(a) No later than six months after securing funding for the purposes of this section, the Director of Emergency Services shall convene a working group for the purpose of assessing existing and future technologies available in the public and private sectors for the expansion of transmission of emergency alerts to the public through a public-private partnership. The working group shall advise the secretary and assist in the development of policies, procedures, and protocols that will lay the framework for an improved warning system for the public.

(b) (1) The working group shall consist of the following membership, to be appointed by the director:

(A) A representative of the Office of Emergency Services.

(B) A representative of the Attorney General’s office.

(C) A representative of the State Department of Public Health.

(D) A representative of the State Emergency Communications Committee.

(E) A representative of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, at the option of that agency.

(F) A representative or representatives of local government, at the option of the local government or governments.

(G) Representatives of the private sector who possess technology, experience, or insight that will aid in the development of a public-private partnership to expand an alert system to the public, including, but not limited to, representatives of providers of mass communication systems, first responders, and broadcasters.

(H) Additional representatives of any public or private entity as deemed appropriate by the director.

(2) In performing its duties, the working group shall consult with the Federal Communications Commission, and with respect to grants and fiscal matters, the Office of Emergency Services.

(c) The working group shall consider and make recommendations with respect to all of the following:

(1) Private and public programs, including pilot projects that attempt to integrate a public-private partnership to expand an alert system.

(2) Protocols, including formats, source or originator identification, threat severity, hazard description, and response requirements or recommendations, for alerts to be transmitted via an alert system that ensures that alerts are capable of being utilized across the broadest variety of communication technologies, at state and local levels.

(3) Protocols and guidelines to prioritize assurance of the greatest level of interoperability for first responders and families of first responders.

(4) Procedures for verifying, initiating, modifying, and canceling alerts transmitted via an alert system.

(5) Guidelines for the technical capabilities of an alert system.

(6) Guidelines for technical capability that provides for the priority transmission of alerts.

(7) Guidelines for other capabilities of an alert system.

(8) Standards for equipment and technologies used by an alert system.

(9) Cost estimates.

(10) Standards and protocols in accordance with, or in anticipation of, Federal Communications Commission requirements and federal statutes or regulations.

(11) Liability issues.

(d) The director may accept private monetary or in-kind donations for the purposes of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 163. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)