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

Sponsors: Representative O'Brien.

Hearing Date: 1/17/08

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 WASPC, the Association of Washington School Principals, and the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs. Funding was provided by the year 2003, and the Washington State 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 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 Bill:

The WASPC must work with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in order to map all community colleges located in Washington. 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.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2008.

Effective Date: 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.