Rhodesia Ransom

(1) Existing law, the Warren-9-1-1-Emergency Assistance Act, establishes the State 911 Advisory Board (board) to advise the Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) on specified subjects relating to the state's 911 emergency telephone response system, including the policies, practices, and procedures for the California 911 Emergency Communications Office (office) . Existing law provides that the board consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor, including the Chief of the Public Safety Communications Division, who serves as the nonvoting chair.

Existing law establishes the Department of Technology within the Government Operations Agency. Existing law requires the department to conduct, in coordination with other interagency bodies as it deems appropriate, a comprehensive inventory of specified automated decision systems that have been proposed for use, development, or procurement by, or are being used, developed, or procured by, any state agency.

This bill would rename the board as the State 911 Advisory Board. The bill would revise the board membership by adding a representative from the Department of Technology and making the Chief of the Public Safety Communications Division a nonvoting member of the board rather than the chair. The bill would grant the Department of Technology oversight authority over the office for specified purposes, including the policies, practices, and procedures for the office. The bill would also authorize the board to hire independent experts for its advisory or oversight purposes, as provided.

(2) Existing law requires CalOES to develop a plan and timeline for the testing, implementation, and operation of a Next Generation 911 emergency communication system throughout the state, as provided.

This bill would require CalOES, by specified dates, to submit a quarterly report to the Legislature regarding the development and implementation of the Next Generation 911 system. The bill would require the report to include specified information, including progress toward, and major challenges facing, the statewide development and implementation of the system. The bill would prohibit CalOES from awarding a contract, or issuing a request for proposal for a contract, for a Next Generation 911 system unless specified conditions are met.

(3) Existing law establishes the California State Auditor's Office, headed by the California State Auditor, to conduct performance audits as mandated by statute, as provided.

This bill would require the California State Auditor to conduct an audit, beginning no later than September 1, 2026, of the implementation of the Next Generation 911 system by CalOES, and would specify certain evaluations, including the office's current and prior vetting processes for vendor qualifications. The bill would authorize the California State Auditor to contract with technical experts to complete the audit, and require CalOES to report its findings to specified entities.

(4) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.