HB 1555 -- Missouri Uniform Communications Act for Homeland
Security

Sponsor:  Sager

This bill makes changes to the laws regarding state-operated
wireless communication systems.  In its main provisions, the
bill:

(1)  Requires all purchases made by the Commissioner of the
Office of Administration for wireless communication products used
for public safety to meet the standards set by the Public Safety
Communications Committee for Wireless Communications Programs;

(2)  Creates the Missouri Uniform Communications Act for Homeland
Security for the purpose of promoting effective, ubiquitous, and
interoperable public safety communications in real time and on
demand among all state and local personnel and local agencies;

(3)  Requires the development of necessary communications
capabilities and procedures needed to provide assured emergency
response and to minimize the response time for first responders
to emergency or disastrous situations;

(4)  Creates the Public Safety Communications Committee and
specifies its composition;

(5)  Requires all public safety agencies, including local, state,
or other political subdivisions which provide public safety
services or emergency services, to submit a plan to the committee
for approval when requesting state funds or federal funds
disbursed by the state for wireless communications programs;

(6)  Requires the committee to examine all funding requests for
wireless communications programs and proposals to identify and
evaluate interoperability;

(7)  Requires the committee to utilize the state's
Interoperability Executive Committee, as recognized by the
Federal Communication Commission, to make recommendations
concerning the maintenance and enhancement of interoperable
public safety wireless communications;

(8)  Prohibits any state or federal funds from being used to make
purchases not in compliance with the plan.  Violations may be
subject to civil sanctions, including repayment of funds to the
state; and

(9)  Repeals Section 37.250, RSMo, concerning the Committee on
State-Operated Wireless Communication Systems.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:15 am