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THAT. FOR US, THAT CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT. THE GOVERNOR ALSO SIGNED A BILL INTO LAW THAT ALLOWS THE STATE TO CHARGE LOCAL 911 BOARDS A FEE FOR TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES. LOCAL 911 OPERATORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUPS HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THEIR OPPOSITION TO THIS. ����vlog’S NICOLE TAM SHARES HOW THESE GROUPS ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEW LAW. THIS IS AN ISSUE EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT. LAST MONTH, THEY DID ASK THE GOVERNOR TO VETO THE BILL. MANY ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE GOVERNOR DID DECIDE TO SIGN THE BILL INTO LAW, BUT ARE NOW LOOKING AT WAYS TO FIND FUNDING FOR AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE LIKE 911 AGENCIES OPPOSED TO THE BILL DO AGREE THAT UPGRADES TO THE 911 SYSTEM ARE NEEDED. HOWEVER, POLK COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY DIRECTOR AJ MUMM SAYS LOCAL 911 BOARDS ARE ALREADY FOOTING MOST OF THE BILL TO RUN THE PROGRAM. HE SAYS THE COST TO RUN THE THREE 911 CENTERS IN THE COUNTY COST MORE THAN $16 MILLION, AND THEY ONLY RECEIVE ABOUT $2.9 MILLION IN SURCHARGE FEES. ANOTHER GROUP THAT OPPOSES THIS LEGISLATION IS IOWA STATE SHERIFFS AND DEPUTIES ASSOCIATION. CAPTAIN NICHOLAS LENNY SAYS THE BIGGER ISSUE FACING 911 OPERATIONS IS LONG TERM FUNDING. HE SAYS 911 BOARDS DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THE STATE WILL BUILD THEM FOR. IT’S GOING TO BE INCUMBENT ON US TO WORK WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS, TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATORS, TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND BRING SOME TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED, WHY IT’S IMPORTANT. POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO THIS. STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE VONDRAN, A REPUBLICAN FROM DAVENPORT, WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BILL. HE SAYS HE LOOKS FORWARD TO HOMELAND SECURITY BEING ABLE TO UPGRADE 911 STATEWIDE AND HAVE THE SERVICE WORKING EFFECTIVELY FOR IOWANS. WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE TO SEE WHY SHE DECIDED TO SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW, B