Brief Description: Regarding the state interoperability executive committee.

Sponsors: Representatives Ericks, Anderson, Morris, Haler, Crouse, Hankins, Nixon, Sump, P. Sullivan, Hudgins, Kilmer, Takko, Green, Sells, Clibborn, Simpson, Springer, Roberts, Ormsby, Morrell and McIntire.

Hearing Date: 1/24/06

Staff: Kara Durbin (786-7133).

Background:

In 2003, the Washington State Information Services Board established the State Interoperability Executive Committee (Committee) to take inventory of and evaluate all state and local government-owned public safety communications systems, and to prepare a statewide public safety communications plan. The plan was to set forth recommendations for executive and legislative action to ensure that public safety communications systems can communicate with one another and conform to federal law and regulations governing emergency communication systems and spectrum allocation. The plan was to include specific goals for improving interoperability of public safety communications systems and identifiable benchmarks for achieving those goals.

In December of 2004, the Committee submitted its final report to the Legislature. In its report, the Committee found that the majority of public safety responders are not able to communicate effectively or directly with their federal, state, regional, local, or tribal counterparts. The Committee also found there is a lack of financial resources to support the vision of interoperability within the state.

In November of 2005, the Committee completed their Technical Implementation Plan (TIP). The TIP provides a high-level approach for planning the transition of the current agency-based public safety radio systems to a standards-based, frequency-independent, multiple subsystems technology architecture. A key component of the TIP is moving towards a statewide, Project 25 (P25) technology. P25 is a communications interoperability standard supported and used by the federal government, numerous state governments, and by the communications industry. Many federal funding opportunities for advanced communications systems suggest that equipment purchased should be P25 compliant.

After adopting the TIP, the Committee adopted a requirement that when state agencies purchase new communications equipment, it must be P25 compatible.

Summary of Bill:

New responsibilities are outlined for the State Interoperability Executive Committee (Committee). The Committee is charged with coordinating the purchasing of all state and local wireless radio communications system equipment in order to ensure that (a) any new trunked standard is Project-25 (P-25) standard compatible or upgradeable; (b) any new system that requires advanced digital features is P-25 compatible or upgradeable; and (c) any new system or equipment purchases are upgradeable to P-25 standards.

There is an emergency clause in the bill.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on 1/23/2006.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.