ST. PAUL, MN – Legislation authored by Rep. Jeff Backer, R-Browns Valley, that provides grant funding to local units of government to upgrade emergency services communications was approved by the House Public Safety and Finance Committee earlier today. House File 1075 would appropriate funding from the state fiscal recovery federal fund to award grants through the Department of Public Safety Emergency Communication Networks in consultation with the Statewide Radio Board to local governments, Tribal governments, and state agencies to purchase or upgrade portable radios, mobile radios, and related equipment that is interoperable with the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) system.
“I appreciate the bipartisan support from the House Public Safety Committee during today’s hearing as this bill will provide the resources local emergency services providers need to keep us safe,” said Backer. “Moving forward, I will continue advocating for commonsense legislation that supports law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services in our area and around Minnesota.”
Minnesota has a statewide public safety radio communication system that consists of a shared, trunked, communication, and interoperability infrastructure network called the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response or ARMER system. The Statewide Radio Board is the entity tasked with implementing the statewide shared radio and communications systems implementation. Implementation of the system includes radio towers and other physical structures and equipment, including portable radios that operate on the system.
A 2022, survey by the Department of Public Safety showed that over 60 percent of respondents indicated that they were operating on first or second generation ARMER systems radios, which have not been supported by Motorola since December 2019.
###