(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli and Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. sponsored to create a statewide public safety interoperable communications council to make such a system reality has been signed into law.
“We have a chance to be at the vanguard and do something that nobody’s been able to get right yet,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “Allowing for seamless communication during a storm, flood or other natural or man-made disaster, will help keep residents and first responders safe and informed, while serving as a model for the rest of the nation.”
“Since Sept.11, we’ve learned many things, including that we need to have better communication coordination and backup between emergency services,” said Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “With this law, we’re trying to do just that: create a totally integrated system that allows emergency service personnel to cross communicate on all bands – data, video and radio – across any system in the state through the use of wireless broadband.”
Under the law (A-2934), a Statewide Public Safety Communications Commission will be created in Office of Information Technology (OIT), replacing the current Public Safety Interoperable Communications Coordinating Council.
This new commission will oversee the planning, design and implementation of New Jersey’s emergency enhanced 9-1-1 telephone system and the state’s Interoperable Communications System.
The law will also create a Statewide Public Safety Communication Council – made up of first responders – to provide advice and assistance to the commission and OIT on these matters.
The bill was sponsored by Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Essex/Bergen/Passaic) before he retired from the Legislature late last year.
