California Lawmakers Want More Oversight in Stalled Project to Modernize 911 System

The state paused implementation efforts after only 23 out of the 447 total dispatch centers statewide had transitioned to the Next Generation 911 system.

The number 911 is dialed on a mobile phone in St. Louis on April 18, 2024. Jeff Roberson/AP Photo

Efforts to modernize California’s 911 emergency system have stalled as state officials propose a new blueprint and lawmakers move forward with a bipartisan bill to implement more oversight.

Lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 985 to establish more oversight in the state’s 911 system revamp project. The bill would require California’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to “provide quarterly reports to the Legislature on the development, implementation, and spending on the Next Generation 911 system.”