A.  The legislature hereby finds and declares that it is in the public interest to shorten the time required to notify and provide information to the citizens of this state in the event of an imminent or actual emergency which affects or threatens to affect public safety or health.  With the development of technology which allows many telephone calls to be placed within a short period of time, public agencies with responsibility for emergency preparedness now have the means available to provide such emergency notification and information quickly and efficiently.  However, a major impediment to providing this service is the high percentage of telephone numbers which are not listed in a telephone directory by companies providing telephone service to the public.

B.  The legislature further finds and declares that the provision of all telephone numbers, including unlisted telephone numbers by such companies to public agencies providing emergency alert services or their designated providers of emergency alert services, is both a local and statewide concern.  It is the purpose of this Chapter to require the provision of such listed and unlisted numbers by telephone companies to such agencies or their providers of emergency alert services, as further provided in this Chapter, so as to improve the provision of emergency notification and information to the residents of this state.

C.  It is the further purpose of this Chapter to ensure that all telephone companies are immune from civil or criminal liability to any person as a result of the obligation created hereunder to provide listed and unlisted telephone numbers to public agencies with responsibility for emergency preparedness.

Acts 1997, No. 199, §2, eff. June 13, 1997.