BILL REQ. #:  H-4299.2 

Read first time 01/19/2006.   Referred to Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications.

     AN ACT Relating to enhancing interoperability of the state's emergency communications system through the procurement and deployment of a public safety communications system; amending RCW 43.105.020 and 43.105.080; adding a new section to chapter 43.105 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature intends to ensure that the state's investment in public safety radio communications facilities are managed in a way to promote to the maximum extent possible the health and safety of the state's citizens and the economic efficiencies of coordinated planning, development, management, maintenance, accountability, and performance. The legislature finds that an interoperable and operational public safety communications system is essential for disaster preparedness, emergency management, and public safety, and that coordination for the purpose of development, procurement, and deployment of a public safety communications system will result in a more effective use of state resources and improvement to government services.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.105.020 and 2003 c 18 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following definitions shall apply:
     (1) "Department" means the department of information services;
     (2) "Board" means the information services board;
     (3) "Committee" means the state interoperability executive committee;
     (4) "Local governments" includes all municipal and quasi municipal corporations and political subdivisions, and all agencies of such corporations and subdivisions authorized to contract separately;
     (5) "Director" means the director of the department;
     (6) "Purchased services" means services provided by a vendor to accomplish routine, continuing, and necessary functions. This term includes, but is not limited to, services acquired for equipment maintenance and repair, operation of a physical plant, security, computer hardware and software installation and maintenance, telecommunications installation and maintenance, data entry, keypunch services, programming services, and computer time-sharing;
     (7) "Backbone network" means the shared high-density portions of the state's telecommunications transmission facilities. It includes specially conditioned high-speed communications carrier lines, multiplexors, switches associated with such communications lines, and any equipment and software components necessary for management and control of the backbone network;
     (8) "Telecommunications" means the transmission of information by wire, radio, optical cable, electromagnetic, or other means;
     (9) "Information" includes, but is not limited to, data, text, voice, and video;
     (10) "Information processing" means the electronic capture, collection, storage, manipulation, transmission, retrieval, and presentation of information in the form of data, text, voice, or image and includes telecommunications and office automation functions;
     (11) "Information services" means data processing, telecommunications, office automation, and computerized information systems;
     (12) "Equipment" means the machines, devices, and transmission facilities used in information processing, such as computers, word processors, terminals, telephones, wireless communications system facilities, cables, and any physical facility necessary for the operation of such equipment;
     (13) "Information technology portfolio" or "portfolio" means a strategic management process documenting relationships between agency missions and information technology and telecommunications investments;
     (14) "Oversight" means a process of comprehensive risk analysis and management designed to ensure optimum use of information technology resources and telecommunications;
     (15) "Proprietary software" means that software offered for sale or license;
     (16) "Video telecommunications" means the electronic interconnection of two or more sites for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving visual and associated audio information. Video telecommunications shall not include existing public television broadcast stations as currently designated by the department of community, trade, and economic development under chapter 43.330 RCW;
     (17) "K-20 educational network board" or "K-20 board" means the K-20 educational network board created in RCW 43.105.800;
     (18) "K-20 network technical steering committee" or "committee" means the K-20 network technical steering committee created in RCW 43.105.810;
     (19) "K-20 network" means the network established in RCW 43.105.820;
     (20) "Educational sectors" means those institutions of higher education, school districts, and educational service districts that use the network for distance education, data transmission, and other uses permitted by the K-20 board;
     (21) "Public safety" means any public agency that provides services that protect life, health, property, or natural resources.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.105 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By June 30, 2012, a statewide public safety communications system must be built to achieve the highest level of interoperability possible. This system must consist of the following:
     (a) A centrally managed system of systems architectures that facilitates the sharing of assets between state and local governments;
     (b) A radio over internet protocol-based interoperability system that enables nonstate agencies to interconnect their radio systems with the state system;
     (c) A statewide digital transport backbone system that provides connectivity to all transmitter locations;
     (d) A mutual-aid communications system deployed across the state to enable interoperability at and across the commonly used public safety frequency bands;
     (e) A statewide, project 25 standards-based, frequency independent system of systems that uses equipment common to all agency-focused systems providing full interoperability; and
     (f) A statewide mobile data system that provides low and medium speed data communications capabilities for participating agency subscribers.
     (2) The state interoperability executive committee must provide an annual report to the legislature and the office of financial management that documents the design, accomplishments, remaining tasks, and recommendations by September 1, 2006, and annually by September 1st thereafter.

Sec. 4   RCW 43.105.080 and 1999 c 80 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is created a revolving fund to be known as the data processing revolving fund in the custody of the state treasurer. The revolving fund shall be used for the acquisition of equipment, software, supplies, and services and the payment of salaries, wages, and other costs incidental to the acquisition, development, operation, and administration of information services, telecommunications, systems, software, supplies and equipment, including the payment of principal and interest on bonds issued for capital projects, by the department, Washington State University's computer services center, the department of personnel's personnel information systems division, the office of financial management's financial systems management group, and other users as jointly determined by the department and the office of financial management. The revolving fund shall also be used for the development, operation, maintenance, and administration of a shared public safety communications system. The revolving fund is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW. Disbursements from the revolving fund for the services component of the department are not subject to appropriation. Disbursements for the strategic planning and policy component of the department are subject to appropriation. All disbursements from the fund are subject to the allotment procedures provided under chapter 43.88 RCW. The department shall establish and implement a billing structure to assure all agencies pay an equitable share of the costs.
     As used in this section, the word "supplies" shall not be interpreted to delegate or abrogate the division of purchasing's responsibilities and authority to purchase supplies as described in RCW 43.19.190 and 43.19.200.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   This act shall be implemented to the extent that sufficient funds are available from state, federal, and local sources. Nothing in this act prevents the department from continuing maintenance and operation of existing public safety communications and information systems or programs.