Section 80.29. Board duties.

  The statewide interoperable communications system board established in section 80.28 shall:

  1.  Implement and maintain organizational and operational elements of the board, including staffing and program activity.

  2.  Review and monitor communications interoperability performance and service levels on behalf of agencies.

  3.  Establish, monitor, and maintain appropriate policies and protocols to ensure that interoperable communications systems function properly.

  4.  Allocate and oversee state appropriations or other funding received for interoperable communications.

  5.  Identify sources for ongoing, sustainable, longer-term funding for communications interoperability projects, including available and future assets that will leverage resources and provide incentives for communications interoperability participation, and develop and obtain adequate funding in accordance with a communications interoperability sustainability plan.

  6.  Develop and evaluate potential legislative solutions to address the funding and resource challenges of implementing statewide communications interoperability initiatives.

  7.  Develop a statewide integrated public safety communications interoperability system that allows for shared communications systems and costs, takes into account infrastructure needs and requirements, improves reliability, and addresses liability concerns of the shared network.

  8.  Investigate data and video interoperability systems.

  9.  Expand, maintain, and fund consistent, periodic training programs for current communications systems and for the statewide integrated public safety communications interoperability system as it is implemented.

  10.  Expand, maintain, and fund stakeholder education, public education, and public official education programs to demonstrate the value of short-term communications interoperability solutions, and to emphasize the importance of developing and funding long-term solutions, including implementation of the statewide integrated public safety communications interoperability system.

  11.  Identify, promote, and provide incentives for appropriate collaborations and partnerships among government entities, agencies, businesses, organizations, and associations, both public and private, relating to communications interoperability.

  12.  Provide incentives to support maintenance and expansion of regional efforts to promote implementation of the statewide integrated public safety communications interoperability system.

  13.  In performing its duties, consult with representatives of private businesses, organizations, and associations on technical matters relating to data, video, and communications interoperability; technological developments in private industry; and potential collaboration and partnership opportunities.

  14.  Submit a report by January 1, annually, to the members of the general assembly regarding communications interoperability efforts, activities, and effectiveness at the local and regional level, and shall include a status report regarding the development of a statewide integrated public safety communications interoperability system, and funding requirements relating thereto.

2007 Acts, ch 90, §2