Public Safety Information-sharing System

The bill creates the law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice information-sharing grant program (grant program) within the division of homeland security and emergency management (division). During the 2018-19 fiscal year, the grant program shall award grants to any state governmental entity, state quasi-governmental entity, or separate legal entity formed by an intergovernmental agreement. Money received from the grant program may be used for:

• Enhancing, maintaining, operating, or improving any existing statewide law enforcement, public safety, or criminal justice information-sharing system;
• Assisting law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice agencies in gaining access to the information-sharing system; or
• Increasing communication, interoperability, or data sharing among law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice agencies.

The bill requires the executive director of the department of public safety to promulgate rules for the administration of the grant program. At a minimum, the rules must specify the time frames for applying for grants, the form of the grant program application, and the time frames for distributing grant money. In determining whether to award a grant, the division shall consider:

• The applicant's capacity to serve law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice agencies statewide; and
• The applicant's ability to operate and maintain a law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice information-sharing system.

The bill creates the law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice information-sharing grant program fund (fund) and directs the general assembly to appropriate $1 million to the fund from the marijuana tax cash fund for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)