(a) Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to establish a framework for a Regional Planning Commission (RPC) to use in the development and submission for Commission approval or disapproval of a regional strategic plan for 9-1-1 service, or amendments thereto, pursuant to Health and Safety Code §§771.055 - 771.057. A regional strategic plan will, at a minimum, include the elements required by statute, this rule, and Commission Program Policy Statements.
(b) Regional Strategic Plan Scope. A regional strategic plan must describe how 9-1-1 service is to be provided and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and address the entire geographic area within the boundaries of the RPC's 9-1-1 service area.
(c) Regional Strategic Plan Criteria. A regional strategic plan must include the following and be updated at least once a biennium:
  (1) A description of how grant and any other funds allocated to the RPC by the Commission under this chapter are to be allocated in the region;
  (2) Projected financial operating information for the two state fiscal years following the submission of the plan;
  (3) Strategic planning information for the five state fiscal years following submission of the plan;
  (4) Identify all participating public safety agencies, and all Emergency Communication Districts and other RPCs with whom the RPC shares 9-1-1 service area boundaries;
  (5) Call routing plan;
  (6) Local monitoring plan;
  (7) Capital asset plan;
  (8) Database maintenance plan;
  (9) Equipment maintenance plan;
  (10) RPC Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Network plan;
  (11) Information security program;
  (12) Text-to-911 service (absent a Commission-approved waiver); and
  (13) Financial and performance reporting at least quarterly on a schedule to be established by Commission staff.
(d) Contracts. Each RPC must execute interlocal agreements between itself and each public agency or public safety agency in the RPC's region reflecting the RPC's Commission-approved regional strategic plan and addressing, at a minimum, the planning, development, operation and provision of 9-1-1 service, the use of 9-1-1 funds, and the requirements in the contracts promulgated pursuant to Commission Rule 251.12, Commission and Regional Planning Commission Contracts for 9-1-1 Service.

Source Note: The provisions of this §251.1 adopted to be effective August 4, 2002, 27 TexReg 6682; amended to be effective August 24, 2003, 28 TexReg 6535; amended to be effective May 2, 2004, 29 TexReg 3955; amended to be effective October 10, 2004, 29 TexReg 9352; amended to be effective December 11, 2005, 30 TexReg 8056; amended to be effective December 7, 2008, 33 TexReg 9971; amended to be effective March 5, 2014, 39 TexReg 1357; amended to be effective August 16, 2017, 42 TexReg 3962; amended to be effective October 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 6815; amended to be effective August 16, 2020, 45 TexReg 5507