BELLEFONTE — Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins has been named one of a select group of 19 leaders across the Pennsylvania to join the 9-1-1 Advisory Board. This board advises PEMA on the administration and operation of 9-1-1 systems in the Commonwealth.

The 9-1-1 Advisory Board meets quarterly in Harrisburg and includes three subcommittees: funding, technical, and operations. A broad variety of items come before the board including broad based planning needed due to changes in state and federal laws, approving grants, reviewing policy, and advocating for County 911 centers and the telecommunicators who staff them. The 9-1-1 Advisory Board was established by Act 12 of 2015, an act which contained amendments to Chapter 53 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. The 9-1-1 Advisory Board is codified in Section 5303 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

Now in office for the fifth year, Commissioner Higgins serves on 33 different boards at the local, county, regional, state, and national levels. Several of his current positions fit well with the 9-1-1 Advisory Board including two County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) policy committee, a National Association of Counties (NACo) policy committee, and as chair of the Centre County Public Safety Training Center Advisory board.

Commissioner Higgins says, “I plan to use my position on the 9-1-1 Advisory Board to advocate for Centre County, other medium sized Counties, and other Central Pennsylvania Counties with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. I will also engage with leaders of the Pennsylvania House and Senate and other stakeholders.”