Interest in and
discussions about 9-1-1 emergency service for the Harris County
area began in the early 1970’s. Not
until 1978, however, did Harris County Commissioner Tom Bass
and City of Houston Council Member Eleanor Tinsley meet to
discuss the feasibility of a 9-1-1 system to serve the Harris
County area. Throughout that year and into 1979, the staffs
of these two elected officials gathered information on technology
and explored alternate methods of administering and funding
such a system.
During 1980, an informal task force, composed of representatives
from the City of Houston and Harris County was established to
study 9-1-1 systems. Discussions centered on the type of system
to be installed; the jurisdictions to be included; the entity(ies)
to administer the system; and the method by which to fund the
system. During this year, Joe E. Russo, a local businessman,
became actively involved in the
9-1-1 effort; part of Mr. Russo’s contribution included
the funding of workshops and seminars on 9-1-1 emergency systems.
In 1982, Commissioner Tom Bass was named
by the Harris County Commissioners Court as its official representative
in the 9-1-1
effort. During that same year, the City-Council task force recommended
the creation of a special district for administration of 9-1-1
service for Harris County, with the placement of a service fee
on the phone bills of telephone subscribers to fund the system.
County Attorney Mike Driscoll and City Attorney Hank Coleman
provided legal assistance in the drafting of legislation to authorize
creation of a special communications district. Lavergne Schwender
of the County Attorney’s Office was principal author of
the legislation and was later appointed as GHC 9-1-1’s
Legal Counsel under an interlocal agreement with the County Attorney’s
Office.
The resulting proposed legislation was introduced as House Bill
9-1-1 and as Senate Bill 606 (Gene Green and Chet Brooks, principal
sponsors). Twenty-three of the twenty-six representatives and
all eight senators from Harris County co-sponsored the bills.
Many governmental entities, groups and individuals worked for
passage of the 9-1-1 legislation. One of the most active groups
was the Harris County Firefighters Association. This group not
only contributed significant time in helping to inform the community
about 9-1-1, but also had educational materials printed at the
Association expense. The 9-1-1 Emergency Number Act (Chapter
772, Health and Safety Code) passed the Senate on March 30, 1983,
and passed the House on April 27, 1983. It was signed into law
by Governor Mark White on May 10, 1983.
The Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency
Network was established in November of 1983, with the passage
of enabling legislation
and a voter referendum throughout the Harris County area. The
voter referendum—to establish a communication district
and assess a fee to fund the 9-1-1 service—passed throughout
the Harris County area by a vote of 82.5% in favor.
The 9-1-1 system was officially cut-over by GHC 9-1-1 on January
26, 1986.
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