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: By House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by 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];

Capital Budget: 2/4/08, 2/12/08 [DP2S(w/o sub PSEP)].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/15/08, 94-0.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 3/11/08, 46-0.
House Concurred.
Passed House: 3/12/08, 97-0.
Passed Legislature.

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).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness. Signed by 21 members: Representatives Fromhold, Chair; Ormsby, Vice Chair; Schual-Berke, Vice Chair; McDonald, Ranking Minority Member; Newhouse, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Blake, Chase, Dunshee, Eickmeyer, Flannigan, Hankins, Hasegawa, Kelley, McCune, Pearson, Pedersen, Sells, Skinner, Smith and Upthegrove.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Orcutt.

Staff: Susan Howson (786-7142).

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 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 Second Substitute Bill:

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 the following:

• 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;
• 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;
• financial analysis and timelines associated with adding priority campus buildings to the Statewide First Responder Building Mapping Information System; and
• assessment of campus emergency notification systems or devices, including emergency radio systems, to determine functionality in the campus environment, the adequacy of coverage throughout a campus, and operational compatibility with the radio systems and frequencies utilized by state and local responding agencies.

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

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available on the original bill.

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.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: (Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness)

(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.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: (Capital Budget)

(In support) The Evergreen State College and the state's community and technical colleges are ready to be mapped. The Governor's 2008 Supplemental Capital Budget includes funding to map these facilities. Mapping provides tactical and common information that is shared with all responders. Another benefit of mapping is the increased collaboration between local police and fire personnel with college staff in the development of plans and participation in table top exercises, as well as other drills if appropriate. Two-year colleges rely on local police, fire, and other responders for emergency response. Unlike four-year universities, the two-year colleges do not employ commissioned police forces, nor do they have health centers or mental health clinics on their campuses. Mapping is an important investment. This is one more step in the completion of a comprehensive mapping system that will give first responders the information they need to be successful in the event of an emergency.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness) 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 Testifying: (Capital Budget) Representative O'Brien, prime sponsor; Tom Henderson, State Board of Community and Technical Colleges; and Don Pierce, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness) None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Capital Budget) None.