Title: An act relating to expanding the statewide first responder building mapping information system to higher education facilities.

Brief Description: Expanding the statewide first responder building mapping information system to higher education facilities.

Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Ormsby, Hurst, Goodman, VanDeWege, Liias, Barlow, Green, Kelley, Warnick and Simpson.

Brief History:

Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness: 1/17/08, 1/24/08 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Hurst, Vice Chair; Pearson, Ranking Minority Member; Ross, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Goodman and Kirby.

Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Background:

Building mapping provides electronic pre-incident plans of a building. Each map is a blueprint describing every room located in the building, along with its dimensions. Building map information can include:

• floor plans;
• fire protection information;
• evacuation plans;
• utility information;
• known hazards; and
• other information important to emergency personnel responding to a disaster or emergency.

The maps are designed to give the emergency responder as much information about the physical structure of the building as possible. The maps are saved in a centralized database that can be made available to emergency response agencies equipped with portable computers.

In 2001 the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) received federal funding for a pilot program to create critical incident mapping in public schools in eight counties. A cooperative partnership was established between the WASPC, the Association of Washington School Principals, and the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs. Funding was provided by the year 2003 and the Legislature extended this system to every high school in the state. By the end of 2007 all public schools in Washington were mapped.

In 2003 under ESHB 1218 (Chapter 102 of the laws of 2003), the WASPC was directed to create and operate a Statewide First Responder Agency Building Mapping Information System. All state and local government-owned buildings were to be mapped by the WASPC or another source, contingent on funding. Once the buildings were mapped, the mapping information data was to be forwarded to the WASPC. All participating owners of non-government buildings were authorized to voluntarily forward their mapping and emergency data to the WASPC.

All building mapping information is available to all state, local, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies, along with the Military Department and fire departments.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The WASPC must map the buildings of The Evergreen State College and work with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to complete the mapping of all community and technical colleges. The data from the community college mapping information must be placed into the Statewide First Responder Building Mapping Information System.

The WASPC, in consultation with the Council of Presidents, must study the possibility of adding four-year institutions of higher education to the Statewide First Responder Building Mapping Information System. The study must include the following:

• determining the costs of adding the four-year institutions to the mapping system;
• estimating the timelines to complete the project; and
• evaluating the potential risks associated with each building on all campuses and making priority recommendations as to which of those buildings should be mapped first, if resources are not available to map all of the buildings.

The WASPC must report its findings to the Governor and the Legislature by October 1, 2008.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

A provision is added to require the WASPC to map all the technical colleges located in the state as well as the buildings of The Evergreen State College.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The original bill required the mapping of all higher education institutions. Since that time, the technical and community colleges have stated that they would like to do this. The community and technical colleges initiated this version of the bill and funding to begin mapping has been included in the Governor's budget. The four-year institutions will need to be evaluated to determine which buildings are a priority for mapping purposes.

The current mapping system is funded to complete K-12 public schools in the entire state. Mapping includes not only the floor plans of a building but also pretactical plans with all the necessary stakeholders needed for an emergency. With over 500,000 students, faculty, and staff spread across 34 community and technical colleges, it is important to be prepared for emergencies and disasters.

A technical amendment should be made in the first section of the bill to include not only community colleges but also technical colleges. In addition, an amendment should be made to include The Evergreen State College as there is approximately $150,000 in the Governor's budget that would pay for mapping the school's buildings. Mapping is important. Part of the functions of government is to ensure that children can attend school safely without fear of getting killed or injured.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative O'Brien, prime sponsor; Don Pierce, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Tom Henderson, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; and Julie Suchauek, The Evergreen State College.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.