(a) A municipality may establish an emergency services communications center with one or more other municipalities and one or more state, federal, or private agencies that provide emergency service communications to the same geographic area. An emergency services communications center established under this section may be organized and operated as a public nonprofit corporation under AS 10.20.

(b) An emergency services communications center under this section may be governed by a board of directors. A member of a board of directors of an emergency services communications center serves without compensation but is entitled to per diem and travel expenses. If an emergency services communications center is organized as a nonprofit corporation, a member of its board of directors may not be employed by the nonprofit corporation.

(c) An emergency services communications center may assess the feasibility and desirability of providing emergency services communications for the geographic area in which it is located through one central office. An emergency services communications center may

(1) combine or coordinate the existing emergency services communications programs of the participating municipalities and agencies;

(2) operate a dispatch center to receive all requests for emergency services and dispatch those services;

(3) study the need for improvement in the timely delivery of emergency services to residents of the participating municipalities;

(4) hold public hearings to obtain information concerning the timely delivery of emergency services;

(5) apply for and accept federal, state, municipal, and private money, property, or assistance for use in providing the timely delivery of emergency services;

(6) enter into contracts to carry out the provisions of this section;

(7) employ personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(d) In this section,

(1) “emergency services” means services provided by law enforcement agencies, fire departments, ambulance services, and other organizations that are intended to respond to emergency situations of imminent danger to life or property;

(2) “state agency” means a department, division, or office in the executive branch of state government.