Rhode Island § 30-15-43 - Emergency Management

§ 30-15-43. Statewide interoperable communications system.

The Rhode Island emergency management agency is hereby authorized and empowered to provide for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a statewide interoperable communications system for the purpose of promptly collecting, exchanging, disseminating, and distributing information relating to police, fire, first responder, and first-receiving health care facilities of the state. The system is to be installed, operated, and maintained in such cities and towns and entities as have organized systems and may connect directly or indirectly with similar systems in other states in accordance with rules and regulations as promulgated by the Rhode Island emergency management agency. These rules and regulations shall be reviewed and revised from time to time by the interoperable communications committee as established in § 30-15-42. The Rhode Island emergency management agency is authorized to provide, for the location of the receiving system sites and to employ the necessary personnel for its operation. The system shall be called the Rhode Island statewide communications network (RISCON). The state departments and agencies and the cities and towns are authorized to provide through federal funding when available and general revenue when allocated, within the appropriations provided by law, for the location of equipment and for the personnel and supplies for their proper operation. The character of communication sent, and the time, place, and manner of sending messages, and all matters in connection with the RISCON system, shall be under the control and management of the executive director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency.