On Thursday, Kari’s Law took effect in Texas, allowing callers direct access to 9-1-1.
The new law is named after 31-year-old Kari Hunt who was murdered in a Marshall hotel by her estranged husband in 2013. In an effort to save her mother, Hunt’s nine-year-old daughter attempted to call 9-1-1 multiple times, but did not know she had to first dial 9.
Kari’s Law was signed by Governor Greg Abbott in March 2015 requiring businesses and offices with a multi line telephone system to allow any call to 9-1-1 be dialed without any leading digits. However, businesses who have not yet, made the switch over are able to request one-year waivers for non-compliant systems and can file for waivers up to three years in a row. To learn more about the waiver, click here.
Michael Grossie, the executive director of the Lubbock Emergency Communication district, says the change was much needed.
“It’s [Kari’s Law] meant to establish a phone system where there doesn’t need to be a leading digit dialed before dialing 9-1-1,” said Grossie. “So no matter where you go, if you pick up a telephone you would just dial 9-1-1. You wouldn’t have to look around to see if you had to dial a 9 first or a 7 or an 8 or whatever.”
And if you want to double check whether or not your workplace is in compliance with the new law, Grossie advises simply making a test call.
