Subsidies to PSAPs and Municipalities

Subsidies to Regional PSAPs

Three or more towns and cities which have come together to create a single PSAP are eligible for annual regional PSAP subsidy funding from the Division of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications (DSET). Currently, five regional PSAPs receive this funding.  

 

Subsidies to PSAPs Serving Larger Municipalities

Connecticut towns and cities with populations over 40,000 receive subsidy funding from DSET to assist with their stand-alone PSAP operation costs, unless they are already receiving a subsidy as part of a multi-town or regional PSAP.  Currently, 22 municipalities receive this subsidy. They are:  Bridgeport, Bristol, Danbury, East Hartford, Enfield, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hamden, Hartford, Manchester, Meriden, Milford, New Britain, New Haven, Norwalk, Southington, Stamford, Shelton, Stratford, Wallingford, West Hartford, and West Haven.  

 

Subsidies to Multi-town Dispatch Centers

PSAPs that provide 9-1-1 emergency telecommunications for two municipalities (multi-town PSAPs) are eligible for annual subsidy funding from DSET.  Currently, 10 multi-town PSAPs in the state receive this subsidy funding.  

 

Subsidies to CMEDs

Coordinated Medical Emergency Dispatch (CMED) centers receive a $.30 per capita annual subsidy.  

 

Grants for Municipalities Transitioning to New Regional Dispatch Centers

Municipalities may apply to DSET for transition grants to reimburse certain expenses related to the transition from an existing stand-alone PSAP to an approved multi-town or regional PSAP.  Reimbursement is limited to costs associated with the relocation of telecommunications systems and for providing additional functional capacity at the regional or multi-town PSAP.  Grants shall not exceed $300,000. Applications for regional or multi-town PSAP transition grants shall be made on forms furnished by and filed with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications, 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457. Please contact (860) 685-8031 for required documentation and information.

• Capital Expense Grant SFY 24-25 Application Note: it is recommended that you download this form first before filling it out and printing for signatures
• Capital Expense Reimbursement Procedures (June 2023)

 

Reporting Forms for Regional & Multi-town Emergency Communication Centers

Subsidization of regional PSAPs, multi-town PSAPs, and funded entities (a) In order to be eligible for subsidies from the Enhanced 9-1-1 Telecommunications Fund, regional PSAPs and multi-town PSAPs shall: (1) Have a representative board in place and operating; (2) Have contracts with each member town or city that shall provide for the appointment of voting representatives from each town to the representative board; (3) Provide copies of the contracts described in subdivision (2) of this subsection to the Division upon request; and (4) Regional PSAPs and multi-town PSAPs have a chief administrative officer and a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall give a surety bond in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars. (b) Any entity provided with subsidy or grant funds shall be audited in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-230 to 4-236, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes. Regional PSAPs and stand-alone multi-town PSAPs shall have an independent auditor perform a financial audit annually that complies with the requirements for a single audit, as defined in section 4-230 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Program audits shall not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this subsection. All audits shall encompass the operations and activities of the complete entity. (c) Regional PSAPs, multi-town PSAPs and funded entities shall provide annual reports to the Division not later than February 1st of each year. The report shall set forth, in a format prescribed by the Division, a detailed statement consisting of the following: (1) The proposed annual operating budget for the fiscal year, starting the following July 1st.  For regional PSAPs and stand-alone multi-town PSAPs, the submitted budget shall be the entire budget for the entity; (2) A copy of the most recent audit required in subsection (b) of this section; (3) Documentation of expenditures of state funds provided under sections 28 Documentation of expenditures of state funds provided under sections 28-24-1a to 28-24-12a, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies during the previous fiscal year ending June 30th; (4) For regional PSAPs and stand-alone multi-town PSAPs, documentation identifying the chief administrative officer and the chief financial officer; (5) Identification of any secondary PSAPs or secondary dispatch points used by the PSAP; (6) Documentation of the process by which the PSAP provides emergency medical dispatch services, including identification of any secondary dispatch points or PSAPs used to deliver such services; and (7) Documentation regarding any changes to the information in the PSAP’s 9-1-1 service utilization plan, or confirmation that there have been no changes to the plan. (d) The Division shall make payments of subsidies in equal quarterly payments, not later than thirty days prior to the start of the quarter. The Division shall make payments in accordance with the funding formula established in subsection (i) of this section. Not later than sixty days after the end of each quarter, each regional PSAP, multi-town PSAP or funded entity shall submit a financial report of the expenses of the previous quarter to the Division. The Division may withhold quarterly payments if financial reports are not submitted. (e) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, any funds issued at the beginning of a quarter, and not expended by a regional PSAP, multi-town PSAP or funded entity during that quarter, shall be applied toward future allocations. (f) Funds provided to regional PSAPs, multi-town PSAPs or funded entities shall be used exclusively for the purpose of providing emergency telecommunications services. The Division shall provide policy guidance regarding the appropriate use of 9-1-1 funds.  In no case shall funds be used for the following purposes: (1) Purchase or leasing of real estate or vehicles; or (2) Expenditures not related to public safety emergency telecommunications. (g) In no case shall the state provide funding in excess of one hundred percent of the operational requirements of a regional PSAP, multi-town PSAP or funded entity. A regional PSAP, multi-town PSAP or funded entity shall refund any subsidy in excess of one hundred percent of operational requirements, provided in any given fiscal year, to the State of Connecticut, Office of the State Treasurer, for deposit in the Enhanced 9-1-1 Telecommunications Fund.

