77th Legislative Session _ 2002

Committee: Senate Appropriations
Thursday, February 07, 2002

                                            P - Present
                                            E - Excused
                                            A - Absent

Roll Call
P    Putnam, Vice-Chair
P    Madden
P    Kleven
P    Greenfield
P    Apa
P    Duxbury
P    Dennert
P    Drake, Chair
P    Cradduck

OTHERS PRESENT: See Original Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Co-Chair Richter

The meeting was held jointly with House Appropriations

STATE RADIO SYSTEM
BUREAU OF INFORMATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Mr. Dale Bertsch, LRC, was in attendance at the meeting.

Mr. William Janklow, Governor, State of South Dakota, presented a brief of the State Radio System (Document #1and #2) Mr. Jeff Pierce, State Radio Manager, Bureau of Information and Telecommunications assisted in the presentation. Synopsis: The State of South Dakota is building a radio communication system that allows radio users from all federal, state, and local levels of government in South Dakota_any place, any time and with existing radio systems_to communicate in the interest of public safety. This state-of-the-art system allows radio services to follow radios anywhere in South Dakota.

Governor Bill Janklow saw the critical need to solve the dilemma of different agencies that could

not talk when needed most_whether passing on the road, during an emergency (such as the Spencer tornado) or fighting fires (such as the Jasper fire).

Governor Janlow said the South Dakota Legislature in the 1999 session approved House Bill 1292, which was signed by the governor into law. It directed eight State agencies to integrate their telecommunications functions and facilities into a single cohesive network. An Internet link to South Dakota Codified Law 34-45-33 appears under the additional resources section of this issue brief.

Governor Janklow found funding through a $7,000,000 COPS grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, a $4,000,000 appropriation from the 2001 legislative session, another $3,991,200 COPS grant, a $1,156,000 Highway Safety grant and $1,431,354 in state agency funding allowed Governor Janklow to begin the process of creating a modern radio system that will be available to all levels of government. These funds are being used to buy the radio system infrastructure, mobile and portable radios for state government agencies and mobile radios for local public safety agencies. Radios will be given out based on the December 2000 survey results.

Representative Adelstein asked about the money that was rat holed. Governor Janklow told the committee that the money was not spent.

Representative Richter asked for expenditures of the funds. Governor Janklow said these are federal funds. The Legislature gives expenditure authority.

Senator Duxbury asked about some of the money which the State does not receive until the funds are ready to be spent. Governor Janklow said that was correct. The State cannot get interest on the funds. There are time lines and the State could lose the money if the money is not spent.

Governor Janklow told the committee after a lengthy evaluation process, a Motorola VHF (150 Mhz) digital trunked system was chosen as the best fit for South Dakota based upon the following criteria: it was compatible with 73 percent of existing local mobiles in the state and all federal users, it had direct compatibility with federal users which meets Federal 2005 mandate to be on VHF, there are no usage fees for local agency use, many radio dealers are in the state, and it uses existing state and federal facilities (towers, buildings, etc.).

The communities in South Dakota benefit with a VHF digital, trunked network by getting improved federal-state-local communications, improved emergency response, standardized communications, modern communications facilities and data communications.

Governor Janklow said that in a trunked radio system, there are no dedicated channels for any one user. The channels at all sites are available for use by all users and are linked together by a control computer located in Pierre. With all radio sites (at various towers) across the state linked together through the central controller in Pierre, radio users have access to the system anywhere in the state. Radio users can communicate across the state simply by speaking into the microphone, just like the

public telephone system.

Governor Janklow said the radio system and network will be supported by the State of South Dakota via the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications' (BIT) State Radio group. The State will maintain the towers, repeater equipment, central controller and transport equipment. Local users will be responsible for maintenance and repair of the mobiles and portables in use by those agencies and any related control equipment (console/dispatch) used.

Senator Duxbury asked if there are all new towers for the state radio system. Governor Janklow said no and that some are using electronic towers. There is a tower being built in Minnehaha County with the discontinued use of the Hetland tower. The cost of the new towers is covered by CSBG grant money.

Senator Apa asked if state and local governments are going to maintain the towers. Governor Janklow told the committee that the State will maintain the towers.

End of meeting for State Radio

TECHNOLOGY

Mr. Dale Bertsch, LRC, was in attendance at the meeting.

Governor William Janklow presented information on technology expenditures through FY2002 to the committee.

The total additional funds spent on education is $72,377,905 which includes: wiring the schools is $13,043,662, connecting the schools is $43,278,957, and the TTL's is $16,055,286. The total funds spent per ADM is $574.

The FY2003 Governor's total proposed budget is $20,401,400 which includes: connecting the schools is $9,439,055 and TTL's is $10,962,345.

Senator Dennert asked about the $4,332,312 in the TY2003 budget summary. Governor Janklow said that it is federal revenue. This is Goals 2000 funds appropriated for teaching of teachers

Senator Duxbury asked about the system's slow response during the teacher training academies. Governor Janklow said that during the summertime TTL's, there is no way to get the latest technology up and running in one month. This summer's academies will have updated servers. When the session has ended, the newest technology will be distributed to the South Dakota public universities and technical schools.

Representative Lange asked about the FY1998 Transfer of $5,000,000. Representative Richter

responded that this is accumulated money appropriated by the Appropriations Committee at the end of the year. Governor Janklow told the committee that anything left over in the Education Fund would be spent on education.???

Senator Drake asked about the $4,332,312 included in the revenues. Governor Janklow said the $4,332,312 is federal monies and will not be in this FY2003 budget.

Representative Klaudt asked about the $16,000,000 spent on the TTL's and asked if the request for the FY2003 one-time money of $10,962,345 is a shot gun approach. Governor Janklow said that South Dakota is doing a state-of-the-art approach to technology. South Dakota is ahead of the game in technology. We have 40 percent of South Dakota kteachers trained in technology.

Senator Dennert asked about the Colombia Fire Department's on-going cost for the radio system. Governor Janklow responded that there will not be an on-going cost to the fire department for the radio system.

MOTION:     ADJOURN

Moved by:    Adelstein
Second by:    Sutton
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

Carol Carney

____________________________

Committee Secretary
Bob Drake, Chair


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