By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate,
No. 1418) of Bruce E. Tarr, Richard R. Tisei, Michael R.
Knapik, Robert L. Hedlund and other members of the General
Court for legislation to promote regional security in the
Commonwealth. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. The General Laws are hereby amended by adding the following new Chapter:
Chapter 35A Regional Dispatch Agreements
Section 1. Two or more municipalities may, through a majority vote of the local appropriating authority, enter into an agreement for the establishment and provision of regional dispatch and coordination of emergency services including but not limited to police and fire protection and emergency medical services provided that said agreement
a) is consistent with the applicable charter, by-laws and/or ordinances of each municipality which is a party to the agreement
b) shall endure for a period of not less than five years
c) includes, at a minimum, requirements for the delivery service in each community and performance standards by which the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of service in each community shall be evaluated
d) contains the cost of implementing the system of regional dispatch and maintaining said system, together with any projected cost savings and other benefits to be derived from its creation and operation
e) contains any plans or procedures necessary to ensure the reliability of the system of regional dispatch
f) Contains one or more mechanisms for reporting the status, performance, costs and other factors pertaining to the regional dispatch system to each municipality which is a party to the agreement
g) Contains a mechanism for a member community to join the agreement, or to remove itself from the agreement following the required three-year commitment.
Section 2. A regional dispatch agreement may establish an independent governing utility, which shall be subject to the relevant provisions of the general laws governing municipalities with regard to procurement, authority contract, liability and expenditures. Any such entity shall be governed by a board of directors which shall consist, at a minimum, of one member designated by each municipality which is a party to the agreement whom shall have expertise in the provision of emergency services and communications.
a) Any such regional dispatch entity may establish a name, and create and utilize a seal or logo bearing that name.
b) Any such regional dispatch entity shall prepare and submit a budget to each member municipality.
