BILL ANALYSIS
Bill No: SB
828
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
SB 828 Author: Committee on Governmental Organization
As Introduced: March 19, 2009
Hearing Date: April 28, 2008
Consultant: Chris Lindstrom
SUBJECT
Public Safety Communication.
DESCRIPTION
SB 828 makes a number of minor, technical and
nonsubstantive changes to the Public Safety Communications
Act of 2002.
Specifically, SB 828 recognizes the California Statewide
Interoperability Executive Committee (CALSIEC) in state
law, renames the Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning
Committee (PSRSPC) the Public Safety Emergency
Communications Strategic Planning Committee, replaces
outdated references to the former Office of Emergency
Services (OES) and the former Office of Homeland Security
(OHS) with a reference to the newly formed California
Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), and, makes other
technical, nonsubstantive changes.
EXISTING LAW
Existing law establishes in state government PSRSPC, a
multimember body with representatives of specified state
agencies, with duties that include developing and
implementing a statewide integrated public safety
communication system that facilitates interoperability
among state public safety departments and other first
response agencies.
SB 828 (G.O. Committee) continued
Page 2
Existing law requires PSRSPC to meet at least twice a year,
of which one meeting shall be a joint meeting with CALSIEC.
BACKGROUND
Recognizing the California Statewide Interoperability
Executive Committee (CALSIEC) in law. CALSIEC was
established administratively by OES in 2003 in response to
a Federal Communications Commission recommendation that
each state establish a "statewide interoperability
executive committee" to manage all of the
federally-designated interoperability spectrum in the
state. CALSIEC is one of the two committees (the other is
PSRSPC) in state government charged with developing a
statewide interoperable communications network. CALSIEC's
strength is in its charter, to work vertically with all
first response agencies at all levels of government
(federal, state, local and tribal) whereas PSRSPC's
emphasis is to work horizontally with state-level first
response agencies. SB 828 will formally recognize CALSIEC
in law to clearly identify the committees in California
that are responsible for developing a statewide
interoperable communications network.
Rename the Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning Committee
the Public Safety Emergency Communications Strategic
Planning Committee. Radio communications are mission
critical to emergency response. However, other
technologies are emerging that will be of benefit to public
safety departments in responding to emergencies. Changing
the name of the Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning
Committee to the Public Safety Emergency Communications
Strategic Planning Committee will reflect the need to
consider all types of communications systems to assist
public safety departments in responding to emergencies, not
just radio. In fact, Government Code Section 8592.6 (b)(1)
of the Public Safety Communications Act of 2002 was amended
in 2006 to recognize "data formats" as possible solutions
for enhancing interoperable communications.
Replaces references in the law to the former Office of
Emergency Services (OES) and the former Office of Homeland
Security (OHS) with a reference to the California Emergency
Management Agency (CalEMA). AB 38 (Chapter 372, Statutes
of 2008) merged OES and OHS into the newly formed CalEMA.
SB 828 (G.O. Committee) continued
Page 3
This bill corrects references in the Public Safety
Communications Act of 2002 to reflect the merger.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
AB 1197 (Torrico), 2009-2010 Legislative Session . Similar
to AB 2185 (Torrico) of 2008. Pending in Assembly
Governmental Organization Committee.
AB 1266 (Huber), 2009-2010 Legislative Session . Makes
statutory changes consistent with the Governor's
Reorganization Plan #1 that consolidates all information
technology (IT) resources under the Office of the Chief
Information Officer. Replaces references to the Department
of General Services Technology Division with the Office of
the Chief Information Officer. Pending in Assembly
Business and Professions Committee.
AB 2185 (Torrico), 2007-2008 Legislative Session . Would
have modified the Public Safety Communication Act of 2002
to allow additional technology to be considered for
improved public safety communication interoperability.
Held is Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 38 (Nava), Chapter 372, Statutes of 2008 . Merged OES
and OHS into the newly formed CalEMA.
AB 1738 (GO Committee), 2007-2008 Legislative Session .
Would have defined the CALSIEC in the Public Safety
Communications Act of 2002. Would have authorized PSRSPC
to recommend to state agencies the purchase of
interoperability systems, as defined, to facilitate the
development of a statewide integrated public safety
communication system. Gutted and amended in the Senate.
AB 1848 (Bermudez), Chapter 728, Statutes of 2006 .
Specifies that PSRSPC's annual report to the Legislature
shall serve as the state's strategic plan for establishing
a statewide integrated, interoperable public safety
communications network. Requires PSRSPC to include
specified information in the report and to update the
report, annually. Authorizes PSRSPC to consult with and
make recommendations to federal, state and local agencies
to advance the integration of local, regional, and
statewide public safety communication networks.
SB 828 (G.O. Committee) continued
Page 4
AB 2041 (Nava), Chapter 855, Statutes of 2006 . Modifies
the membership of PSRSPC by adding a representative of the
State Military Department, Department of Health Services,
and the Department of Finance, and deletes a representative
from the Department of the Youth Authority. Specifies that
the representative of OES shall serve as the permanent
chair of PSRSPC. Requires PSRSPC to meet at least twice a
year, of which, one meeting will be a joint meeting with
CALSIEC.
AB 2116 (Cohn), Chapter 903, Statutes of 2006 . Specifies
that the communications equipment recommended by PSRSPC for
purchase by specific state public safety departments meet
specified criteria. Authorizes PSRSPC to recommend this
equipment to any other federal, state, regional, or local
entity with responsibility for developing, operating, or
monitoring interoperability of the public safety spectrum.
Requires a local first response agency that purchases
public safety radio communication equipment with state
funds or federal funds administered by the state, to ensure
that the equipment purchased complies with certain
specifications, provided the equipment will compromise
their mission.
SB 1654 (McPherson), Chapter 669, Statutes of 2004 .
Stipulates that any state agency that purchases public
safety radio communication equipment must comply with the
recommendations of PSRSPC, adds the Governor's Office of
Homeland Security to the Committee, and adds the Military
Department to the list of entities to which PSRSPC must
consult.
AB 2018 (Nakano), Chapter 1091, Statutes of 2002 .
Establishes the Public Safety Communications Act of 2002
for the purpose of developing and implementing a statewide
integrated public safety communication system and empowers
the existing PSRSPC with the primary responsibility of
establishing an integrated public safety communications
system.
SUPPORT: None on file as of April 24, 2009.
OPPOSE: None on file as of April 24, 2009.
FISCAL COMMITTEE: Senate Appropriations Committee
SB 828 (G.O. Committee) continued
Page 5
**********