Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8592. Section 8592.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the Public Safety Communication Act of 2002.
ARTICLE 6.2. Public Safety Communication Act of 2002 [8592. - 8592.9.]
Cal. Government Code - GOV 6.2.
in effectCal. Government Code - GOV § 8592.1. Section 8592.1.
For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a)
“Backward compatibility” means that the equipment is able to function with older, existing equipment.
(b)
“Committee” means the Public Safety Radio Strategic Planning Committee, that was established in December 1994 in recognition of the need to improve existing public radio systems and to develop interoperability among public safety departments and between state public safety departments and local or federal entities, and that consists of representatives of the following state entities:
(1)
The Office of Emergency Services, who shall
serve as chairperson.
(2)
The Department of the California Highway Patrol.
(3)
The Department of Transportation.
(4)
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
(5)
The Department of Parks and Recreation.
(6)
The Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(7)
The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
(8)
The Department of Justice.
(9)
The Department of Water Resources.
(10)
The State Department of Public Health.
(11)
The Emergency Medical Services Authority.
(12)
The Department of Technology.
(13)
The Military Department.
(14)
The Department of Finance.
(c)
“First response agencies” means public agencies that, in the early stages of an incident, are responsible for, among other things, the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence, and the environment, including, but not limited to, state fire agencies, state and local emergency medical services agencies, local sheriffs’ departments, municipal police departments, county and city fire departments, and police and fire protection districts.
(d)
“Nonproprietary equipment or
systems” means equipment or systems that are able to function with another manufacturer’s equipment or system regardless of type or design.
(e)
“Open architecture” means a system that can accommodate equipment from various vendors because it is not a proprietary system.
(f)
“Public safety radio subscriber” means the ultimate end user. Subscribers include individuals or organizations, including, for example, local police departments, fire departments, and other operators of a public safety radio system. Typical subscriber equipment includes end instruments, including mobile radios, hand-held radios, mobile repeaters, fixed repeaters, transmitters, or receivers that are interconnected to utilize assigned public safety communications frequencies.
(g)
“Public safety spectrum” means the spectrum allocated by the Federal
Communications Commission for operation of interoperable and general use radio communication systems for public safety purposes within the state.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8592.2. Section 8592.2.
(a)
The committee shall have primary responsibility in state government for both of the following:
(1)
Developing and implementing a statewide integrated public safety communication system that facilitates interoperability among state public safety departments listed in subdivision (b) of Section 8592.1 and other first response agencies, as the committee deems appropriate.
(2)
Coordinating other shared uses of the public safety spectrum consistent with decisions and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.
(b)
In order to facilitate effective use of the public safety spectrum, the committee shall consult with any regional planning committee or other federal, state, or local entity with responsibility for developing, operating, or monitoring interoperability of the public safety spectrum.
(c)
The committee shall meet at least twice a year, of which one meeting shall be a joint meeting with the California Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee to enhance coordination and cooperation at all organizational levels and a cohesive approach to communications interoperability.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8592.3. Section 8592.3.
(a)
The committee shall consult with the following organizations and entities:
(1)
California State Peace Officers Association.
(2)
California Police Chiefs Association.
(3)
California State Sheriffs’ Association.
(4)
California Professional Firefighters.
(5)
California Fire Chiefs Association.
(6)
California State Association of Counties.
(7)
League of California Cities.
(8)
California State Firefighters Association.
(9)
California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations.
(10)
California Correctional Peace Officers Association.
(11)
CDF Firefighters.
(12)
California Union of Safety Employees.
(b)
Each organization or entity listed in subdivision (a) may designate a representative to work with the committee to develop agreements for interoperability or other shared use of the public safety spectrum between the state public safety departments listed in subdivision (b) of Section 8592.1 and local or federal agencies that operate a communication system on the public safety spectrum and that have capacity and technical ability for interoperability or other shared use.
(c)
The committee shall develop a model memorandum of understanding that sets forth general terms for interoperability or other shared uses among jurisdictions, which may be modified as necessary for a particular agreement entered into pursuant to subdivision (b).
(d)
A local agency may not be required to adopt the model memorandum of understanding developed pursuant to subdivision (c).
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8592.4. Section 8592.4.
(a)
The committee shall determine which state public safety departments listed in subdivision (b) of Section 8592.1 need new or upgraded communication equipment and shall establish a program for equipment purchase. In establishing this program, the committee shall recommend the purchase of public safety radio subscriber equipment that will enable state agencies to commence conforming to industry and governmental standards for interoperability as set forth in Section 8592.5. As technology continues to evolve, the committee shall recommend the purchase of nonproprietary equipment or systems that have open architecture and backward compatibility, and that are in compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 8592.5.
