SR0550 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0550 LRB095 14864 HLH 40805 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Interoperability in communications is an urgent problem affecting every level of government as well as citizen trust in government; and

WHEREAS, Communications interoperability is also recognized as a vital element of effective day-to-day public safety services; and

WHEREAS, Interoperable communications is required in the management of a variety of incidents, ranging from Amber alerts to hurricanes, that typically require a response from multi-agency task forces; and

WHEREAS, When multiple first-responder organizations convene at an incident scene, their radios are frequently incompatible because they operate over different frequencies and use different technologies; and

WHEREAS, Public safety agencies have tried many approaches to improve interoperability in communications, including swapping radios, mutual-aid channels, and gateways that bridge 2 or more radio systems; and

WHEREAS, All of these approaches provide some benefit, but none completely solves the inherent limitations of radio communications; and

WHEREAS, It is necessary for local governments in Illinois to be able to communicate with one another, especially in the case of an emergency; and

WHEREAS, Local officials in Illinois appreciate the funding that will be awarded to areas around the State of Illinois in the coming months for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois Congressional Delegation to support an increase in funding for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program the next time this program comes up for renewal; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, the Governor of Illinois, and the Chairman of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force.