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Committee backs limited plan to fund digital trunked radio common policy; directs transfer drafting
Summary
JBC authorized staff to proceed toward funding the common‑policy portion of the Digital Trunked Radio System, asking staff to draft legislation to move $3.62M from the E‑911 enterprise fund for radio user equipment while keeping broader tower/vendor funding under separate review.
The JBC voted to direct staff to draft legislation allocating $3,620,000 from the E‑911 enterprise fund to cover common‑policy costs for the statewide digital trunked radio system (radios and user‑side equipment), while leaving the large, vendor‑contract request for towers and related capital work to separate consideration.
Committee members discussed several funding paths: severance tax transfers, general fund appropriations and use of the E‑911 enterprise. Staff and the governor’s office flagged legal and federal‑law constraints on using certain 9‑1‑1 revenues; several members supported a post‑long‑bill, targeted bill to cover radios (user equipment) while reserving severance tax transfer options for later. The committee unanimously approved staff authority to draft the legislation and to include the $3.62M as an assumption in the long‑bill balancing process.
Why it matters: the DTRS project is a multi‑year enterprise affecting emergency communications for public safety responders. Committee action funds the user‑equipment portion and directs further work to set the vendor contract and capital funding.
Next steps: staff to draft implementing legislation and refine fiscal mechanics; Director Harper will incorporate the $3.62M assumption into long‑bill balancing.