• Quarterly Reporting Form Note: it is recommended that you download this form first before filling it out and printing for signatures
• Annual Reporting Form Note: it is recommended that you download this form first before filling it out and printing for signatures

 

Training Fund

• Training Fund Policy

 

Statutory Authority-Description

Section 28-24-7a of the Regulations of the State of Connecticut provide for the establishment of a training fund for the purpose of reimbursing ongoing training for public safety answering points, (PSAPs) for 9-1-1. The Department of Public Safety, Division of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications, shall establish a training fund to be used exclusively for the purpose of providing ongoing training for Public Safety telecommunicators.  Each public safety answering point shall be eligible for reimbursement of the expenses of training telecommunicators, in accordance with the provisions of section 28-30 of the Connecticut General Statute and regulations adopted thereunder.  Reimbursement shall be limited to an amount equal to fifteen cents per capita, utilizing the most recent Department of Public Health population data.  Requests for funding shall be submitted to the Department of Public Safety, Division of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications, and shall be subject to the approval of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications.  

 

Reimbursement Procedure

Requests for reimbursement of training funds must be submitted to DSET no later than 90 days following the date of travel, training or purchase. Failure to submit within the timeframe may result in denial of the reimbursement.  

 

Required Documentation

Each reimbursement request will consist of a copy of the invoice or itemized receipt(s) from the vendor and a student registration form.  Multiple employees attending one event may be represented on one invoice, but a student registration form must be submitted for each individual.  Requests for reimbursement for overtime and backfill must be itemized on department letterhead and signed by either the Chief or PSAP director.  

 

Authorized Uses

Reimbursable training may include:

• Memberships to organizations that promote public safety emergency telecommunications.
• Registration fees to attend conferences, workshops and meetings of professional organizations specifically dealing with public safety emergency telecommunications.
• DSET may reimburse for travel expenses authorized by the rules and policies of the PSAP regarding authorized expenditures for travel, but DSET is not bound by such rules and policies.   Submission of the PSAP travel reimbursement policy must accompany any requests for reimbursement.
• Reimbursements for travel may include airfare, lodging, and conference registration.  The following items are not reimbursable: mileage, gas, car rental, meals, parking fees, or telephone charges.
• Training materials, training videos and study guides directly related to 9-1-1 public safety emergency telecommunications and career development in 9-1-1.  Documentation including invoices from the vendors must accompany any requests.
• Backfill for employees to attend public safety emergency telecommunications training. Documentation for backfill and overtime must be submitted on department letterhead and signed by the PSAP director.
• Courses for career development in 9-1-1, including but not limited to, communications center management, emergency telecommunications technology, emergency communications issues related to homeland security and emergency management, and 9-1-1 operations.

Training that is not related to the 9-1-1 services will not be reimbursed.

 

Funding Limits

Funds that are not used within the fiscal year, or requests that exceed the allocated amount in a fiscal year, cannot be rolled over to the next fiscal year.  All reimbursements are subject to the availability of funds. 

 

Training Reimbursement

• Training Reimbursement Request

 

Applicable Statutes and Regulations

• State statute for the Enhanced 9-1-1 Telecommunications Fund is C.G.S. section 28-30a
• Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Enhanced 9-1-1 Telecommunications Fund Regulations) sections 28-24-1a through 28-24-12a