HF 290 (LSB 2179YH (4) 85)

HOUSE FILE 290

BY  KRESSIG

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for the designation of a single point-of-contact to facilitate public safety communications regarding emergency communications operations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  34A.11  Communications —— single point-of-contact.
   1.  The joint E911 service board in each enhanced 911 service area shall designate a person to serve as a single point-of-contact to facilitate the communication of needs, issues, or concerns regarding emergency communications, interoperability, and other matters applicable to emergency E911 communications and migration to an internet protocol-enabled next generation network. The person designated as the single point-of-contact shall be responsible for facilitating the communication of such needs, issues, or concerns between public or private safety agencies within the service area, the E911 program manager, the E911 communications council, the statewide interoperable communications system board established in section 80.28, and any other person, entity, or agency the person deems necessary or appropriate. The person designated shall also be responsible for responding to surveys or requests for information applicable to the service area received from a federal, state, or local agency, entity, or board. 
   2.  In the event a joint E911 service board fails to designate a single point-of-contact by November 1, 2013, the chairperson of the joint E911 service board shall serve in that capacity. The E911 service board shall submit the name and contact information for the person designated as the single point-of-contact to the E911 program manager by January 1 annually.
   3.  The provisions of this section shall be equally applicable to an alternative legal entity created pursuant to chapter 28E if such an entity is established as an alternative to a joint E911 service board as provided in section 34A.3. If such an entity is established, the governing body of that entity shall designate the single point-of-contact for the entity, and the chairperson or representative official of the governing body shall serve in the event a single point-of-contact is not designated. 
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides for the designation of a single point-of-contact to facilitate public safety communications.
   The bill provides that the joint E911 service board in each enhanced 911 service area shall designate a person to serve as a single point-of-contact to facilitate the communication of needs, issues, or concerns regarding emergency communications, interoperability, and other matters applicable to emergency E911 communications and migration to an internet protocol-enabled next generation network. The bill states that the person designated shall be responsible for facilitating the communication of such needs, issues, or concerns between public or private safety agencies within the service area, the E911 program manager, the E911 communications council, the statewide interoperable communications system board established in Code section 80.28, or any other person, entity, or agency the person deems necessary or appropriate. The bill also requires the person designated to respond to surveys or requests for information applicable to the service area received from a federal, state, or local agency, entity, or board.
   The bill provides that if a joint E911 service board fails to designate a single point-of-contact by November 1, 2013, the chairperson of the joint E911 service board shall serve in that capacity, and requires the E911 service board to submit the name and contact information for the person designated as the single point-of-contact to the E911 program manager by January 1 annually.
   The bill states that its provisions shall be applicable to a legal entity created pursuant to Code chapter 28E if such an entity is established as an alternative to a joint E911 service board as provided in Code section 34A.3, subsection 3. The bill further states that the governing body of that entity shall designate the single point-of-contact for the entity, and the chairperson or representative official of the governing body shall serve in the event a single point-of-contact is not designated.