2018 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 24 - Government - State
Principal Departments
Article 33.5 - Public Safety
Part 7 - Emergency Management
§ 24-33.5-716. Interoperable communications among public safety radio systems - statewide plan - regional plans - governmental immunity - needs assessment - definitions
(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Interoperable communications" means the ability of public safety agencies in various disciplines and jurisdictions to communicate on demand and in real time by voice or data using compatible radio communication systems or other technology.
(b) "Public safety agency" means an agency providing law enforcement, fire protection, emergency medical, or emergency response services.
(c) "Region" means an all-hazards emergency management region established by executive order of the governor.
(2) The executive director of the department of local affairs shall transfer to the executive director the tactical and long-term interoperable communications plan developed pursuant to former section 24-32-1116, as said section existed on June 30, 2012, to improve the ability of the public safety agencies of state government to communicate with public safety agencies of the federal government, regions, local governments, and other states. The executive director shall update and revise the plan no less than once every three years. The plan shall include measures to create and periodically test interoperability interfaces, provisions for training on communications systems and exercises on the implementation of the plan, and deadlines for implementation.
(3) (a) The executive director of the department of local affairs shall transfer to the executive director the tactical and long-term interoperable communications plan, adopted by each region pursuant to former section 24-32-1116, as said section existed on June 30, 2012, to improve communications among public safety agencies in the region and with public safety agencies of other regions, the state and federal governments, and other states. The plans shall include measures to create and periodically test interoperability interfaces, provisions for training on communications systems and exercises on the implementation of the plan, a strategy for integrating with the state digital trunked radio system, deadlines for implementation, and other elements required by the executive director. Each region shall submit to the executive director revised plans as such are updated.
(b) Each local government agency or private entity that operates a public safety radio system shall collaborate in the development and, as necessary, periodic revision of the tactical and long-term interoperable communications plan of the region in which it is located. Such tactical plans, and revisions thereto, shall be submitted to the executive director.
(c) A region that timely fails to submit a tactical and long-term interoperable communications plan or revisions thereto, or a local government agency that fails to collaborate in the development of or timely submit the plan, or a region or local government agency that fails to maintain current plans, shall be ineligible to receive homeland security or public safety grant moneys administered by the department of local affairs, department of public safety, or department of public health and environment until the region submits a plan to the executive director.
(4) A public safety agency shall not expend moneys received through the department on a mobile data communication system unless the system is capable of interoperable communications.
(5) The executive director shall not require a public safety agency to acquire the communications equipment of a particular manufacturer or provider as a condition of awarding grant moneys administered by the department.
(6) A public safety agency or an employee of a public safety agency acting in collaboration with another agency or person to create and operate an interoperable communications system shall have the same degree of immunity under the "Colorado Governmental Immunity Act", article 10 of this title, as the public safety agency or employee would have if not acting in collaboration with another agency or person.
(7) Repealed.
