2SHB 2507

SENATE BILL REPORT
2SHB 2507

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Higher Education, February 27, 2008
Ways & Means, March 03, 2008

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: House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by Representatives O'Brien, Ormsby, Hurst, Goodman, VanDeWege, Liias, Barlow, Green, Kelley, Warnick and Simpson).

Majority Report: Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Shin, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair; Delvin, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Schoesler and Sheldon.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended by Committee on Higher Education.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Fairley, Hatfield, Hobbs, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Rasmussen, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Tom.

Background: Building mapping provides electronic plans of a building. Each map is a blueprint describing every room located in the building, along with its dimensions. 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. The Legislature extended this system to every high school in the state, and by the end of 2007, all public schools in Washington were mapped.

In 2003 the Legislature passed ESHB 1218, which directed WASPC 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 WASPC or another source, contingent on funding. Once the buildings were mapped, the mapping information data was forwarded to WASPC. All participating owners of non-government buildings were authorized to voluntarily forward their mapping and emergency data to WASPC.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Amendments): The Washington State Patrol (WSP) and the WASPC, in consultation with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Council of Presidents, the Independent Colleges of Washington, and the Department of Information Services must complete a needs analysis and fiscal impact study. The study must include: (1) an assessment of all public and independent colleges and universities to determine whether campus emergency and critical incident plans are up-to-date, comprehensive, and regularly exercised; (2) an evaluation of the potential risks associated with individual types of buildings on all campuses and recommended buildings that are a high priority for addition to the Statewide First Responder Building Mapping Information System; (3) a financial analysis and timeline associated with adding priority campus buildings to the Statewide First Responder Building Mapping Information System; and (4) an assessment of campus emergency notification systems or devices. WASPC must report its findings to the Governor and the Legislature by November 1, 2008.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE (Recommended Amendments): This is a technical amendment to further clarify that independent institutions are in the needs analysis and fiscal impact study.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Second Substitute Bill (Higher Education): PRO: This is absolutely necessary to adequately respond to campus emergencies. Building mapping provides an information link between campuses and local emergency response authorities. There is more to this than creating a building map; the completed plans include all the information first-responders need to address campus safety emergencies.

Persons Testifying (Higher Education): PRO: Representative O'Brien, prime sponsor; Tom Henderson, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Don Pierce, WASPC; Julie Suchanek, The Evergreen State College; Greg Scheiderer, Independent Colleges of Washington.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means): PRO: The bill was motivated by the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech and, more recently, at Northern Illinois University. Originally, the bill called for mapping at all of the public colleges and universities. Now, there's a lot more to it: tabletop exercises, inclusion of private schools, and prioritization of types of buildings for mapping. It extends the high school mapping system, which has been quite successful, since it provides first responders the tactical information they need to respond effectively to emergencies in our colleges and universities.

OTHER: The Evergreen State College would like $180,000 to be added to the supplemental capital budget so that it can proceed with mapping immediately, rather than waiting for the assessment by the State Patrol and WASPC.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Representative Al O'Brien, prime sponsor; Tom Henderson, State Board for Community & Technical Colleges.

OTHER: Julie Suchanek, The Evergreen State College.