BILL REQ. #:  H-1537.1 

Read first time 02/11/2005.   Referred to Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications.

     AN ACT Relating to a pilot program on interoperable communication systems; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Through the establishment of the state interoperability executive committee, the legislature created the authority to require all state agencies to have interoperable communication systems. While the legislature intended to give the committee the authority to mandate interoperable communication systems among all state agencies, the legislature recognizes the autonomy of local governments, and therefore understands that the pending interoperable communication standards established by the committee, as applied to local governments, are currently advisory rather than mandatory.
     While the pending interoperable communication standards established by the committee are advisory to local governments, it is important that local governments understand the importance of following the direction set by the committee. To assist local governments to understand this need and to motivate participation, the legislature is establishing a local government interoperability communication system pilot program. The legislature intends to limit the pilot program to a county public safety agency that develops a funding partnership among federal, state, and local government.
      The legislature intends that the pilot program demonstrate to local governments throughout the state of Washington the value of implementing the pending interoperability standards being established by the committee.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) On or before July 1, 2006, the state interoperability executive committee, in consultation with the information services board, shall award a five million dollar grant to one county public safety agency. The agency shall be part of a county with a population over four hundred thousand. The grant shall be designed to assist a county public safety agency with developing a communication system that is capable of interoperating with state agencies, and other local governments.
     (2) To be eligible for the grant, the county public safety agency shall:
     (a) By July 1, 2006, be awarded, or prove intent to be awarded, a minimum of five million dollars from the federal government specifically for the purpose of partnering with the state of Washington to implement an interoperable communication system;
     (b) Between July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2006, enact, by the vote of the people, a countywide measure to fund public safety communication equipment that raises a minimum of five million dollars;
     (c) Agree that all communication equipment purchased by the public agency, for the purposes of the pilot program, shall be digital equipment that complies with P25 standards established by the association of public safety communications officials, national association of state telecommunication directors, and federal government agencies, commonly referred to as "APCO/NASTD/FED"; and
     (d) Comply with all current and future interoperability communication standards adopted by the state interoperability executive committee.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of funding the grant under section 2 of this act, in an amount of at least five million dollars, is not provided by appropriation to the state interoperability executive committee on or before July 1, 2006, or if a grant is not awarded under section 2 of this act on or before July 1, 2006, the local government interoperability communication system pilot program is null and void.