Barrar named Legislator of the Year

Posted by Press Release on September 19, 2015

State Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160, Chester/Delaware, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, was presented with the 2015 Legislator of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania National Emergency Number Association, a press release said. The award, which he has received for a second time, recognizes an outstanding Pennsylvania legislator for his or her work and support of emergency communications issues.

“It is my honor to receive this award,” Barrar said. “This year, the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and I finished a tremendous project that involved more than two years of work. NENA recognizes that the top priority is to secure the funding that our county 911 centers need to remain relevant, and I appreciate that acknowledgement.”

For the past two years, Barrar worked to draft House Bill 911, which was signed into law earlier this year. Now Act 12, it enables 911 centers to provide critical emergency services to the community as quickly as possible and via a host of new communication methods including texting, calls from video, non-human (e.g. OnStar) calls and calls from non-specific devices, such as an iPad.

“Our emergency communications systems provide such an invaluable service to the citizens of the Commonwealth, and it has been my privilege to work to maintain the stability of Pennsylvania’s systems,” Barrar said.

NENA focuses on 9-1-1 policy, technology, operations and education issues. It has more than 9,000 members in 48 chapters across the United States and around the globe.

The award was given on Sept. 18.