Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The Kelsey Smith Act requires telecommunications providers—including cell phone carriers and internet-based voice services—to immediately share a user's location information with law enforcement or 911 dispatchers when requested in emergency situations. Specifically, providers must disclose location data if a device was used to call 911 in the past 48 hours or if law enforcement has reasonable suspicion that the device belongs to someone in immediate danger of death or serious injury. The bill protects telecom companies from lawsuits for complying with these emergency requests and requires law enforcement agencies to maintain records of all location information requests, documenting the officer's name, the reason for the request, and confirmation it meets the emergency criteria. The legislation also preserves state laws that already require location sharing in similar emergency circumstances. There is no specific funding or implementation timeline mentioned in the bill.
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