BILL REQ. #:  H-5575.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/12/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to expanding the statewide first responder building mapping information system to higher education facilities; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that coordinated planning ensures preparation for all future crises. While it is impossible to eliminate the threats posed to our higher education campuses by crime or disaster, natural or person-caused, it is necessary to mitigate impact through effective all hazard emergency preparedness. The legislature also finds that notifying college and university campus communities of an impending, ongoing, or diffused emergency situation is one of the most critical capabilities that a college or university must have. But how a higher education institution achieves the ability to alert students, faculty, and staff quickly, accurately, and dependably in an emergency situation is not a one size fits all solution. While colleges and universities should maintain their autonomy in choosing how to address safety and security risks, certain consistent protocols are essential for making campuses safer. The legislature further finds that higher education institutions need to ensure that campus law enforcement or security communications equipment, as well as communication systems used by colleges and universities during an emergency, meet technical standards and are compatible with other responding agencies' communication systems. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to carefully examine best safety practices at the state's institutions of higher education, examine the use of technology to improve emergency communications, and consider the financial implications of safety and security enhancement plans, as well as the funding sources to support them, in order to maximize limited resources and public benefit.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The Washington state patrol and the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, 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, shall conduct a needs analysis and fiscal impact study of potential college and university campus security enhancements, including the addition of two-year and four-year public higher education institutions to the statewide first responder building mapping information system as provided under RCW 36.28A.060.
     (1) The study shall:
     (a) Assess public and independent colleges and universities to determine whether campus emergency and critical incident plans are up-to-date, comprehensive, and regularly exercised;
     (b) Evaluate the potential risks associated with individual types of buildings on all campuses and recommend buildings that are a high priority for adding to the statewide first responder building mapping information system;
     (c) Determine the costs and timelines associated with adding priority campus buildings to the statewide first responder building mapping information system;
     (d) Assess 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.
     (2) The Washington state patrol and the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall report findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislature by November 1, 2008.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2008, in the omnibus capital appropriations act, this act is null and void.