Authority: §§ 18.2-308.2:2, 19.2-387, 19.2-388, 27-55, 52-4, 52-4.4, 52-8.5, 52-12, 52-13, 52-15, 52-16, 52-25 and 52-31 through 52-34, Code of Virginia.
A.1. It is the intent of the General Assembly that wireless 911 calls be delivered directly by the Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) provider to the local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), in order that such calls be answered by the local jurisdiction within which the call originates, thereby minimizing the need for call transfers whenever possible.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, Chapter 15, Title 56, Code of Virginia, $3,700,000 the first year and $3,700,000 the second year from the Wireless E-911 Fund is included in this appropriation for telecommunications to offset dispatch center operations and related costs incurred for answering wireless 911 telephone calls.
B. Out of the Motor Carrier Special Fund, $900,000 the first year and $900,000 the second year shall be disbursed on a quarterly basis to the Department of State Police.
C.1. This appropriation includes $9,175,535 the first year and $9,175,535 the second year from the general fund for maintaining the Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS).
2. The Secretary of Public Safety, in conjunction with the STARS Management Group and the Superintendent of State Police, shall provide a status report on (1) annual operating costs; (2) the status of site enhancements to support the system; (3) the project timelines for implementing the enhancements to the system; and (4) other matters as the secretary may deem appropriate. This report shall be provided to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees no later than October 1 of each year.
3. The STARS Management Group, the Superintendent of State Police, the Department of Military Affairs, and the Department of Planning and Budget shall assess and determine the STARS equipment needs of the Department of Military Affairs. A report setting out the needed components and their estimated costs shall be provided on or before September 1, 2013, to the Secretary of Public Safety and the Director, Department of Planning and Budget. Any bond proceeds authorized for the STARS project that remain after the full implementation of the STARS network shall be made available for the STARS equipment needs of the Department of Military Affairs.
D. The department shall deposit to the general fund an amount estimated at $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year resulting from fees generated by additional criminal background checks of local job applicants and prospective licensees collected pursuant to § 15.2-1503.1 of the Code of Virginia.
E. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 19.2-386.14, 38.2-415, 46.2-1167 and 52-4.3, Code of Virginia, the Department of State Police may use revenue from the State Asset Forfeiture Fund, the Insurance Fraud Fund, the Drug Investigation Trust Account – State, and the Safety Fund to modify, enhance or procure automated systems that focus on the Commonwealth's law enforcement activities and information gathering processes.
F. The Superintendent of State Police is authorized to and shall establish a policy and reasonable fee to contract for the bulk transmission of public information from the Virginia Sex Offender Registry. Any fees collected shall be deposited in a special account to be used to offset the costs of administering the registry. The State Superintendent of State Police shall charge no fee for the transfer of any information from the Virginia Sex Offender Registry to the Statewide Automated Victim Notification (SAVIN) system.
G. Included in the amounts provided for this Item is $91,377 the first year and $91,377 the second year from the general fund for the costs of database administration associated with the establishment of an information exchange program by the Secretary of Public Safety with those states sharing a border with Canada or Mexico about transnational gangs; the production, transportation, or distribution of illegal drugs, explosives or firearms; and the activities of international or domestic terrorists.
H. The Department of State Police shall review the costs and benefits of acquiring state-of-the-art computer simulated training systems for law enforcement officers in highly realistic environments utilizing mission briefings, scenario control, and after-action reviews of trainee performance. A report on this review shall be provided to the Secretary of Public Safety and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 1, 2013.