Rep. Carolyn Hall urges federal reclassification of 911 dispatchers as first responders

Representative Carolyn Hall, who represents House District 16, told the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on April 22 that House Joint Resolution 38 urges Congress to pass the Enhancing First Response Act to reclassify emergency dispatchers from federal "clerical" to the protective service occupational class.

Hall said the change would recognize dispatchers' role in the first‑responder system and grant them access to federal training, grant opportunities and wellness resources currently available to other emergency personnel. "Dispatchers are the first contact a distressed person has when calling 911," Hall said, describing how dispatchers calm callers, gather critical information, coach callers through medical interventions and coordinate responders.

In invited testimony, Erin Kalwarra, public safety manager for the City and Borough of Juneau and manager of the municipal communications center, told the committee that federal classification as office or administrative support does not reflect the work dispatchers perform. "911 is a vital part of our nation's critical infrastructure," Kalwarra said, and she added that reclassification would improve federal reporting and statistical accuracy for workforce planning, including tracking post‑traumatic stress and suicide rates that are not currently categorized for dispatchers.

Kalwarra described how technological changes and mapping data have increased dispatchers' responsibilities and cited persistent exposure to traumatic events as a contributor to recruitment and retention challenges in communications centers.

Chair Senator Bjorkman thanked the witnesses and, after hearing no committee questions, said the committee would set HJR 38 aside for further consideration at a future meeting. No formal committee action or vote on HJR 38 occurred during this session.

Next steps: HJR 38 was set aside for additional consideration; Representative Hall offered to provide follow‑up information to committee members after the hearing.