Kari's Law

KARI'S LAW

DIRECT ACCESS TO 911

Multi-Line Telephone Systems

Kari's Law, via Senate Bill 788, was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 15, 2015. This law requires that all Texas businesses who use multi-line telephone systems provide direct-dial access to 9-1-1 without someone having to dial a (9) or another prefix first to get an outside line. Additionally, this law was adopted in 2016 as RULE 251.16 by the Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) to implement Kari's law.

Texas business owners should contact their MLTS provider to determine if their phone system is compliant. If the existing MLTS system cannot be re-programmed or replaced to meet the direct-access requirement by September 1st, a one-year waiver may be granted upon timely submission of an affidavit. On August 31st of every year the waiver expires.  

NOTE: If your MLTS provider gives you a quote that seems unreasonable please contact other service providers. Costs for reprogramming should either be zero or negligible.

For more information concerning Kari's Law please refer to the resources listed below:

Share by: