Title: An act relating to the state interoperability executive committee.

Brief Description: Regarding the state interoperability executive committee.

Sponsors: Senators Kastama, Roach, Kline and Benton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 1/19/06, 1/23/06 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6431 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Fairley, Haugen, McCaslin and Pridemore.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: In 2003, through HB 1271, the Legislature directed the State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) to develop policies, procedures, and recommendations to build a first responder communications system that is interoperable between and among state and local agencies. The SIEC developed a technical implementation plan that will create and implement an interoperability plan ultimately based on a technology referred to as P25. The P25 technology is expensive and must be phased in over a period of years. In order to create a limited interoperability process for state and local agencies during the time P25 is implemented, the SIEC plan first implements a system based on a technology known as radio over internet protocol.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The SIEC's duties are expanded to include coordinating the purchase of all state and local wireless radio communications system equipment. The equipment purchased must allow at least limited interoperability functions initially and meet specific requirements to ensure its compatibility with the eventual implementation of the P25 system.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The purchasing requirement language is changed to leave it to the discretion of the committee to purchase equipment that either meets or exceeds the P25 requirements. The emergency clause is removed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: We know that communication on the ground is critical during a crisis. We must have the interoperability capability. This bill provides assurance to local jurisdictions that their investment in interoperability equipment will not go to waste. This bill also provides the local jurisdictions with some interoperability earlier in the process while phasing in the P25 system. The local jurisdictions must be assured that their investments in the system will be compatible and will be supported by the P25 system.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Diane Oberquell, Thurston County Commissioner; James McMahan, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Bruce Bjork, Deputy Sheriff.

CON: No one.