Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1989 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R11432 YDB-D
2	2	By: Gallegos S.B. No. 1989
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to establishment of the Texas Statewide Interoperability
8	8	Executive Advisory Council.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 421.095, Government Code, is amended by
11	11	adding Subdivisions (3) and (4) to read as follows:
12	12	(3) "Council" means the Texas Statewide
13	13	Interoperability Executive Advisory Council.
14	14	(4) "Interoperability" means the ability of public
15	15	safety service and support providers, including providers of law
16	16	enforcement, fire fighting services, emergency medical services,
17	17	emergency management, public utilities, and transportation
18	18	services, to communicate when necessary with staff from other
19	19	responding agencies, and to exchange voice, video, and data
20	20	communications on demand, in real time, and when authorized.
21	21	SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 421, Government Code, is
22	22	amended by adding Sections 421.0961 and 421.0962 to read as
23	23	follows:
24	24	Sec. 421.0961. TEXAS STATEWIDE INTEROPERABILITY EXECUTIVE
25	25	ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) The Texas Statewide Interoperability
26	26	Executive Advisory Council is created as an advisory committee to
27	27	the office of the governor to provide policy level direction and
28	28	promote efficient and effective use of resources for matters
29	29	related to public safety radio interoperability.
30	30	(b) The council is composed of the following members
31	31	appointed by the governor:
32	32	(1) one representative from the Texas Department of
33	33	Transportation;
34	34	(2) one representative from the Sheriffs' Association
35	35	of Texas;
36	36	(3) one representative from the Texas Police Chiefs
37	37	Association;
38	38	(4) one representative from the Texas Fire Chiefs
39	39	Association;
40	40	(5) one representative from the Texas Municipal
41	41	League;
42	42	(6) one representative from the Texas Association of
43	43	Counties;
44	44	(7) two representatives from the governor's military
45	45	staff or the state military forces;
46	46	(8) one representative from the Texas Department of
47	47	Criminal Justice;
48	48	(9) one representative from the Department of Public
49	49	Safety;
50	50	(10) one representative from the Department of
51	51	Agriculture;
52	52	(11) one representative from the Parks and Wildlife
53	53	Department;
54	54	(12) one representative from the Health and Human
55	55	Services Commission;
56	56	(13) one representative from a federally recognized
57	57	Indian tribe with tribal land in this state; and
58	58	(14) two members of the public.
59	59	(c) Members of the council serve two-year terms.
60	60	(d) Members of the council serve without compensation.
61	61	(e) The governor shall appoint a presiding officer of the
62	62	council and the council shall elect other officers it considers
63	63	necessary and appropriate. The presiding officer has authority and
64	64	is responsible for the affairs of the council.
65	65	(f) The council shall meet at least four times annually.
66	66	(g) The council shall appoint subcommittees consistent with
67	67	the needs of the council to address:
68	68	(1) technical support and education issues regarding
69	69	public safety wireless radio interoperable communications in this
70	70	state;
71	71	(2) federal, state, and local funding availability;
72	72	and
73	73	(3) outreach and liaison with federal and other state
74	74	organizations working on public safety wireless radio
75	75	interoperable communications solutions.
76	76	(h) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the council.
77	77	Sec. 421.0962. COUNCIL DUTIES. (a) The council shall assist
78	78	the office of the governor in developing the strategic plan for
79	79	radio interoperable communications for local and private entities.
80	80	The council shall promote interagency cooperation and provide
81	81	support statewide for efficient and effective use of local and
82	82	private resources to achieve public safety wireless radio
83	83	interoperable communications for local and private public safety
84	84	agencies.
85	85	(b) The council shall:
86	86	(1) recommend guidelines and standards for operation
87	87	for local and private public safety wireless radio interoperable
88	88	communications systems in this state;
89	89	(2) promote coordination and cooperation among local,
90	90	state, federal, and tribal public safety agencies in addressing
91	91	statewide public safety wireless radio interoperable
92	92	communications needs in the state;
93	93	(3) review priorities for statewide public safety
94	94	wireless radio interoperable communications needs and assist users
95	95	of the statewide system in the development of projects, plans,
96	96	policies, standards, priorities, and guidelines for public safety
97	97	wireless radio interoperable communications;
98	98	(4) develop funding recommendations for short-term
99	99	and long-term system maintenance;
100	100	(5) research best practices of other states; and
101	101	(6) provide recommendations to the governor and the
102	102	legislature, when appropriate, concerning issues related to local
103	103	and private statewide public safety wireless radio interoperable
104	104	communications in accordance with homeland security presidential
105	105	directives.
106	106	SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
107	107	of this Act, the governor shall appoint members to the Texas
108	108	Statewide Interoperability Executive Advisory Council created by
109	109	this Act.
110	110	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.