Chapter 104

2009 -- H 6096

Enacted 07/13/09

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Almeida, DaSilva, Carnevale, Shallcross Smith, and Guthrie

     Date Introduced: April 08, 2009

 

      It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Chapter 30-15 of the General Laws entitled "Emergency Management" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

 

     30-15-42. Committee created - Purpose and composition. – (a) There is hereby

created within the Rhode Island emergency management agency a committee consisting of

twenty-one (21) members pursuant to the provisions of section 30-15-2 of this chapter the

interoperable communications committee (ICC) for the purpose of addressing the challenges

associated with the statewide communications interoperability.

     (b) The interoperable communications committee (hereinafter referred to as the

committee”) shall consist of the following members who shall assemble no less than twelve (12)

times annually or more often at the call of the chairperson or upon petition of a majority of its

members:

     (1) The adjutant general of the Rhode Island national guard or his/her designee;

     (2) The president of the Rhode Island fire chief’s association or his/her designee;

     (3) The president of the Rhode Island police chief’s association or his/her designee;

     (4) The executive director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency or his/her

designee;

     (5) A representative from a Rhode Island Level 1 trauma center designated by the

president of the facility;

     (6) The chairperson of the hospital association of Rhode Island (HARI) or his/her

designee;

     (7) The director of the city of Providence communications division or his/her designee;

     (8) A representative of the Rhode Island statewide communications network (RISCON)

system north zone appointed by the executive director of the Rhode Island emergency

management agency;

     (9) A representative of the Rhode Island statewide communications network (RISCON)

system south zone appointed by the executive director of the Rhode Island emergency

management agency;

     (10) The colonel/superintendent of the Rhode Island state police or his/her designee;

     (11) The director of the Rhode Island department of environmental management or

his/her designee;

     (12) The director of the Rhode Island department of transportation or his/her designee;

     (13) The director of the Rhode Island department of corrections or his/her designee;

     (14) The director of the Rhode Island department of information technology or his/her

designee;

     (15) The director of the Rhode Island department of health or his/her designee;

     (16) The director of the Rhode Island public transit authority or his/her designee;

     (17) The director of the Rhode Island bridge and turnpike authority or his/her designee;

     (18) The associate director of the Rhode Island E-911 system or his/her designee;

     (19) Chief Sachem of the Narragansett Indian Tribe or his/her designee;

     and two (2) members appointed by the executive director of the Rhode Island emergency

management agency.

     Each member of the committee may appoint a permanent designee to attend committee

meetings in his/her absence. A quorum at meetings of the committee shall consist of a majority of

its current membership.

 

     30-15-43. Statewide Interoperable Communications System. The Rhode Island

emergency management agency is hereby authorized and empowered to provide for the

installation, operation, and maintenance of a statewide interoperable communications system for

the purpose of promptly collecting, exchanging, disseminating, and distributing information

relating to police, fire, first responder, and first receiving health care facilities of the state. The

system is to be installed, operated, and maintained in such cities and towns and entities as have

organized systems, and may connect directly or indirectly with similar systems in other states in

accordance with rules and regulations as promulgated by the Rhode Island emergency

management agency. These rules and regulations shall be reviewed and revised from time to time

by the interoperable communications committee as established in section 31-15-42. The Rhode

Island emergency management agency is authorized to provide for the location of the receiving

system sites and to employ the necessary personnel for its operation. The system shall be called

the Rhode Island statewide communications network (RISCON). The state departments and

agencies and the cities and towns are authorized to provide through federal funding when

available and general revenue when allocated, within the appropriations provided by law, for the

location of equipment and for the personnel and supplies for their proper operation. The character

of communication sent and the time, place and manner of sending messages and all matters in

connection with the RISCON system shall be under the control and management of the executive

director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC02367

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