PRINTER'S NO. 1457
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
984
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY MENSCH, AUMENT, MARTIN, PHILLIPS-HILL, MASTRIANO,
YAW, KILLION, PITTMAN AND BARTOLOTTA, JANUARY 23, 2020
REFERRED TO LAW AND JUSTICE, JANUARY 23, 2020
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
Executive Department thereof and the administrative
departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
officers, and of the several administrative departments,
boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
determined," providing for administration of Pennsylvania
Statewide Radio Network by Pennsylvania State Police.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE VII-A
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PENNSYLVANIA STATEWIDE RADIO NETWORK
Section 701-A. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Business partner." An organization that has entered into an
agreement with the Commonwealth under which it offers some form
of nonmonetary consideration, such as frequency licenses or
sites for system infrastructure, in return for permission to use
PA-STARNet for radio communications.
"Commissioner." The Commissioner of Pennsylvania State
Police.
"Committee." The PA-STARNet Committee established under
section 703-A.
"Emergency communications." The means and methods for
exchanging communications and information necessary for
successful incident management.
"First responder." An individual who in the early stages of
an incident is responsible for the protection and preservation
of life, property, evidence and the environment, including
emergency response providers as that term is defined in section
2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296, 116
Stat. 2135).
"Participating agency." A government agency, public safety
organization, first responder organization, business partner or
other organization.
"Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network" or "PA-STARNet." A
Statewide radio network comprising a communication and
information infrastructure connected by a digital microwave
system for transmission of voice and data, including all
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frequency bands and other system extensions owned and operated
by the Commonwealth and connected to the core digital trunked
radio network operating in the 800 megahertz (MHz) public safety
frequency band and in other public safety frequency bands
licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), or to
the microwave backbone network.
"Public safety communications." The means and methods for
transmitting and receiving information necessary for the conduct
of services rendered by or through Federal, State or local
government entities in support of the protection and
preservation of life, property and natural resources, as
prescribed by law.
"State police." The Pennsylvania State Police.
Section 702-A. Administration of PA-STARNet.
(a) Authority.--The State police, through a PA-STARNet
division, shall develop, operate, regulate, manage, maintain and
monitor PA-STARNet, including PA-STARNet infrastructure,
equipment, software, services and licenses.
(b) Purposes.--The State police shall administer PA-STARNet
for:
(1) the benefit of the participating agencies;
(2) the support of effective communications at critical
public events; and
(3) the interoperable communication needs of Federal,
State and local first responders during emergencies.
(c) Policies and procedures.--The State police shall
establish policies and procedures for the specification,
procurement, development, testing, configuration, operations,
use, replacement and maintenance of PA-STARNet resources.
Section 703-A. PA-STARNet Committee.
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The PA-STARNet Committee is established in the State police
to provide a standing forum for participating agencies to ensure
coordination and cooperation among participating State agencies
and county and local agencies in the development and use of PA-
STARNet and its application to public safety communications and
emergency communications.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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