66-1805. Notification center; duties and operation; fees; annual report; audits. (a) This act recognizes the establishment of a single notification center for the state of Kansas. Each operator who has an underground facility shall become a member of the notification center.

(b) For operators of tier 1 facilities or operators of tier 2 facilities that desire notification in the same manner as operators of tier 1 facilities, the notification center shall provide prompt notice of any proposed excavation or report of damage or contact with underground facility to each affected operator that has facilities recorded with the notification center in the area of a proposed excavation site.

(c) For operators of tier 2 facilities that desire direct contact with the excavator, the notification center shall provide the excavator with the name and contact information of the affected operator that has facilities recorded with the notification center in the area of the proposed excavation.

(d) Notification to operators as defined in subsection (b) shall be given by notifying the notification center by telephone at the toll free number or by other communication methods approved by the notification center. The content of such notification shall be as required by K.S.A. 66-1804, and amendments thereto.

(e) Notification to operators as defined in subsection (c) may be given by notifying the operator of tier 2 facilities using the contact information provided by the notification center. The content of such notification shall be as required by K.S.A. 66-1804, and amendments thereto.

(f) Each operator who has an underground facility within the state shall be afforded the opportunity to become a member of the notification center on the same terms as the original members.

(g) A suitable record shall be maintained by the notification center to document the receipt of notices from excavators as required by this act.

(h) A suitable record shall be maintained by operators of tier 2 facilities that desire direct contact with the excavator pursuant to subsection (c) to document the receipt of notices from excavators.

(i) The notification center shall charge and collect an annual membership fee in the amount of $25 from each tier 2 facility member.

(j) The notification center shall charge a referral fee to tier 2 facility members in an amount no more than 50% of the referral fee rate charged to tier 1 facility members.

(k) The notification center established pursuant to this section shall be and is hereby deemed to be a public agency and shall be subject to the provisions of the open records act, K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., and amendments thereto, and the open meetings act, K.S.A. 75-4317 et seq., and amendments thereto, except that the notification center or board of directors, or successor managing organization, shall not disseminate, make available or otherwise distribute data or information provided by an operator of a tier 1, 2 or 3 facility unless such dissemination, making available or distributing is necessary for the state corporation commission or the notification center to carry out legal duties or specific statutory duties prescribed under this chapter.

(l) The notification center's board of directors shall include two members from tier 2 facilities and one member from tier 3 facilities.

(m) The notification center shall prepare an annual report that describes the activities of such center. An annual audit of the notification center shall be conducted by an independent certified public accountant. The notification center shall provide copies of such reports to each member of the notification center and shall be subject to the open records act, K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., and amendments thereto.

(n) The notification center shall solicit proposals for operation of the notification center not more than every five years which shall be awarded in an open meeting by the board of directors of the notification center. The bidding process prescribed by this subsection shall be subject to the open records act, K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., and amendments thereto.

(o) The notification center shall conduct a cost of service audit not more than every five years or as otherwise requested by the board of directors of the notification center or a majority of the members of such center.

(p) The notification center shall notify any person or excavator requesting identification of the location of underground facilities that utilities are only required to identify the location of utility-owned facilities and are not required to identify the location of privately owned facilities.

History: L. 1993, ch. 217, § 5; L. 2002, ch. 41, § 3; L. 2008, ch. 122, § 7; L. 2019, ch. 33, § 2; L. 2023, ch. 12, § 3; January 1, 2024.