(1) The board shall appoint a state interoperability executive committee, the membership of which must include, but not be limited to, representatives of the military department, the Washington state patrol, the department of transportation, the department of information services, the department of natural resources, city and county governments, state and local fire chiefs, police chiefs, and sheriffs, and state and local emergency management directors. The chair and legislative members of the board will serve as nonvoting ex officio members of the committee. Voting membership may not exceed fifteen members.

     (2) The chair of the board shall appoint the chair of the committee from among the voting members of the committee.

     (3) The state interoperability executive committee has the following responsibilities:

     (a) Develop policies and make recommendations to the board for technical standards for state wireless radio communications systems, including emergency communications systems. The standards must address, among other things, the interoperability of systems, taking into account both existing and future systems and technologies;

     (b) Coordinate and manage on behalf of the board the licensing and use of state-designated and state-licensed radio frequencies, including the spectrum used for public safety and emergency communications, and serve as the point of contact with the federal communications commission on matters relating to allocation, use, and licensing of radio spectrum;

     (c) Coordinate the purchasing of all state wireless radio communications system equipment to ensure that:

     (i) After the transition from a radio over internet protocol network, any new trunked system shall be, at a minimum, project-25;

     (ii) Any new system that requires advanced digital features shall be, at a minimum, project-25; and

     (iii) Any new system or equipment purchases shall be, at a minimum, upgradeable to project-25;

     (d) Seek support, including possible federal or other funding, for state-sponsored wireless communications systems;

     (e) Develop recommendations for legislation that may be required to promote interoperability of state wireless communications systems;

     (f) Foster cooperation and coordination among public safety and emergency response organizations;

     (g) Work with wireless communications groups and associations to ensure interoperability among all public safety and emergency response wireless communications systems; and

     (h) Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the board to promote interoperability of wireless communications systems.

[2006 c 76 § 2; 2003 c 18 § 4.]

NOTES:

     Finding -- Intent -- 2006 c 76: "The legislature finds that local governments need to have interoperable communications to ensure the public safety and welfare of all citizens in the state of Washington. In light of recent catastrophic events around the world, including in the United States, it is now more important than ever that all responders be able to communicate clearly and without interference or malfunction.

     The legislature has learned that numerous states, the federal government, and some international governments have adopted the project-25 standard for interoperable communications. Local governments in Washington have started to purchase the project-25 interoperable communication[s] standard equipment. In order to ensure that local governments continue to make smart purchasing decisions, they need certainty that the purchases will be interoperable with state equipment and that the state will adopt the national project-25 standards. It is the intent of this act to provide certainty to local governments that a statewide project-25 interoperable communications system will be in place throughout Washington in the near future, and the investments they are making are advantageous to the original intent of interoperable communications, thus ensuring the safety and welfare of Washington's citizens." [2006 c 76 § 1.]

     Inventory -- Statewide public safety communications plan -- 2003 c 18: "(1) The state interoperability executive committee shall take inventory of and evaluate all state and local government-owned public safety communications systems, and prepare a statewide public safety communications plan. The plan must set forth recommendations for executive and legislative action to insure that public safety communications systems can communicate with one another and conform to federal law and regulations governing emergency communications systems and spectrum allocation. The plan must include specific goals for improving interoperability of public safety communications systems and identifiable benchmarks for achieving those goals.

     (2) The committee shall present the inventory and plan required in subsection (1) of this section to the board and appropriate legislative committees as follows:

     (a) By December 31, 2003, an inventory of state government-operated public safety communications systems;

     (b) By July 31, 2004, an inventory of all public safety communications systems in the state;

     (c) By March 31, 2004, an interim statewide public safety communications plan; and

     (d) By December 31, 2004, a final statewide public safety communications plan.

     (3) The committee shall consult regularly with the joint legislative audit and review committee and the legislative evaluation and accounting program committee while developing the inventory and plan under this section." [2003 c 18 § 5.]

     Intent -- Finding -- Effective date -- 2003 c 18: See notes following RCW 43.105.020.