Sec. 01.01.2008.07. The Maryland Statewide Communications Interoperability Program

A. Maryland Statewide Communications Interoperability Program. There is a Maryland Statewide Communications Interoperability Program (MSCIP) to strengthen public safety communications interoperability throughout the State.

B. State Interoperability Director.

(1) There is a State Interoperability Director.

(2) The Director shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.

(3) The Director shall report to, and be supervised by, the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

C. Program Management Office.

(1) There is a Program Management Office (PMO), which shall be managed and supervised by the State Interoperability Director.

(2) The PMO shall direct, coordinate, and implement MSCIP.

(3) The PMO is responsible for projects to improve public safety communications systems within the State. Projects shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) The statewide 700 MHz radio communications system;

(b) The Computer Aided Dispatch/Records Management System (CAD/RMS); and

(c) The Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) coordination/integration system.

D. Staffing.

(1) The PMO shall consist of professional staff appointed by the Director, including but not limited to a Deputy Director.

(2) The PMO also may be staffed by employee representatives of State agencies.

(3) The PMO may consult with outside experts, including but not limited to, experts in the private sector, organized labor, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and institutions of higher education.

E. Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee.

(1) There is a Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC).

(2) The purpose of the SIEC is to provide policy-level advice regarding public safety communications interoperability, and to promote the efficient and effective use of resources for matters related to public safety communications and interoperability.

F. Membership.

(1) The SIEC consists of up to 34 members, who shall be appointed as follows.

(2) Each of the following entities may nominate, as a member of the SIEC, a senior elected official or officer of the entity who has a knowledge and interest in public safety communications. Such members shall be appointed by the Governor and serve at the pleasure of the Governor for up to two consecutive 2-year terms:

(a) The Maryland State Firemen's Association;

(b) The Maryland Metro Fire Chiefs Association;

(c) The Maryland Sheriffs Association;

(d) The Maryland Chiefs of Police Association;

(e) The Maryland Fraternal Order of Police;

(f) The Professional Firefighters of Maryland;

(g) The State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance (SLEOLA);

(h) The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees of Maryland (AFSCME Maryland);

(i) The Maryland Municipal League (MML); and

(j) The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo).

(3) The Governor shall appoint, as a member of the SIEC, an appointed or elected public official from each of the following geographic areas who has a knowledge and interest in public safety communications. Such members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor for up to two consecutive 2-year terms:

(a) The western Maryland region;

(b) The eastern Maryland region;

(c) The southern Maryland region;

(d) The National Capital Region (NCR); and

(e) The north central Maryland region.

(4) Each of the following State officials, or a senior staff member designated by the official, is a member of the SIEC:

(a) The Executive Director of Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS);

(b) The State Interoperability Director;

(c) The Maryland State Chief of Information Technology (CIT);

(d) The Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP);

(e) The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT);

(f) The Adjutant General of the State of Maryland;

(g) The Director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA);

(h) The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS);

(i) The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR); and

(j) The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

(5) A representative of the Office of the Governor shall be designated by the Governor to serve as a member of the SIEC.

(6) One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. The member shall serve at the pleasure of the President for up to two consecutive 2-year terms.

(7) One member of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker. The member shall serve at the pleasure of the Speaker for up to two consecutive 2-year terms.

(8) The Governor may appoint up to 6 additional members. Such members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor for up to two consecutive 2-year terms.

G. The Chair and the Vice-Chair.

(1) The Chair of the SIEC shall be designated by the Governor from among the members of the SIEC. The initial Chair is the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. The Chair serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

(2) The Chair shall designate the Vice-Chair from among the members of the SIEC. The Vice-Chair serves at the pleasure of the Chair.

H. Meetings. The SIEC shall meet at the call of the Chair. It shall meet at least bi-annually.

I. Procedures.

(1) The SIEC and its work groups and subcommittees shall endeavor to make decisions by consensus.

(2) A majority of the SIEC or any work group or subcommittee of the SIEC, as applicable, constitutes a quorum for the transaction of any business.

(3) The SIEC may adopt any procedures and by-laws as necessary to ensure the orderly transaction of business.

J. Operational Support. The State agencies represented on the SIEC shall provide needed administrative and operational support to the SIEC.

K. Duties. The SIEC shall:

(1) Develop, promote, and facilitate a Statewide vision for interoperable communications;

(2) Recommend and promote standards for public safety communications;

(3) Promote cooperation among State, federal, and local public safety agencies in addressing Statewide communications interoperability needs;

(4) Recommend priorities for statewide interoperability funding;

(5) Assist in the development of projects, plans, policies, standards, priorities and guidelines for both voice and data interoperability;

(6) Review and identify wireless spectrum needs, with a goal of accommodating all users;

(7) In cooperation with the PMO, provide advice on the development of a Statewide interoperable radio and data communications system;

(8) Identify and promote the best practices of other states and localities;

(9) Serve as a central coordination point for local, State, regional, and national interoperability matters;

(10) Provide recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning issues related to public safety communications;

(11) Approve, and update (as frequently as needed and at least annually), Maryland's Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP); and

(12) Perform any other duties that may be requested by the Governor.

L. Work Groups and Subcommittees. The SIEC may designate work groups and subcommittees consistent with the needs of the SIEC, including, but not limited to:

(1) A Practitioner Steering Committee (PSC), which is a work group that:

(a) Consists of a senior communications and data practitioner from each entity, geographic region, and State agency that is represented on the SIEC;

(b) Is chaired by the State Interoperability Director, with a Vice Chair selected by the Chair; and

(c) Advises and supports the SIEC in carrying out its duties.

(2) Regional subcommittees representing counties and municipalities located in the eastern, western, north central, southern and National Capital Region portions of Maryland;

(3) A Technical Subcommittee, which shall report to the PSC;

(4) An Operations Subcommittee, which shall report to the PSC; and

(5) An Administrative Subcommittee, which shall report to the PSC.

M. Public Participation and Consultation. The SIEC and any of its work groups or subcommittees may:

(1) Make inquiries, perform studies, hold hearings, and receive comments from the public;

(2) Designate as liaisons to the SIEC or its subcommittees or work groups individuals from groups representing public safety communications and data users that do not have formal representation on the SIEC; and

(3) Consult with outside experts, including but not limited to, experts in the private sector, organized labor, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and institutions of higher education.

N. Expenses. Members of the SIEC and its subcommittees and work groups shall serve without compensation for their services, but they may receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations and as provided in the State budget.

O. Prior Committees. The SIEC created under this order replaces the present Governance Working Group (GWG) and the prior SIEC.

P. Cooperation of State Agencies. All State departments, agencies, commissions, and boards are directed to cooperate with the PMO and the SIEC in implementing the provisions of this Executive Order.

Effective date: July 10, 2008 (35:16 Md. R. 1385)