Oklahoma
State Senate
Senator Kenneth Corn
Majority Caucus Chairman
Senate District 4
Le Flore and Sequoyah Counties
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For Immediate Release: February 22, 2006
Senator Kenneth Corn
Matthew S. Evans, Jeff Rominger Act Receives Nod of
Approval by Senate Panel
Senate Bill 1030 aimed at building
an 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 passed out
of the Senate Appropriations Committee on a bi-partisan
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 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.
“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 just the past week, 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 that just this week, 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.”
For
more information contact:
Senator Corn's Office - (405) 521-5576
