Interagency radio system study (language only)

Item 447 #2c

Language
Page 267, following line 20, insert:
"C.1. The Secretary of Public Safety, in cooperation with the Secretary of Administration, shall develop a plan to implement a statewide shared land mobile radio system for the Commonwealth and her localities, to assure that Virginia's state and local public safety, emergency services, transportation, and natural resources agencies share the benefits and efficiencies of an improved and effective communications infrastructure, and that state and local agency field units have the ability to communicate with one another.  The Department of Information Technology and the Council for Information Management shall provide technical assistance, as necessary, and the affected agencies shall provide assistance and advice as needed.  In order to procure the support necessary to produce this report, the Department of Planning and Budget shall transfer general and nongeneral funds in the specified amounts the first year to the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety from the following agencies:
Department of State Police $250,000
Department of Transportation $122,000
Department of Corrections $64,000
Department of Forestry $20,000
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries $16,000
Marine Resources Commission   $8,000
Department of Emergency Services   $4,000
Department of Conservation and Recreation      $8,000
Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy      $4,000
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control   $4,000
Department of Juvenile Justice   $5,000
Department of Criminal Justice Services $20,000
Compensation Board $25,000
Total $550,000
2. It is the intent of the General Assembly that a schedule for implementing a new statewide shared land mobile radio system and the required funding be included in such amendments to this act which the Governor may present to the 1999 General Assembly.  The General Assembly further
intends that such implementation commence as soon as possible but not later than fiscal year 2000.

A report on this plan, together with recommendations for financing the system developed in cooperation with the Secretary of Finance, shall be presented to the Governor and the Chairmen of the

Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees no later than November 20, 1998."

Explanation
(This amendment directs the Secretary of Public Safety to develop a plan for an interagency mobile radio system. This amendment also provides for the transfer of $550,000 from the general fund and nongeneral funds from the affected agencies to pay for the consulting services that may be needed to develop the plan. The budget, as introduced, included $250,000 in the Department of State Police for this purpose. The intent of this amendment is that planning for the system move forward on an interagency basis, with full consideration of the implications of the proposed system for localities, including Sheriffs' Offices and Police Departments.)