BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2507
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In preparation for Hurricane Ike, 64,000 residents of Galveston were evacuated to other parts of Texas. The Department of Public Safety, first responders, and many other organizations were called on to assist in the evacuation process. In September 2007, Operation Border Star was initiated and involved efforts of law enforcement agencies from around the state to assist with border security. These events brought together many different emergency personnel from all over Texas to serve Texans at great personal risk. However, both of these events have made it apparent that the technology and instruments used for communication among emergency response agencies and their respective personnel are not compatible. As a result, many officers and responders are isolated without the technology needed to communicate with other responders. It is necessary to provide a centralized communication system for these Texas public servants and to protect and provide them with tools to be effective and efficient as emergency response providers.
H.B. 2507 creates the interoperable statewide emergency radio infrastructure to be funded by fees collected by the comptroller of public accounts on the conviction of a criminal offense. The bill dedicates the fees collected to be used only for the planning, development, provision, enhancement, or ongoing maintenance of the interoperable statewide emergency radio infrastructure.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 771, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subchapter F, as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. INTEROPERABLE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE
Sec. 771.151. DEFINITION. Defines "emergency radio infrastructure."
Sec. 771.152. USE OF REVENUE. (a) Authorizes fees collected under Section 133.102(e)(7), Local Government Code, to be used under certain guidelines.
(b) Prohibits fees collected and distributed as provided by this subchapter from being used to purchase or maintain radio subscriber equipment.
Sec. 771.153. EMERGENCY RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE ACCOUNT. (a) Provides that the emergency radio infrastructure account is an account in the general revenue fund.
(b) Provides that the account consists of fees deposited in the fund as provided by Section 133.102(e)(7), Local Government Code, and notwithstanding Section 404.071 (Disposition of Interest on Investments), Government Code, all interest attributable to money held in the account.
(c) Authorizes money in the account to be appropriated to the Commission on State Emergency Communications for the planning, development, provision, enhancement, or ongoing maintenance of an interoperable statewide emergency radio infrastructure, and the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas for communications interoperability and other public safety services.
(d) Provides that Section 403.095 (Use of Dedicated Revenue), Government Code, does not apply to the account.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 133.102(e), Local Government Code, as follows:
(e) Requires the comptroller of public accounts to allocate the court costs received under this section to certain accounts and funds so that each receives to the extent practicable, utilizing historical data as applicable, the same amount of money the account or fund would have received if the court costs for the accounts and funds had been collected and reported separately, except that the account or fund may not receive less than the following percentages:
(1)-(6) Makes no changes to these subdivisions;
(7) emergency radio infrastructure account, 23.2330 percent, rather than operator's and chauffeur's license, 11.1426 percent;
(8)-(10) Makes no changes to these subdivisions;
(11) Creates subdivision from existing text;
(12) Redesignates Subdivision (13) as Subdivision (12). Makes nonsubstantive changes; and
(13) Redesignates Subdivision (14) as Subdivision (13). Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.