(b)
The committee may recommend to any other federal, state, regional, or local entity with responsibility for developing, operating, or monitoring interoperability of the public safety spectrum, the purchase of public safety radio subscriber equipment that will enable first response agencies to commence conforming to industry and governmental standards for interoperability as set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 8592.5. As technology continues to evolve, the committee may recommend the purchase of nonproprietary equipment or systems that have open architecture and backward compatibility, and that are in compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 8592.5.
(c)
This section does not mandate that a state or local governmental agency affected by this section is required to compromise its immediate mission or ability to function and carry out its existing responsibilities.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8592.5. Section 8592.5.
(a)
Except as provided in subdivision (c), a state department that purchases public safety radio communication equipment shall ensure that the equipment purchased complies with applicable provisions of the following:
(1)
The common system standards for digital public safety radio communications commonly referred to as the “Project 25 Standard,” as that standard may be amended, revised, or added to in the future jointly by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, Inc., National Association of State Telecommunications Directors, and agencies of the federal government, commonly referred to as “APCO/NASTD/FED.”
(2)
The operational and functional
requirements delineated in the Statement of Requirements for Public Safety Wireless Communications and Interoperability developed by the SAFECOM Program under the United States Department of Homeland Security.
(b)
Except as provided in subdivision (c), a local first response agency that purchases public safety radio communication equipment, in whole or in part, with state funds or federal funds administered by the state, shall ensure that the equipment purchased complies with paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a).
(c)
Subdivision (a) or (b) shall not apply to either of the following:
(1)
Purchases of equipment to operate with existing state or local communications systems where the latest applicable standard will not be compatible, as verified by the Office of Emergency Services.
(2)
Purchases of equipment for existing statewide low-band public safety communications systems.
(d)
This section may not be construed to require an affected state or local governmental agency to compromise its immediate mission or ability to function and carry out its existing responsibilities.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8592.7. Section 8592.7.
(a)
A budget proposal submitted by a state agency for support of a new or modified radio system shall be accompanied by a technical project plan that includes all of the following:
(1)
The scope of the project.
(2)
Alternatives considered.
(3)
Justification for the proposed solution.
(4)
A project implementation plan.
(5)
A proposed timeline.
(6)
Estimated costs by fiscal year.
(b)
The committee shall review the plans submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) for consistency with the statewide integrated public safety communication strategic plan.
(c)
The Office of Emergency Services shall review the plans submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) for consistency with the technical requirements of the statewide integrated public safety communication strategic plan.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8592.8. Section 8592.8.
A “911” call, as described in Section 2896.1 of the Public Utilities Code, from a commercial mobile radio service telecommunications device may be routed to a public safety answering point other than the Department of the California Highway Patrol only if the alternate routing meets all of the following requirements:
(a)
The “911” call originates from a location other than from a freeway, as defined in Section 23.5 of the Streets and Highways Code, under the jurisdiction of the Department of the California Highway Patrol.
(b)
The alternate routing is economically and technologically feasible.
(c)
The alternate routing will benefit public safety.
(d)
The Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Office of Emergency Services, and the current or proposed alternate public safety answering point, in consultation with the wireless industry and local law enforcement officials, determine that it is in the best interest of the public, will provide more effective emergency service to the public to route “911” calls that do not originate from
a freeway, as defined in Section 23.5 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other area in which the Department of the California Highway Patrol has jurisdiction to respond, to another public safety answering point, and will result in “911” calls being routed to the responsible responding jurisdiction that covers the location of the call origination point.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 8592.9. Section 8592.9.
(a)
The Office of Emergency Services shall take all necessary actions to maximize the efficiency of the “911” system.
(b)
The office shall
require the Public Safety Communications Division to work with the Department of the California Highway Patrol and county coordinators to review call data on the routing of “911” cell phone traffic to assess whether wireless “911” calls should be routed to a local public safety answering point or a California Highway Patrol call center in order to determine the most efficient routing for wireless “911” calls, with a comprehensive statewide review and
routing decisionmaking process, both to be conducted annually.
(c)
After completion of the annual comprehensive statewide review and routing decisionmaking process, a local fire, police, sheriff,
or emergency medical services agency, or a local public safety answering point, may submit a written request for a review of a specific cell sector based on the criteria specified in Section 8592.8 to the Public Safety Communications Division within the Office of Emergency Services.
(d)
The office shall also require its Public Safety Communications Division to work with the wireless carriers to verify that all cell sector routing decisions made pursuant to
Section 8592.8 have been implemented.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026