Public Safety Communications Division.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Public Safety Communications Division

This law makes the Public Safety Communications Division responsible for managing statewide public safety communications systems and sets rules about who can make decisions related to these systems.

What This Bill Does

• Makes the Public Safety Communications Division in California the main group that handles all statewide public safety communication needs.
• Requires state agencies to use the communication systems set up by this division.
• Prohibits state or local agencies from making contracts for technical support without permission from the Office of Emergency Services.
• Needs state agencies to tell a union representative if they make certain types of contracts related to these communications.

Who It Names or Affects

• State and local public safety agencies in California
• People who work on or use statewide public safety communication systems

Terms To Know

Public Safety Communications Division

A part of the Office of Emergency Services that deals with making sure all emergency communications work well across California.

Statewide Concern

An issue that affects the whole state, not just one city or town.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if someone breaks these rules.
• It is unclear how this will affect existing contracts and agreements before the law was passed.

Official Summary Text

AB 2370, as amended, Arambula.
Public Safety Communications Division.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, sets forth the duties of the Office of Emergency Services with respect to specified emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response activities within the state. Existing law establishes the Public Safety Communications Division within the office and prescribes certain duties in regard to statewide public safety communications systems, including 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.
This bill would make the above-described duties the exclusive responsibility of the division and prohibit a state public agency from performing those duties, subject to certain exceptions. The bill would require the division to serve as the primary authority for
all statewide and interjurisdictional public safety communications, and to provide oversight, management, and ongoing coordination of all statewide public safety communications systems. The bill would require state public agencies to utilize the public safety communications systems established and maintained under these provisions. The bill would prohibit the
division,
division or
a state public
agency, or a local public
agency from entering into a contract for a technical, maintenance, or system support services without approval by the office. The bill would also prohibit a state
or local
public agency participating in the statewide public safety
communications system from delegating, assigning, or entering into a contract for essential operation, duties, or functions of public safety communications, without approval or authorization from the office, as specified. The bill would require a state public agency, if it enters into a contract within the scope of work of the division staff, to notify the division’s state bargaining representative immediately via email and make their best effort to connect with representative.
The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF