BILL ANALYSIS
SB 828
Page 1
Date of Hearing: July 8, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Joe Coto, Chairman
SB 828 (Committee on G.O.) - As Introduced: March 19, 2009
SENATE VOTE : 36-0
SUBJECT : Public safety communication.
SUMMARY : Makes a number of minor, technical and
nonsubstantive changes to the Public Safety Communications Act
of 2002. Specifically, this bill :
1) Recognizes the California Statewide Interoperability
Executive Committee (CALSIEC) in state law.
2) Renames the Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning
Committee (PSRSPC) the Public Safety Emergency
Communications Strategic Planning Committee.
3) Replaces outdated references to the former Office of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).
4) Makes other technical, nonsubstantive changes.
EXISTING LAW :
1) 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.
2) Requires PSRSPC to meet at least twice a year, of which
one meeting shall be a joint meeting with CALSIEC.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to the author, this bill replaces
references in the law to the former Office of Emergency Services
(OES) and the former Office of Homeland Security (OHS) with a
SB 828
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reference to the California Emergency Management Agency
(CalEMA). AB 38 (Chapter 372, Statutes of 2008) merged OES and
OHS into the newly formed CalEMA.
The author states that this bill corrects references in the
Public Safety Communications Act of 2002 to reflect the merger.
Recognizing the California Statewide Interoperability Executive
Committee (CALSIEC) in law . According to the Committee, 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 the entire 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.
Renaming the Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning Committee to
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 under this
bill 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.
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
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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.
Prior legislation . 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 the
Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the Governor's
Office of Homeland Security into the California Emergency
Management Agency (CalEMA).
AB 1738 (Assembly Governmental Organization 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.
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.
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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.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Rod Brewer / G. O. / (916) 319-2531