Senate File 2186 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY DOTZLER, HANCOCK, and DANIELSON (COMPANION TO LSB 5933HH BY KRESSIG) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to public safety communications, providing for 2 utilization of the Iowa communications network for public 3 safety interoperability purposes, and establishing an Iowa 4 statewide interoperable radio system board. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 5933SS 81 7 rn/sh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 8D.2, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code 1 2 Supplement 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, or a United States post office which receives a 1 12 federal grant for pilot and demonstration projects, or a city 1 13 or county on behalf of a law enforcement agency, professional 1 14 or volunteer fire department, or emergency medical care 1 15 provider as defined in section 147A.1, strictly for the 1 16 purpose of connecting disparate communications systems to 1 17 provide for a multiagency or multijurisdictional public safety 1 18 response. 1 19 Sec. 2. Section 8D.9, Code Supplement 2005, is amended by 1 20 adding the following new subsection: 1 21 NEW SUBSECTION. 5. A city or county on behalf of a law 1 22 enforcement agency, professional or volunteer fire department, 1 23 or emergency medical care provider as defined in section 1 24 147A.1, shall be authorized to access the Iowa communications 1 25 network for connection of disparate communications systems 1 26 between public agencies to provide for a multiagency or 1 27 multijurisdictional public safety response. 1 28 Sec. 3. Section 8D.13, Code Supplement 2005, is amended by 1 29 adding the following new subsection: 1 30 NEW SUBSECTION. 20. A city or county accessing the 1 31 network on behalf of a law enforcement agency, professional or 1 32 volunteer fire department, or emergency medical care provider 1 33 for the purpose of connecting disparate communications systems 1 34 to provide for a multiagency or multijurisdictional public 1 35 safety response pursuant to section 8D.9, subsection 5, shall 2 1 be responsible for all costs associated with becoming a part 2 2 of the network. 2 3 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 80.28 STATEWIDE INTEROPERABLE RADIO 2 4 SYSTEM BOARD == ESTABLISHED == MEMBERS. 2 5 1. BOARD ESTABLISHED. A statewide interoperable radio 2 6 system board is established, under the joint purview of the 2 7 department and the state department of transportation. The 2 8 board shall develop, implement, and oversee policy, 2 9 operations, and fiscal components of communications 2 10 interoperability efforts at the state and local level, and 2 11 coordinate with similar efforts at the federal level, with the 2 12 ultimate objective of developing and overseeing the operation 2 13 of a statewide integrated public safety communications 2 14 interoperability system. For the purposes of this section and 2 15 section 80.29, "interoperability" means the ability of public 2 16 safety and public services personnel to communicate and to 2 17 share data on an immediate basis, on demand, when needed, and 2 18 when authorized. 2 19 2. MEMBERS. The board shall consist of fifteen voting 2 20 members, as follows: 2 21 a. The following members representing state agencies: 2 22 (1) One member representing the department of public 2 23 safety, who shall serve as chairperson. 2 24 (2) One member representing the state department of 2 25 transportation, who shall serve as vice chairperson. 2 26 (3) One member representing the homeland security and 2 27 emergency management division. 2 28 (4) One member representing the department of corrections. 2 29 (5) One member representing the department of natural 2 30 resources. 2 31 (6) One member representing the Iowa department of public 2 32 health. 2 33 b. The following members, to be appointed by the governor: 2 34 (1) Two members who are chiefs of police. 2 35 (2) Two members who are sheriffs. 3 1 (3) Two members who are fire chiefs. 3 2 (4) Two law enforcement communications experts employed by 3 3 state or local government agencies. 3 4 (5) One at=large member. 3 5 Board members shall be appointed in compliance with 3 6 sections 69.16 and 69.16A. The members appointed by the 3 7 governor shall be appointed to three=year staggered terms and 3 8 the terms shall commence and end as provided by section 69.19. 3 9 If a vacancy occurs, a successor shall be appointed to serve 3 10 the unexpired term. A successor shall be appointed in the 3 11 same manner and subject to the same qualifications as the 3 12 original appointment to serve the unexpired term. Members of 3 13 the board are entitled to receive reimbursement for actual 3 14 expenses incurred while engaged in the performance of official 3 15 duties from funds appropriated to the department of public 3 16 safety and the state department of transportation for that 3 17 purpose. The departments shall enter into an agreement to 3 18 provide administrative assistance and support to the board. 3 19 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 80.29 BOARD DUTIES. 3 20 The statewide interoperable radio system board established 3 21 in section 80.28 shall: 3 22 1. Implement and maintain organizational and operational 3 23 elements of the board, including staffing and program 3 24 activity. 3 25 2. Review and monitor communications interoperability 3 26 performance and service levels on behalf of agencies. 3 27 3. Establish, monitor, and maintain appropriate policies 3 28 and protocols to ensure that interoperable communications 3 29 systems function properly. 3 30 4. Allocate and oversee state appropriations or other 3 31 funding received for interoperable communications. 3 32 5. Identify sources for ongoing, sustainable, longer=term 3 33 funding for communications interoperability projects, 3 34 including available and future assets that will leverage 3 35 resources and provide incentives for communications 4 1 interoperability participation, and develop and obtain 4 2 adequate funding in accordance with a communications 4 3 interoperability sustainability plan. 4 4 6. Develop and evaluate potential legislative solutions to 4 5 address the funding and resource challenges of implementing 4 6 statewide communications interoperability initiatives. 