S-3360.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6448

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Kastama, Shin and Jacobsen

Read first time 01/17/2002.  Referred to Committee on Economic Development & Telecommunications.

Establishing an all-hazards public warning system.

    AN ACT Relating to the establishment of a statewide all-hazards public warning system requiring all public facilities to use tone alert weather radios; adding a new section to chapter 70.54 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature makes the following findings:

    (1) Washington state is at significant risk to damages caused by humans and natural disasters;

    (2) Here in the state of Washington there exists no other statewide warning system other than the emergency alert system to warn the public of terrorist incidents, other human-caused emergencies, or natural disasters;

    (3) Tone alert weather radios are available for purchase by the general public at minimal cost;

    (4) The technology exists for a partnership of government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, working in cooperation with other public and private agencies to provide a low cost system for providing warning; and

    (5) It is the duty of government to provide adequate warning to its citizenry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 70.54 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The emergency management division of the state military department, will provide, with funding from this act, and in coordination with other federal and state agencies, a communications infrastructure that provides for activation of the emergency alert system at state and county levels.

    (2) Public and private facilities must have installed, routinely test, and have in operation tone alert weather radios that can be used to warn employees, residents, or patrons of ongoing terrorist attacks, hazardous materials spills, volcanic eruptions, impending storms, or other emergency information.

    (3) For purposes of this section, "public and private facilities" includes buildings that may have a population of one hundred or more people at any time during the day.  Examples of these facilities include schools, other government buildings, office buildings, theaters, manufacturing facilities, restaurants, and shopping malls.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The sum of five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to the emergency management division of the military department for the purposes of this act.

                            --- END ---