Government Code section 53121.1
(a)
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1)
“Independent evaluator” means the Rand Corporation.(2)
“Next Generation 911 system” means the Next Generation 911 emergency communication system described in Section 53121.(3)
“Office” means the Office of Emergency Services.(4)
“Regional network” means the approach for the Next Generation 911 system developed under the contracts entered into by the office in 2019 with regional network providers and a statewide backup, also known as prime provider, in which a single public safety answering point is connected to both the regional provider and the statewide provider at the same time.(b)
On or before August 15, 2026, the office shall enter into a contract with an independent evaluator for the purpose of performing an independent technical evaluation for the development and implementation of the Next Generation 911 system, subject to all of the following requirements:(1)
The independent technical evaluation shall do all of the following:(A)
Describe the state’s options for delivering reliable Next Generation 911 system services to the state and the strengths and weaknesses of each option, which shall include, but not be limited to, explanations of all of the following:(i)
How each option might impact public safety answering points both during and after transition.(ii)
How each option would respond to or resolve problems encountered to date, including interoperability challenges.(iv)
The redundancy, resiliency, privacy, and security of each option.(B)
Identify the recommended option to deliver cost-effective, safe, and reliable Next Generation 911 system services to the state and describe why that option is the best option. This evaluation shall include a description of the system architecture and optimal organization of contracted services required for the option.(C)
With regard to at least one option, assess whether the regional network can deliver a reliable Next Generation 911 system, and, if not, describe why the regional network cannot deliver a reliable system.(D)
Assess the best method for providing redundancy that preserves cost-effective, safe, and reliable Next Generation 911 services, including whether a statewide network is sufficiently redundant and reliable.(E)
The reports required pursuant to this section shall not include information that may do any of the following:(i)
Pose a security risk.(ii)
Compromise public safety.(iv)
Mandate a particular system architecture or state technical requirements that would undermine the integrity of any pending or anticipated request for proposal or other competitive procurement process.(2)
In carrying out the independent technical evaluation, the independent evaluator shall consider relevant factors, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(A)
The emergency communication systems implemented in other states.(B)
The most recent standards and recommendations from the National Emergency Number Association.(C)
The means and manner by which the Next Generation 911 system will evolve with future innovations and prohibit technological obsolescence.(D)
Resiliency and redundancy in the face of technical failures, cyberattacks, natural disasters, and other threats to the Next Generation 911 system.(E)
Interoperability of the Next Generation 911 system.(F)
The cost to build and operate the Next Generation 911 system.(G)
Any management and vendor oversight requirements for the Next Generation 911 system.(H)
The impact of the Next Generation 911 system on the public safety answering points.(I)
Data privacy with respect to the Next Generation 911 system.(3)
On or before December 15, 2026, the independent evaluator shall provide an initial evaluation and preliminary report on the independent technical evaluation, which shall include near-term capability and procurement recommendations, simultaneously to all of the following entities:(A)
The office.(B)
The State 911 Advisory Board.(C)
The chairpersons of the relevant policy committees and budget subcommittees of the Legislature.(D)
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee.(E)
The Legislative Analyst’s Office.(4)
On or before May 1, 2027, the independent evaluator shall provide a final report on the independent technical evaluation simultaneously to all of the following entities:(A)
The office.(B)
The State 911 Advisory Board.(C)
The chairpersons of the relevant policy committees and budget subcommittees of the Legislature.(D)
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee.(E)
The Legislative Analyst’s Office.(c)
(1)(A)The office, the State 911 Advisory Board, and public safety answering points shall provide the independent evaluator with any requested assistance, including, but not limited to, providing any data or other information.(B)
The 911 system network vendors, including originating service providers, legacy 911 system service providers, and Next Generation 911 system service providers, shall provide the independent evaluator requested assistance, including providing trouble tickets, root cause analyses, corrective action plans, testing schedules and results, performance statistics, outage information, contract deliverables, and any other data or other information related to the vendor’s contracted work with the office on the Next Generation 911 project.(2)
(A)The office, and the 911 system network vendors, including originating service providers, legacy 911 system service providers, and Next Generation 911 service providers, shall provide any assistance requested by the independent evaluator pursuant to paragraph (1) within three business days of the request unless the independent evaluator agrees to a reasonably extended period of time.(B)
The public safety answering points and the State 911 Advisory Board shall provide any assistance requested by the independent evaluator pursuant to paragraph (1) to the best of their ability when requested.(d)
The office shall provide the independent evaluator with a primary point of contact, who shall be responsible for facilitating communications between the office and the independent evaluator, and with key stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the state’s primary points of contact at state public safety answering points, 911 system network vendors, including originating service providers, legacy 911 system providers, and Next Generation 911 system service providers, and the State 911 Advisory Board.(e)
In awarding a long-term contract, the office shall not issue a request for proposals or award a Next Generation 911 network services contract sooner than 60 days after both of the following circumstances have occurred:(1)
The final report described in subdivision (b) is complete and has been received by each of the entities described in that subdivision.(2)
The office has submitted a report to the appropriate budget subcommittees and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, in accordance with Section 9795, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office describing the actions that the office has taken or will take in response to the findings and recommendations in the preliminary report and the final report described in subdivision (b).(f)
Notwithstanding any other law, a contract entered into pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be exempt from the Public Contract Code, the State Contracting Manual, and any other state contracting requirements, and shall not be subject to the approval of the Department of General Services.
Source:
Section 53121.1, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=53121.1. (updated Jul. 13, 2026; accessed Aug. 3, 2026).
