Sec. E.209.1 PUBLIC SAFETY – VERMONT STATE POLICE; DISPATCH WORKING GROUP; TRANSITION PROPOSAL; REPORT
(a) Creation. The Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety shall convene a working group on the new regional dispatch model. The working group shall provide a written report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2022. The report shall include recommendations on:
(1) The long-term funding model for regional dispatch that fairly assesses costs statewide, does not unduly affect property taxes, and clearly identifies the potential impact on property taxes;
(2) The estimated timeline and transition funding needed as new regional dispatch centers come online and local dispatch services are transitioned away from State-operated facilities.
(3) Identify the reduction in workload that will result at the two Vermont State Policy dispatch centers from a fully operational regional dispatch model.
(b) Membership. The working group shall be composed of the following members:
(1) one representative of the Vermont State Police, selected by the Commissioner of Public Safety;
(2) two representatives of local legislative bodies, selected by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, one of which utilizes a State-dispatch center and one of which utilizes an existing regional or local dispatch center;
(3) one representative of an existing local or regional dispatch center, selected by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns;
(4) two police chiefs, selected by the Vermont Police Chiefs Association, one of whom utilizes a State-dispatch center and one of whom utilizes an existing regional or local dispatch center;
(5) one emergency medical responder, selected by the Vermont EMS Advisory Committee;
(6) one firefighter, selected by the Vermont State Firefighters Association;
(7) one sheriff, selected by the Vermont Sheriffs Association; and
(8) one representative of the Enhanced 911 Board, selected by the Board Chair.
(c) Powers and Duties. The working group shall:
(1) Consider and document how current dispatch services are provided statewide and the various methods of funding that exist to cover the cost of dispatch services. This shall include detail by town and or by emergency service provider. This analysis shall identify any funding inequities that exist
in the current system between those entities paying for services using local funds and those entities receiving dispatch services provide by the State without cost. The analysis of current costs and payments flows for dispatch services shall be compared to the projected costs and payment flows under the new regional dispatch model. This analysis shall also estimate how first responder entities dispatched though the new regional system may be financially impacted in the transition to the new regional system.
(2) Identify a transitional timeline and the tasks to be completed within that timeline for transitioning to the new regional dispatch model.
(3) Identify any State resources that may become available once the new dispatch system is fully operational and recommend if and how such resources should be distributed to equitably reduce local costs.
(4) Identify any other ongoing sources of statewide revenue to be dedicated to statewide emergency response communications to equitably reduce local costs.
(d) Meetings.
(1) The Commissioner of Public Safety or designee shall call the first meeting of the working group.
(2) The working group shall determine its chair from among the members of the working group.
(3) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
(e) Assistance. The working group shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Department of Public Safety.