HSB 222

“Public safety entity” is defined under the bill to include any of the following: law enforcement agencies which employ one or more sworn law enforcement officers; fire departments, including paid or volunteer fire departments and benefitted fire districts; emergency medical services providers including but not limited to first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and ambulance services, whether paid or volunteer; emergency 911 dispatch entities; department of corrections facilities which employ one or more correctional officers; hazardous materials teams that are part of a law enforcement agency, a fire department, or other governmental entity; the Iowa national guard; private safety entities which provide emergency fire, ambulance, or medical services whether by full or part-time employees or on a volunteer basis including but not limited to medical or osteopathic hospitals, clinics, or treatment facilities; and any other entity deemed to be a public safety entity by the statewide interoperable communications system board. _____ but not limited to the Iowa department of transportation and local county engineers; snow removal agencies; waste removal agencies; utilities which provide electric, gas, or other services; college or university services; schools and school districts; airports and aviation services; towing services; and any other entity deemed to be a public services entity by the statewide interoperable communications system board. The bill provides that a governmental entity, public safety entity, or public services entity requesting access to the system must initially send a letter of intent to join the system to the chairperson of the board. A sample of a letter of intent can be found on the board website. The entity is also required to file an application for access with the board on a form provided by the board and supply all requested information to the board. A governmental entity may also file an application requesting system access on behalf of a nongovernmental entity, which does not need to be a public safety entity or a public services entity, that is located in the governmental entity’s jurisdiction, if the governmental entity believes the nongovernmental entity should be allowed access to the system. An application filed in this manner will be presented directly to the board for approval without going to a user group committee as required in the following paragraph. The bill requires the chairperson of the board to provide the letter of intent to a user group committee for the purpose of determining whether the entity requesting access to the system meets the definition of a governmental entity, public safety entity, or public services entity. If the user group committee determines that the requestor does meet the definition, the application shall be forwarded to the board for final approval. Within days from the receipt of an application by a governmental entity, public safety entity, or public services entity, the board is required to approve the application. _____ application for access to the system by a governmental entity on behalf of a nongovernmental entity within the governmental entity’s jurisdiction who the governmental entity believes should have access to the system within days of receipt of the application. Upon approval of the application, the board shall provide the approved entity or nongovernmental entity with access to the appropriate frequencies and with all digital identification and software or authorization necessary to allow the entity to join the system. The bill takes effect upon enactment.