Wireless E-911 Fund-PS Sub

Item 461 #3h

Language
Page 351, line 12, strike "$26,608,333" and insert "$27,008,333".
Page 351, following line 33, insert:
"C. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§56-484.8 and 56-484.11, Code of Virginia, the State Comptroller shall transfer the one-time, non-recurring amount of $2,400,000 as of July 1, 1999, from the Wireless E-911 Fund to the Department of State Police, for the purposes of developing (i) a request for proposals for the design of a statewide-shared land mobile radio system, and (ii) an assessment of steps necessary to assure that the coordination of State Police and local emergency communications systems is taken into account in the development of the statewide-shared land mobile radio system.  In implementing the provisions of (ii) above, the consultants selected to prepare the request for proposals for the radio system shall assist the Virginia State Crime Commission, which is charged with studying the enhanced 911 system and its effect on state and local public safety agencies, pursuant to House Joint Resolution No. 215 of the 1998 General Assembly.
1.  It is the intent of the General Assembly that city and county Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) respond to such calls, and submit their Wireless E-911 PSAP costs to the Wireless E-911 Service Board for reimbursement, as specified in §56-484.11, Code of Virginia.  Local governments are not eligible to seek funding from the Wireless E-911 Service Board and Fund until such time as they begin to implement  E-911 wireless service.  On or before January 1, 2000, it is intended that the following localities begin answering wireless E-911 calls originating in their jurisdictions: Chesterfield and Henrico Counties and the Cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.  On or before January 1, 2001, it is intended that all Virginia localities begin answering wireless E-911 calls.
2.  The Wireless E-911 Service Board shall make funds available to localities, pursuant to the provisions of §56-484.11, Code of Virginia, as necessary to help defray the initial capital, installation, and maintenance costs of the E-911 wireless emergency telephone systems and to offset recurring maintenance, repair, and system upgrade costs, and salaries or portion of salaries of dispatchers or call takers, for the purpose of assisting localities in complying with the provisions in Paragraph C.1. above.  The Board shall establish the maximum amount and duration of reimbursement.
3.  The Wireless E-911 Service Board shall provide a progress report to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by October 1, 1999, on the progress of implementing the provisions of the Wireless Enhanced Public Safety Telephone Service Act of 1998.  The Secretary of Technology and the Department of Information Technology shall provide such support as may be necessary to enable the Board to complete its report."
Page 351, line 34, strike "C" and insert "D".
Page 351, line 35, strike "from the general fund".

Explanation
(This amendment provides $2,400,000 in the second year from nongeneral funds for the Department of State Police to develop the request for proposals for the statewide interagency radio system, and, in conjunction with that effort, to improve the Commonwealth's capacity to respond to wireless E-911 telephone calls.)