

A. Call answering. Ninety percent of all 9-1-1 calls received by a PSAP shall be answered in 10 seconds or less.

B. Call transfer. Ninety percent of all transfers from a PSAP to dispatching centers shall be initiated within 15 seconds from receipt of call.

A. PSAP Coordinator. Each PSAP shall designate an individual to serve as its PSAP Coordinator for all issues involving E-9-1-1 service and the Bureau.

B. Call handling procedures. Each PSAP shall work with the public safety providers served by the PSAP to establish call handling procedures. Each PSAP shall review these procedures regularly with the Bureau.

C. Back-up arrangements. Each PSAP shall have written backup arrangements in place, for both its primary and secondary backup PSAP sites, in the event that its dispatch capability is compromised and its calls must be rerouted and handled by either one of these sites.

D. 24-hour operation and staffing. Each PSAP shall operate and have call answering staff on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

E. Discrepancies. Each PSAP shall constantly compare the ALI information from the database with information supplied by the caller to identify discrepancies. Errors shall be documented and forwarded to the Bureau for correction in a manner prescribed by the Bureau.

F. Seven-digit telephone numbers. Each PSAP shall maintain, at its own expense, at least one unpublished telephone number to allow for administrative purposes associated with the PSAP. Each PSAP shall also maintain, at Bureau expense, one seven-digit emergency telephone number to be published in the white pages of the telephone book as a backup to dialing 9-1-1. This number will also be used for the receipt of incoming emergency calls transferred to the PSAP by other PSAPs for certain alternate and default routing arrangements.

G. PSAP security. All access to a PSAP shall be secured to prevent entry by the public or unauthorized persons.

H. Data security

I. Records retention. All voice and TDD recordings of incoming 9-1-1 calls shall be retained for a minimum of 30 days. It is recommended that such materials be retained for a minimum of 60 days.

J. Public comment and complaint process. Each PSAP shall develop a written procedure for receiving comments and complaints from the public and from public and private safety agencies served by the PSAP. Each PSAP's public comment and complaint documents shall include the name, title and contact information for the person designated by the PASP to receive comments and complaints pursuant to this subsection. The Bureau shall assist each PSAP to develop and publicize these procedures, particularly through training on such procedures.

K. Quality Assurance (QA) Program. Each PSAP shall establish a quality assurance program which shall include a process for auditing the performance of each of its public safety dispatchers. The Bureau shall assist each PSAP to develop its Quality Assurance Program, particularly through training on the development of such plans.

A. Annual Report. Within 30 days of the close of each calendar year, the highest elected official of each political subdivision and the head of each state department and agency employing public safety dispatchers shall provide the Bureau with a report containing a list of the names and dates of employment of all public safety dispatchers.

B. Report on New Public Safety Dispatchers. Whenever a public safety dispatcher is newly appointed, the official or department or agency head shall send notice of appointment within 30 days to the Bureau on a form provided for that purpose. The form is deemed an application for admission to the training program or for other certification as required by this chapter.

C. Report of Termination of Public Safety Dispatchers. Whenever the employment of a public safety dispatcher is terminated, the official or department or agency head shall send notice of the termination within 30 days to the Bureau on a form provided for that purpose.

D. Reports of Convictions or Misconduct by Public Safety Dispatchers. In the event that a public safety dispatcher is convicted of a crime or violation or engages in conduct that could result in suspension or revocation of the dispatcher's certificate pursuant to this chapter, the official department or agency head shall immediately notify the Director of the Bureau with the name of the dispatcher and a brief description of the conviction or conduct.

E. Maintenance of Training Records. The official or department or agency head shall maintain records regarding the basic and in-service training of public safety dispatchers as provided in this chapter. Such training records shall document at a minimum, the subject taught, duration of training, instructor(s), test scores as applicable, and signed attendance rosters, and be made available for review as requested by the Bureau.

A. Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Training; Minimum Mandatory Staff Training Requirements. All full-time public safety dispatchers must successfully complete, within the first 12 months of initial employment, the Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Training Course at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy approved by the Bureau. All full-time public safety dispatchers must satisfactorily maintain the basic certification by completing any recertification requirements as may be prescribed by the Bureau. The Bureau, for good cause, may extend the 12-month period for not more than 180 days and may waive the Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Training Course requirement when an equivalent course has been successfully completed. This section does not apply to any person employed as a full-time public safety dispatch personnel on or before 1 January, 2008.

B. Training on PSAP E-9-1-1 Call Answering Technology. All persons, full or part-time, who are employed as a public safety dispatcher at a PSAP, must within 90 days of assignment, complete a Bureau approved course on the proper operation of Bureau-provided PSAP equipment and on proper call handling and processing of 9-1-1 emergency calls. Such public safety dispatchers may be assigned call taking responsibilities prior to the completion of the approved course when working under the immediate supervision of another certified dispatcher.

C. Courses. The Bureau shall provide tuition-free training courses, the successful completion of which meets the basic training requirements in 3-A(A) and (B). The Bureau shall include in the Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Training course, a program a block of instruction aimed specifically at the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for direct and equal access to 9-1-1 services for persons with disabilities who communicate via TTY/TDD.

