SB1360: ISP RADIO INTEROPERABILITY

Legislative Summary

Amends the Illinois State Police Radio Act. In provisions about public safety radio interoperability, defines interoperability and includes legislative findings. Provides that the Illinois Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) shall oversee advisory boards in the governance, interoperability, and land mobile radio standards for Illinois' land mobile radio communications system and shall collaborate with the Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator and the Homeland Security Advisory Council to strengthen Illinois' emergency communications ecosystem. Modifies the membership of the SIEC. Provides that the advisory boards of the SIEC shall include, but are not limited to, the Governance Advisory Board, the Statewide Interoperability Advisory Board, and the STARCOM21 Advisory Board. Removes references to the STARCOM21 Oversight Committee. Requires the SIEC to adopt bylaws for its effective operation, as well as that of its advisory boards, and allows the SIEC to appoint advisors from the public safety communications community to serve on its advisory boards at the pleasure of the SIEC. Requires the SIEC to establish, no later than July 1, 2026, standards necessary to ensure land mobile radio equipment interoperates throughout Illinois; compliance with these standards shall be implemented as funding becomes available; planning, training, and evaluation standards necessary to enhance public safety communications operational readiness; and standards necessary for the unification of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System statewide. Requires the SIEC to, no later than July 1, 2026, develop and recommend a plan to sustainably fund radio infrastructure, radio equipment, and interoperability statewide. Allows the Illinois State Police to use any money appropriated to it for the purpose promoting public safety radio interoperability if the use of the funds is consistent with any standards set forth by the SIEC and to adopt emergency rules or jointly adopt emergency rules with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act to make conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025.