texas

‘Kari's Law', Requiring Direct 911 Access, Passes in United States Senate

Compliance of state law begins on September 1

"Kari's Law" - a bill, named in honor of a Texas mother that would require greater direct access to emergency help - has passed in the United States Senate. 

"Kari's Law" is named in honor of Kari Hunt, who died in 2013 in a Marshall, Texas, hotel room after being stabbed by her estranged husband. Kari's daughter tried repeatedly to dial for help for her mother, but did not know to dial an extra 9, before dialing 9-1-1, to reach an outside line.

Since Kari's death, her father, Hank, has been campaigning to make sure that no 9s or any other extra digits are needed.

Hank Hunt started a petition that got the attention of hundreds of thousands of people, including lawmakers in several states. Hunt would travel from his home in East-Texas to Austin - and Washington D.C. - telling the story of his daughter and granddaughter, and why the law should change.

Kari's Law would require businesses with multi-line telephone systems to have direct access to 9-1-1, with no extra digits before or after required to reach emergency help.

Kari's father said seeing this bill so close to becoming law nationwide is one step closer to the end goal.

"It's bittersweet," he said, Thursday. "I'm anxious to see it through and I hope we can get any differences between the House and the Senate bills hammered out pretty quick."

Legislation has already been passed on the state level in Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee and Texas.

The Texas law passed in 2015, with Kari's daughter receiving the pen Governor Greg Abbott used to sign the bill, in honor of her mother.

“There’s a lesson virtually every parent teaches their child – if you face an emergency, call 9-1-1,” Governor Abbott said, when he signed Kari's Law in 2015. “I am signing Kari’s Law to ensure that whenever there is an emergency, any child and any adult who dials 9-1-1 is going to be able to connect with emergency personnel to ensure they come to the rescue of those who need help the most.”

Compliance with the Texas version of Kari's Law starts on September 1. 

The bill in the United States Senate will go back to the House of Representatives for final approval, before then moving to the White House.

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