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JBC directs staff to draft bill shifting $3.62 million from 9-1-1 enterprise to radio common policy
Summary
The Joint Budget Committee voted unanimously to ask staff to draft legislation to fund the common-policy portion of the statewide Digital Trunked Radio System (DTRS) from the E‑9‑1‑1 enterprise fund, authorizing staff to include the $3.62 million fiscal effect in the long‑bill balancing assumptions.
The Joint Budget Committee voted 6‑0 to direct staff to draft legislation that would use $3,620,000 from the E‑9‑1‑1 enterprise fund to cover the common‑policy portion of the statewide Digital Trunked Radio System (DTRS). The committee also asked budget staff to assume that funding in long‑bill balancing figures.
The decision follows weeks of exchanges about how to pay for the state’s DTRS vendor contract and related equipment upgrades. Committee members and staff discussed a range of options — including larger severance‑tax transfers or using general fund — before settling on a targeted appropriation from the 9‑1‑1 enterprise to cover radios and maintenance used directly by emergency communications personnel.
Joint Budget Committee staff advised the panel that the DTRS request had two parts: a roughly $12 million vendor contract portion (long‑term, multi‑year) and about $3 million for local user equipment and maintenance. The committee directed staff to pursue legislation that would fund the smaller, common‑policy share from the enterprise fund now and treat that amount as an assumption when finalizing the long bill. Director Harper and staff said the executive office had expressed legal concerns about using enterprise funds for some tower or non‑9‑1‑1 uses; the committee’s motion focuses on user radios and upkeep used by 9‑1‑1 responders.
The committee’s instruction is to have staff work with the Office of Legislative Legal Services on a post‑long‑bill draft and to return with a bill that reflects the committee’s intent. Members noted the approach protects ongoing general fund balances while addressing an immediate need for radios and maintenance that support 9‑1‑1 operations.
The motion passed unanimously. Committee staff said they will present draft language and fiscal assumptions to the panel as part of the post‑long‑bill package and asked the Department of Public Safety and other stakeholders to be available for implementation questions.
