An Act Concerning Statewide Communications Interoperability
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1520, as amended by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. PP, §1, is further amended to read:
§ 1520. Statewide Radio and Network System Reserve Fund
(1) Ensure that the annual costs of the lease or lease-purchase are paid in a timely manner and that the financial affairs of the fund are properly managed;
(2) Maintain records of radio and network system requirements for all agencies using the system and make this information available to state agencies;
(3) Require state agencies to become part of the statewide radio and network system when replacing their current systems or purchasing new systems;
(4) Acquire, expand, upgrade or replace the statewide radio and network system in accordance with an established replacement plan; and
(5) Transfer radio equipment and network infrastructure into the fund from agencies using the system, purchase, lease, lease-purchase or enter into other financing agreements, in accordance with section 1587, for the acquisition, expansion, upgrade or replacement of the system or any of its components in accordance with paragraph B when it can be demonstrated that any such action or agreement provides a clear cost or program advantage to the State . ; and
(6) Ensure that in meeting the purposes set forth in this section:
(a) The ability of agencies of county and local government to communicate with state agencies is enhanced and in no way diminished; and
(b) The counties and local units of government are not required to replace or upgrade their equipment at their own expense solely in order to maintain their ability to communicate with state agencies.
(1) Standards for statewide radio and network system operations;
(2) Specifications for systems and components to be acquired by the State; and
(3) Standards for the exemption or waiver of state agencies from the requirements of this section.
By January 15, 2002, standards must be developed for statewide radio and network system usage by all state agencies not exempted under subparagraph (3).
SUMMARY
This bill would require that the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of Information Technology ensure that, in meeting the purposes set forth in the law establishing the Statewide Radio and Network System Reserve Fund, the ability of state agencies and agencies of county and local government to communicate with one another is in no way diminished, and the counties and local units of government are not required to replace or upgrade their equipment at their own expense solely in order to maintain their ability to communicate with state agencies. This bill would require that a portion of the Statewide Radio and Network System Reserve Fund, which is financing the statewide radio and network system used by state agencies, is used to reimburse county and local governments for the purchase of radio equipment necessary for them to communicate on the new network.