4 7 7. Develop a statewide integrated public safety 4 8 communications interoperability system that allows for shared 4 9 communications systems and costs, takes into account 4 10 infrastructure needs and requirements, improves reliability, 4 11 and addresses liability concerns of the shared network. 4 12 8. Investigate data and video interoperability systems. 4 13 9. Expand, maintain, and fund consistent, periodic 4 14 training programs for current communications systems and for 4 15 the statewide integrated public safety communications 4 16 interoperability system as it is implemented. 4 17 10. Expand, maintain, and fund stakeholder education, 4 18 public education, and public official education programs to 4 19 demonstrate the value of short=term communications 4 20 interoperability solutions, and to emphasize the importance of 4 21 developing and funding long=term solutions, including 4 22 implementation of the statewide integrated public safety 4 23 communications interoperability system. 4 24 11. Identify, promote, and provide incentives for 4 25 appropriate collaborations and partnerships among government 4 26 entities, agencies, businesses, organizations, and 4 27 associations, both public and private, relating to 4 28 communications interoperability. 4 29 12. Provide incentives to support maintenance and 4 30 expansion of regional efforts to promote implementation of the 4 31 statewide integrated public safety communications 4 32 interoperability system. 4 33 13. Submit a report by January 1, annually, to the members 4 34 of the general assembly regarding communications 4 35 interoperability efforts, activities, and effectiveness at the 5 1 local and regional level, and shall include a status report 5 2 regarding the development of a statewide integrated public 5 3 safety communications interoperability system, and funding 5 4 requirements relating thereto. 5 5 EXPLANATION 5 6 This bill concerns public safety communications and 5 7 enhancement of statewide communications interoperability 5 8 efforts. 5 9 The bill provides that for purposes of accessing the Iowa 5 10 communications network, a city or county on behalf of a law 5 11 enforcement agency, professional or volunteer fire department, 5 12 or emergency medical care provider as defined in Code section 5 13 147A.1, shall be considered a public agency and be authorized 5 14 access strictly for the purpose of connecting disparate 5 15 communications systems to provide for a multiagency or 5 16 multijurisdictional public safety response. The bill states 5 17 that the city or county shall be responsible for all costs 5 18 associated with becoming a part of the network. 5 19 The bill establishes a statewide interoperable radio system 5 20 board, under the joint purview of the department of public 5 21 safety and the state department of transportation. The bill 5 22 specifies that the board shall develop, implement, and oversee 5 23 policy, operations, and fiscal components of communications 5 24 interoperability efforts at the state and local level, 5 25 coordinate with similar efforts at the federal level, and 5 26 ultimately develop and oversee the operation of a statewide 5 27 integrated public safety communications interoperability 5 28 system. The bill defines "interoperability" as the ability of 5 29 public safety and public services personnel to communicate and 5 30 to share data on an immediate basis, on demand, when needed, 5 31 and when authorized. 5 32 The bill identifies 15 members of the board, all voting 5 33 members, and states that members not affiliated with or 5 34 representing a state agency shall be appointed by the 5 35 governor. 6 1 The bill includes provisions relating to the appointment of 6 2 members, terms of service, and vacancies. The bill states 6 3 that members shall receive reimbursement for actual expenses 6 4 incurred while engaged in the performance of official duties 6 5 from funds appropriated to the departments for that purpose, 6 6 and that the departments shall enter into an agreement to 6 7 provide administrative assistance and support to the board. 6 8 Regarding the duties of the board, the bill provides that 6 9 the board shall implement and maintain organizational and 6 10 operational elements of the board; review and monitor 6 11 communications interoperability performance and service levels 6 12 on behalf of participating agencies; establish, monitor, and 6 13 maintain appropriate policies and protocols to ensure that 6 14 interoperable communications systems function properly; 6 15 allocate and oversee state appropriations or other funding 6 16 received; identify longer=term funding sources for 6 17 communications interoperability projects, including assets 6 18 that will leverage resources and provide incentives for 6 19 communications interoperability participation; and develop and 6 20 obtain adequate funding in accordance with a communications 6 21 interoperability sustainability plan. The board shall, 6 22 additionally, develop a statewide integrated public safety 6 23 communications interoperability system that allows for shared 6 24 communications systems and costs, takes into account 6 25 infrastructure needs and requirements, improves reliability, 6 26 and addresses liability concerns of the shared network; 6 27 identify legislative solutions which could provide assistance 6 28 to the enhancement of communications interoperability; 6 29 investigate data and video interoperability systems, and 6 30 expand, maintain, and fund training programs relating to 6 31 current and long=term communications interoperability efforts. 6 32 Further, the board is directed to identify, promote, and 6 33 provide incentives for appropriate collaborations and 6 34 partnerships relating to communications interoperability and 6 35 to provide incentives to support maintenance and expansion of 7 1 regional efforts to promote implementation of the integrated 7 2 statewide public safety communications interoperability 7 3 system. 7 4 The bill provides that the board shall submit a report by 7 5 January 1, annually, to the members of the general assembly 7 6 regarding communications interoperability efforts, activities, 7 7 and effectiveness at the local and regional level. The report 7 8 is to include the status of efforts to develop the statewide 7 9 integrated public safety communications interoperability 7 10 system and funding requirements. 7 11 LSB 5933SS 81 7 12 rn:nh/sh/8