HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING APRIL 12-18, 2026, AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, the official text

H8478 2026 -- H 8478 ======== LC006366 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N RECOGNIZING APRIL 12-18, 2026, AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Finkelman, O Brien, Hull, Kennedy, Tanzi, and Ajello Date Introduced: April 28, 2026 Referred To: House read and passed 1 WHEREAS, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is observed annually 2 during the second full week of April to honor the men and women who serve as public safety 3 telecommunicators, including 9-1-1 dispatchers, who are the vital link between the public and 4 emergency services; and 5 WHEREAS, In 2026, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is recognized 6 from April 12-18; and 7 WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is served by the Rhode Island E-911 Uniform 8 Emergency Telephone System, which operates a 24-hour, statewide emergency communications 9 system providing immediate access to police, fire, and emergency medical services; and 10 WHEREAS, Rhode Island is one of only a small number of states—and among the only 11 states in the nation—to operate a single, centralized Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) 12 handling all 9-1-1 calls statewide, thereby improving efficiency, coordination, and response 13 times; and 14 WHEREAS, The Rhode Island E-911 system, established pursuant to state law in 1984, 15 is designed to reduce emergency response times and enhance coordination among public safety 16 agencies by rapidly transferring calls and critical information to appropriate responders; and 17 WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s E-911 system utilizes advanced technologies, including 18 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and wireless location capabilities, enabling 19 telecommunicators to quickly identify caller locations and assist emergency responders with 1 precision and speed; and 2 WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Public Safety oversees the E-911 system 3 along with agencies such as the Rhode Island State Police and other public safety entities, 4 ensuring a coordinated and effective emergency response infrastructure throughout the State; and 5 WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s public safety telecommunicators handle hundreds of 6 thousands of emergency calls annually, including approximately 472,620 E-911 calls in calendar 7 year 2025, as reported by the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, demonstrating the 8 critical and constant demand placed upon these highly trained professionals; and 9 WHEREAS, Public safety telecommunicators are the first point of contact in emergency 10 response, answering urgent calls, providing lifesaving instructions, and coordinating responses 11 while maintaining composure, professionalism, and compassion during times of crisis; and 12 WHEREAS, These dedicated professionals serve the residents and visitors of Rhode 13 Island 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, often without public recognition, yet their work is essential 14 to protecting life, property, and public safety; and 15 WHEREAS, It is both fitting and proper that the State of Rhode Island recognize the 16 extraordinary service, skill, and commitment of these individuals; now, therefore be it 17 RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 18 recognizes April 12-18, 2026, as “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week” and honors 19 and expresses its deepest gratitude to all public safety telecommunicators throughout the State of 20 Rhode Island for their indispensable contributions to public safety and their unwavering 21 dedication to serving the people of this State; and be it further 22 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 23 transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, Director of the 24 Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, and Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, 25 Arthur J. Martins, Director of the Rhode Island E-911 Uniform Emergency Telephone System, 26 and municipal public safety agencies across the State. ======== LC006366 ======== LC006366 - Page 2 of 2