The Ohio Senate Public Utilities Committee voted to move forward a bill that would require cell phone customers in the state to pay a 32-cent monthly fee to help pay for enhanced 9-1-1 services.

The proposal would add 32 cents a month to cellular telephone bills through Dec. 31, 2008.

In return, drivers throughout the state would get enhanced 9-1-1 service capable of geographically locating a cell phone caller with the aid of global positioning satellite services, The Lantern reported.

Enhanced 9-1-1 is a service that allows emergency dispatchers to pinpoint the location and phone number of a person without the caller having to say a word.

The bill, HB361, sponsored by Rep. Larry Flowers, R-Canal Winchester, calls for half of the tax revenue to go to wireless service providers, which are required by federal law to have GPS on all cell phones by 2005. The remaining funds would be distributed among counties, based on their number of wireless service subscribers, to provide for equipping and staffing answering centers.

The bill, which previously passed the House, is awaiting consideration on the Senate floor.