2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 39 — Public finance
RS 39:100.41 — Louisiana interoperability communications fund

SUBPART M. LOUISIANA INTEROPERABILITY COMMUNICATIONS FUND

§100.41. Louisiana Interoperability Communications Fund

A. There is hereby established in the state treasury, as a special fund, the Louisiana Interoperability Communications Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "fund".

B. Subject to a legislative appropriation, the treasurer is authorized and directed on December 21, 2006, to deposit any monies available into the fund from the general fund. Monies in the fund shall also include any monies appropriated annually to the fund by the legislature, including federal funds; donations, gifts, or grants; and any other monies which may be provided by law to be deposited in the fund. The monies in this fund shall be appropriated, administered, and used solely as provided in Subsection C of this Section and only in the amounts appropriated annually by the legislature. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in this fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. The monies in this fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, and interest earned on the investment of these monies shall be credited to this fund.

C. Monies in the fund shall be appropriated and used solely to establish, design, develop, acquire, construct, administer, operate, and maintain an interoperability communications system within the state to serve state and local emergency and first responders and to meet National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) communication requirements, which shall include but not be limited to administration and staff support, training, acquisition and implementation of hardware and software systems, voice system upgrades, Internet protocol systems, equipment upgrades, wireless, broadband and relay systems, and the maintenance of all feasible interoperability systems, and an all-hazards emergency alert system which shall be able to support a text-based emergency alert and notification system containing messaging, e-mail, Internet access, cellular capability, desktop alert applications, prerecorded voice messages and text pager messages, and satellite phone and satellite radio with two-way send and reply capabilities, and include a web site which provides emergency information to the citizens of the state including but not limited to such things as information relative to the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Federal Emergency Management Agency, charities and faith-based groups that provide relief during times of emergency, and state and local shelters operating during a declared state of emergency; evacuation plans and routes; home safety including emergency kits, the supplying of food and water, pet care, and sheltering in place; and communications information, as well as a rapid communications system which shall have at a minimum a text-based emergency alert and notification component where users may self-register to receive all-hazards emergency information from their local parishes and the state and users can manage their personal contact information whether by e-mail, cell phone, pager, or personal digital assistant as they choose. The text-based alert and notification system shall be capable of enabling local and state emergency officials to send text alerts to such users based upon their preferences or geographical location by parish, emergency preparedness and homeland security regions, or statewide, and the system shall be capable of tracking replies from such users.

D. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the office of the chief information officer, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and the members of the Statewide Interoperable Communication System Executive Committee shall assist, as requested by the governor, in the implementation and establishment of an interoperability communications system within the state, including but not limited to applying for grants or financial assistance from the federal government, individuals, or corporations.

E. Appropriations from the fund to an entity which exceed ten percent individually or in the aggregate of the total appropriations made from the fund in that fiscal year shall not be implemented until the entity receiving the appropriation has submitted an expenditure plan for approval to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. All expenditures shall comply with the Louisiana Procurement Code, R.S. 39:1551 et seq.

Acts 2006, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 2, §1, eff. Dec. 21, 2006.