House File 144 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY HEATON and HORBACH Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act providing for access to the Iowa communications network by 2 local law enforcement and first responder personnel under 3 specified circumstances. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1664YH 81 6 rn/gg/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 8D.2, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code 1 2 2005, is amended to read as follows: 1 3 a. "Public agency" means a state agency, an institution 1 4 under the control of the board of regents, the judicial branch 1 5 as provided in section 8D.13, subsection 17, a school 1 6 corporation, a city library, a library service area as 1 7 provided in chapter 256, a county library as provided in 1 8 chapter 336, or a judicial district department of correctional 1 9 services established in section 905.2, to the extent provided 1 10 in section 8D.13, subsection 15, an agency of the federal 1 11 government, the department of public safety and the Iowa 1 12 department of public health for purposes of local law 1 13 enforcement agency or first responder access pursuant to 1 14 section 8D.13, subsection 20, or a United States post office 1 15 which receives a federal grant for pilot and demonstration 1 16 projects. 1 17 Sec. 2. Section 8D.9, subsection 3, Code 2005, is amended 1 18 to read as follows: 1 19 3. A facility that is considered a public agency pursuant 1 20 to section 8D.2, subsection 5, paragraph "b", shall be 1 21 authorized to access the Iowa communications networkstrictly1 22 for homeland security communication purposes. Any utilization 1 23 of the network that is not related to communications 1 24 concerning homeland security, with the exception of 1 25 communications authorized pursuant to section 8D.13, 1 26 subsection 20, is expressly prohibited. 1 27 Sec. 3. Section 8D.13, Code 2005, is amended by adding the 1 28 following new subsection: 1 29 NEW SUBSECTION. 20. Access to the network shall be 1 30 offered to the department of public safety and the Iowa 1 31 department of public health for the purpose of establishing 1 32 and operating a network to assist local law enforcement agency 1 33 personnel and first responders in rendering emergency and 1 34 medical assistance, and receiving training, under 1 35 circumstances which do not involve homeland security. The 2 1 departments shall be responsible for all costs associated with 2 2 becoming a part of the network, and may by rule allocate the 2 3 costs to local law enforcement agencies and first responders 2 4 who are authorized users. 2 5 EXPLANATION 2 6 This bill provides that local law enforcement and first 2 7 responder personnel may access the Iowa communications 2 8 network. 2 9 The bill provides that for purposes of Code chapter 8D, a 2 10 public agency shall include the department of public safety 2 11 and the Iowa department of public health for purposes of local 2 12 law enforcement agency or first responder access to the 2 13 network. The bill provides that such access shall be offered 2 14 for the purpose of establishing and operating a network to 2 15 assist local law enforcement agency personnel and first 2 16 responders in rendering emergency and medical assistance, and 2 17 receiving training, under circumstances which do not involve 2 18 homeland security. The bill provides that the agencies shall 2 19 be responsible for all costs associated with becoming a part 2 20 of the network and may by rule establish procedures for 2 21 allocation of the costs to local law enforcement agencies and 2 22 first responders who are authorized users. 2 23 LSB 1664YH 81 2 24 rn:rj/gg/14