To make it easier for individuals to call 911 and for first responders to pinpoint the location of callers, Congress enacted two laws: Kari's Law and the Ray Baum Act.
What is Kari's Law?
Kari's Law, which took effect February 16, 2020 and named after Kari Hunt Dunn, requires enterprise phone systems to enable dialing 911 directly without requiring a prefix, notify an on-site party when an emergency call is placed, and send a valid callback number that a 911 dispatcher can use to reconnect with the caller.
Kari was the victim of homicide after being attacked by her estranged husband in a Texas motel room. Her 9-year-old daughter tried to call 911 but couldn't connect because the phone system required dialing nine first for an outside line.
What is the Ray Baum Act?
The Ray Baum Act, which took effect in January 2021, requires all enterprise organizations to provide automated dispatchable location information whenever a 911 call is placed. A dispatchable location includes more than just a valid street address — it also requires information such as the building, floor, suite, or room number and may include additional directional information.
Starting January 6, 2022, all organizations' business phone systems are required to provide dispatchable location information for their remote workers as well.
Because of the callback and notification requirements, many phone systems require configuration and potentially additional software solutions like 9Line.
