ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Georgia voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to let lawmakers create a Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund under Amendment 3.

The amendment would not create the fund on its own. It also would not change phone bills.

How 911 is funded now

Georgians are probably already paying into 911 through a $1.50 monthly fee for their phone service.

Since 2019, the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority has collected that money and distributed it to local governments, which must keep it in a restricted 911 fund.

What the new fund would do

The General Assembly proposed the amendment in House Resolution 1243. If voters approve it, lawmakers could create the fund through legislation.

According to the amendment text, money in the fund would be used exclusively for the expansion, maintenance and operation of 911 systems throughout the state, including the transition to Next Generation 911. Any other appropriation from the fund would be void.

Money deposited in the fund would not lapse.

What is Next Generation 911?

Next Generation 911 is an internet protocol-based network that can handle voice calls, texts, photos and video. It also uses mapping data to pinpoint a caller’s location more accurately.

According to the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority, the current 911 system was developed for voice calls from landline networks tied to specific address points, and its infrastructure has remained largely unchanged since 1968. The authority says more than 80% of 911 calls nationwide now come from wireless devices.

The authority also says Next Generation 911 would deliver calls to the appropriate 911 center based on the caller’s location and help centers manage call overload and disasters.

Where the money would come from

The amendment does not say exactly where the money would come from. Lawmakers would have to decide that in separate legislation.

The ballot question says only that lawmakers could dedicate “certain existing revenues, including revenues reallocated by law,” to the fund.

What a yes or no vote means

A “yes” vote gives lawmakers the authority to create the fund. A “no” vote keeps the state constitution as it is.

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