Matthew S. Evans, Jeff Rominger Act Receives Nod of Approval by Full Senate

SB 1030 would build 800 MHZ Statewide Emergency Communication System

Five years ago, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Matthew S. Evans and Oklahoma City Police Officer Jeff Rominger were killed after their cars collided during a police pursuit. Today, a bill authored by State Senator Kenneth Corn to equip Oklahoma with an 800 MHZ statewide emergency communication system to prevent this type of tragedy from striking again won the approval of the full Senate on a bi-partisan majority vote.

“The tragedy of the loss of these two honorable public servants revealed that Oklahoma had a great need to implement a statewide emergency communication system,” Corn said. “If there had been a system in place that would have allowed local, state and federal agencies to communicate with each other, these two men might still be alive today.”

Corn, a Democrat from Poteau, said Senate Bill 1030, also known as the Matthew S. Evans, Jeff Rominger Act will provide the necessary funds to build a 800 MHZ statewide emergency communication system that will allow local, state and federal agencies to communicate directly with each other rather than through dispatchers. The bill is a key plank in the Senate Democrats legislative agenda to “create a safer Oklahoma.”

“It is out moral duty to keep our citizens safe,” Corn said. “I believe SB 1030 will help create a safer Oklahoma for Oklahoma families.”

The Senator also said this upgraded technology will give Oklahoma emergency response agencies the ability to coordinate a faster response during crisis situations including natural disasters and acts of terrorism. He said in recent weeks, Oklahoma fire fighters have battled wildfires throughout the state without the ability to communicate with each other—often times causing confusion for those coordinating and fighting the wildfires that have burned thousands of acres of ranch land.

“Oklahomans are all too familiar with the tragedy that comes from both natural disasters and terrorism,” Corn said. “In emergency situations like these, speed saves lives."

Senator Corn said the need for a better communication system for emergency workers for different levels of government was made even greater on a national level last year during the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when local, state and federal agencies were unable to communicate effectively.

“Oklahoma communities and Oklahoma families should never be left behind when tragedy strikes,” Corn said. “The State of Oklahoma needs to be responsible to the citizens of this great state and that is why I believe it is imperative that we invest in this new technology.”

Corn also said eventually the entire nation will be on an 800 MHZ system and recently, the federal 911 Commission said building these statewide emergency communication systems should be top priority for homeland security officials throughout the nation.

“The communication system that will be built as a result of the passage of SB 1030 will make Oklahoma a leader across the country in the implementation of this technology,” the Senator said.

Corn pointed out that Oklahoma should take the lead in becoming one of the first states in the nation to implement this life saving communication system.

“Oklahoma communities and families deserve the safety this statewide communications system will bring,” he said. “By passing this bill today we are doing our part to help create a safer Oklahoma.”