GCRECD Frequently Asked Questions

Gulf Coast Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District

The Houston-Galveston Area Council's Gulf Coast Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District is an entity that was created to promote enhanced public safety and increased fiscal and service efficiencies in the administration of emergency communications for the municipalities and counties of Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Liberty, Matagorda, Walker, Waller, and Wharton. District is governed by Board of Managers representing the eight participating, counties in the program region. On February 16, 2016, the Board of Managers approved the creation of the Gulf Coast Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District (GCRECD) by adoption of resolutions by the counties and municipalities of the eight counties pursuant by Chapter 772, Subchapter H, of the Texas Health and Safety Code to form a Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District.

The 9-1-1 service is funded by a 9-1-1 service fee assessed on all local exchange access lines in the GCRECD program area. The Board of Managers sets the fee level each year as a part of the annual budget. GCRECD assesses a flat fee of $.50/line/month for residential customers, $.50/line/month (up to 100 lines) for business customers, and $.50/trunk/month.

The fees are invoiced through the telephone bills of customers by all telephone companies and are then transmitted to GCRECD to fund the 9-1-1 system. A wireless 9-1-1 service fee is also assessed at $.50 per subscriber number per month. These fees are transmitted to the State Comptrollers’ Office monthly and are distributed to GCRECD.

Wire line service fees within the area of the district currently paid to the Texas State Comptroller’s Office should be remitted directly to the GCRECD.

The GCRECD does not actually take 9-1-1 calls or dispatch emergency help. However, our services help the 9-1-1 system in our eight counties to function efficiently and effectively.

On May 22, 2015, Governor Gregg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1108 into law which gave the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) permissive authority under Chapter 772, Subchapter H, of the Texas Health and Safety Code to form a Regional 9-1-1 District for eight participating counties in the program region. Per Legislation you will begin remitting 9-1-1 wireline fees directly to our company, the Gulf Coast Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District (GCRECD), beginning March 1, 2016.

There are several ways to remit fees to H-GAC. Some of these ways include payment by direct deposit to the 9-1-1 Entity’s bank or by check, ACH, or through our online system which became available August 1, 2016.

Your company would need to file the amended returns with the Texas State Comptroller’s Office and file the missing returns with our company. Subsequently, payments should be remitted to our company instead of the comptroller’s office hereafter. 

Your company should remit fees to the H-GAC the day that is listed and agreed to on the Service Agreement Contract. Company shall remit the appropriate fee monthly, no later than the first day of each month., beginning immediately upon execution of the Service Agreement or the company may remit the appropriate fee annually no later than the first day of each calendar year. 

The postal address that should be used is P.O. Box 22777, Houston, Texas 77227-2777.

Yes, your company should submit a Service Fee Remittal Form each time a payment is made. 

Your company should submit the Service Fee Agreement Contract, signed, back to our company as soon as possible. We will then complete our portion of the agreements with signature and return an original to your company. 

Your company should first create an online account. You’ll need to provide your organization’s information, your contact information, payment information (payment schedule and method), service information, and a password. This will help your company with transactions.

Your company should contact the 9-1-1 Program Manager Kimberly Ward. Her contact information is listed on our company’s website.

Text to 9-1-1 service is now available for all cell phone companies that offer this service to thier wireless customers. You must have a device with a data or text plan to send text messages.

View our Text to 9-1-1 Page for more information.