STATUTORY AUTHORITY - 4501

Government Code Sections 15252 through 15253 authorizes Office of Emergency Services (OES) to improve and coordinate the use of radio and other communications facilities owned and operated by the state, and to coordinate and cooperate with cities, counties, and other political subdivisions thereof, in order to eliminate duplications and interferences, to bring about economies which could not otherwise be obtained

Government Code Section 15275 authorizes OES to:

1. Provide adequate representation of local and state governmental bodies and agencies before the Federal Communications Commission in matters affecting the state and its cities, counties, and other public agencies regarding public safety communications issues.
2. Provide, upon request, adequate advice to state and local agencies in the state concerning existing or proposed public safety communications facilities between any and all of the following: cities, counties, other political subdivisions of the state, state departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, and departments, agencies, boards, and commissions of other states and federal agencies.
3. Recommend to the appropriate state and local agencies rules, regulations, procedures, and methods of operation that it deems necessary to effectuate the most efficient and economical use of publicly owned and operated public safety communications facilities within this state.
4. Provide, upon request, information and data concerning the public safety communications facilities which are owned and operated by public agencies in connection with official business of public safety services including information required to be submitted to California Department of Technology pursuant to California Emergency Services Act, Government Code 8592.35.
5. Carry out the policy of this section.

Government Code Section 15277 establishes within OES, a Public Safety Communications Division (division) whose duties shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

1. Assessing the overall long-range public safety communications needs and requirements of the state considering emergency operations, performance, cost, state-of-the-art technology, multiuser availability, security, reliability, and such other factors deemed to be important to state needs and requirements.
2. Developing strategic and tactical policies and plans for public safety communications with consideration for the systems and requirements of the state and all public agencies in the state, and preparing an annual strategic communications plan that includes the feasibility of interfaces with federal and other state telecommunications networks and services.
3. Recommending industry standards for public safety communications systems to assure multiuser availability and compatibility.
4. Providing advice and assistance in the selection of communications equipment to ensure that the public safety communications needs of state agencies are met and that procurements are compatible throughout state agencies and are consistent with the state's strategic and tactical plans for public safety communications.
5. Providing management oversight of statewide public safety communications systems developments.
6. Providing for coordination of, and comment on, plans, policies, and operational requirements from departments that utilize public safety communications in support of their principal function, such as the Office of Emergency Services, National Guard, health and safety agencies, and others with primary public safety communications programs.
7. Monitoring and participating on behalf of the state in the proceedings of federal and state regulatory agencies and in congressional and state legislative deliberations that have an impact on state government public safety communications activities.
8. Developing plans regarding teleconferencing as an alternative to state travel during emergency situations.
9.  Ensuring that all radio transmitting devices owned or operated by state agencies and departments are licensed, installed, and maintained in accordance with the requirements of federal law. A request for a federally required license for a state-owned radio transmitting device shall be sought only in the name of the “State of California.”
10. Acquiring, installing, equipping, maintaining, and operating new or existing public safety communications systems and facilities for public safety agencies. To accomplish that purpose, the division is authorized to enter into contracts, obtain licenses, acquire property, install necessary equipment and facilities, and do other necessary acts to provide adequate and efficient public safety communications systems. Any systems established shall be available to all public agencies in the state on terms that may be agreed upon by the public agency and the division.
11. Acquiring, installing, equipping, maintaining, and operating all new or replacement microwave communications systems operated by the state, except microwave equipment used exclusively for traffic signal and signing control, traffic metering, and roadway surveillance systems. To accomplish that purpose, the division is authorized to enter into contracts, obtain licenses, acquire property, install necessary equipment and facilities, and do other necessary acts to provide adequate and efficient microwave communications systems. Any system established shall be available to all public safety agencies in the state on terms that may be agreed upon by the public agency and the division.