A bill for an act relating to the statewide interoperable communications system, and including effective date provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Bousselot

The bill ensures broad ICS access for eligible public service groups with state-supported setup and training, while shifting equipment costs to the applying organizations.

Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage.

#administrativeprocedure #administrativerules #emergencymanagement #lawenforcement #publicsafetydepartment #statewideinteroperablecommunicationssystemboard

Overview

SF 89 seeks to clarify access to the statewide interoperable communications system (ICS) and outline roles, costs, and appeal processes for public service organizations and other entities sponsored by public entities. The bill emphasizes broad access, standardized user levels, and state-supported setup and training, with the expectation that equipment and ongoing costs are borne by the applying organization.

Purpose and Intent

Ensure eligible public service organizations, including those sponsored by heads of public entities, can access the statewide ICS without mandatory contracts with another government entity.

Establish user-level classifications to tailor access based on organizational needs and capabilities.

Define cost responsibilities to clearly separate equipment and programming obligations from state-provided access and support.

Key Provisions

Eligibility and Access

No public service organization shall be required to secure a contract or formal agreement with a public entity or other governmental organization to qualify for ICS access.

Organizations sponsored by the head of a public entity shall not be denied ICS access.

User Levels

Four distinct user levels will govern access to the ICS platform.

When applying for access, a public service organization must specify its desired user level.

The board governing the ICS (the statewide interoperable communications system board) shall approve the submitted user level.

An organization may request a change to its user level at any time after initial approval.

Costs and Responsibilities

All equipment and programming costs associated with ICS communications (including encryption equipment) are the sole responsibility of the public service organization to purchase, program, and maintain.

The state will provide system access setup, training, support, and electronic codes/keys to public service organizations at no cost.

Appeals

A decision by the board to deny access or to remove current access may be appealed by the affected public service organization to an administrative law judge of the department.

Governance and Timeline

Oversight: Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board.

Status: Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage.

Introduced: January 22, 2025; referred to State Government.

Subcommittee hearings: February 4, 2025; meeting on February 11, 2025.

Legislative action: Subcommittee recommended amendment and passage on February 12, 2025.

Sponsor: BOUSSELOT (primary).

Potential Impact

Broadens and standardizes access to the ICS for diverse public service entities, including those without formal contractual arrangements.

Shifts ongoing costs for equipment and programming to the respective public service organizations, while the state covers access setup, training, and support.

Creates a formal, reviewable process for approving and adjusting user access levels, with an administrative-law-judge-based appeal pathway.

Aims to improve interoperability and rapid deployment of communications during emergencies while clarifying governance and cost responsibilities.

Bill