D. Continuing Education Public Safety Dispatcher Training as Required. As a condition of continued employment, each public safety dispatcher must successfully complete continuing education training as prescribed by the Bureau with the advice and comment of the E9-1-1 Council. The minimum continuing education requirements for all public safety dispatchers shall be at least 12 hours of approved education each year. The Bureau, with the advice and comment of the E9-1-1 Council, may establish requirements for specific training topics and hours as a portion of the annual requirements and must include annual refresher training for dispatchers in the recognition and processing of TTY/TDD calls.

E. Credit for Courses. The Bureau may grant training credits to be applied to recertification training requirements for courses completed at accredited colleges and universities, through professional journals, audio and visual media, teleconferencing and the Internet. The Bureau shall establish a process for the approval of training courses that may be applied toward annual certification training requirements, coordinate delivery of training with postsecondary schools and other institutions and public safety emergency communications agencies, and administer training programs.

A. Granting of Certification. The Bureau shall certify each public safety dispatcher who completes the Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Training Course. Such certification shall be granted for two years from date of issuance, upon which time the person must apply for recertification within 90 days prior to expiration to retain certification. All full-time public safety dispatchers must satisfactorily maintain the basic certification by completing any recertification requirements. Courses and certifications attained out of state may be evaluated by the Bureau on a case-by-case basis, comparing them with Bureau-approved courses for possible partial or full credit.

B. Recertification The Bureau, with the advice and comment of the E9-1-1 Council, shall establish requirements for the recertification of all public safety dispatchers, to include the timeframe for recertification, the completion of specified in-service training hours, and the application form.

C. Revocation of Certificate for Conviction or Misconduct by a Public Safety Dispatcher. In the event that a public safety dispatcher is convicted of a crime or misdemeanor or engages in unlawful conduct, the Bureau Director, with advice and comment by the E9-1-1 Council, may revoke or suspend the certification of a public safety dispatcher for cause, after affording the person a hearing before the E9-1-1 Council.

D. Additional certificates. The Bureau may offer additional certificates to be awarded for completion of additional education, experience and certified Bureau-approved training including, but not limited to, executive, mid-management, instructor and communications specialists certificates.

E. Falsification of Application. Knowing or willful falsification of an application for employment or application for certification or recertification as a public safety dispatcher shall be justification for denying admission to training and/or continued certification as a public safety dispatcher.

A. Telephone equipment. Each PSAP shall have telephone equipment that ensures system and functional compatibility with the network. All telephone equipment shall have the following features:

B. Continuous logging equipment. Each PSAP shall provide and run continuously a logging recorder that will record both sides of a conversation on each incoming 9-1-1 call, and contemporaneously document the year, date and time of each recorded event.

C. Instant playback recorders. Each PSAP shall provide and run an instant playback voice recorder capable of recording the voice conversations for each answering position.

D. Equipment Tests. PSAPs shall ensure that all call answering and dispatch equipment is maintained in operable working order. All PSAPs shall conduct periodic tests of all call answering workstations that include spare or backup workstations, exercising all critical functions and features, and TTY/TDD call reception and transmission. Equipment checks shall be conducted on a routine basis, but no less than monthly. PSAPs shall complete and maintain records of such tests and make them available for review by the Bureau. The Bureau will assist with the development of equipment test procedures and forms.

E. TTY/TDD Test Calls. PSAPs shall conduct internal TTY/TDD test calls in which random test calls are processed at each call answering position. Test calls shall include two types of calls (1) silent, open line calls, and (2) calls that are introduced by transmitting TTY/TDD tones. PSAPs shall require each dispatcher to conduct TTY/TDD test calls, as needed to ensure all dispatchers are able to process both sending and receiving calls, on a routine basis, but no less than every three months. PSAPs shall complete and maintain records of such test calls that identify the dispatcher, date/time of call, call taking position, silent or transmitted tone, and whether the call met standard operating procedures. Such test records shall be made available for review by the Bureau. The Bureau will assist with the development of TTY/TDD test call procedures and forms.

A. Emergency power provision. Each PSAP shall have an emergency power generator capable of providing for the essential power requirements of the facility to ensure continuous operation for a minimum of twenty-four hours during commercial power outages. Sufficient fuel should be available for 12 hours operation at full load, at any time, on two hours notice. If a source of supply is not reliable or readily available, or if special arrangements must be made for refueling as necessary, a supply sufficient for 24 hours operation at full load shall be maintained. (NFPA 1221)

B. Uninterruptible power supply. Each PSAP shall provide uninterruptible power supply (UPS) capability on all critical pieces of the system, particularly the telephone system itself. (The Bureau shall provide UPS on all Bureau-provided 9-1-1 equipment.) UPS equipment will ensure that emergency calls in progress and subsequent calls will not be interrupted during commercial power fluctuations and outages. The UPS shall supply uninterruptible power for a minimum of 30 minutes to allow for manual or automatic transfer from the public service AC power to localized auxiliary AC power.

A. Computer-linked Communication Center. A Computer-linked Communication Center (CLCC) shall receive the same caller name, number, and emergency service provider information received at the PSAP as the call is transferred from the PSAP to the CLCC. A CLCC will directly dispatch the appropriate service based on the needs of the caller.

B. CLCC operating standards