HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A proposal that would generate millions of dollars in new funding for 911 emergency call centers is being debated on the floor of the Pennsylvania House.

Lawmakers took up the bill Wednesday with a week to go before an existing fee on phone bills expires.

The current version does not include authorization that the Senate had approved to let counties charge residents $52 a year to defray the growing costs of emergency communications centers.

The bill gives 911 centers in Allentown and Bethlehem four years to work on consolidating their 911 centers.

The state government estimates the $1.65 fee, up from $1, would generate $314 million a year.

It currently raises about $190 million, but the system costs about $292 million to operate.