Cost dispute casts shadow in debate over police radio encryption bill

The Almanac News and the Palo Alto Weekly
By Gennady Sheyner

The fate of a state bill that would require police departments throughout California to remove encryption from their radio communications remained uncertain Wednesday after the Assembly Appropriations Committee deferred a decision on the contentious proposal.

Senate Bill 1000, authored by state Sen. Josh Becker, was one of dozens of legislative proposals that the powerful committee placed in its "suspense file," a list of bills that are projected to have a financial impact and that will be evaluated later in the legislative process. The bill had already been approved by the state Senate in May and the Appropriation Committee represents its last — and steepest — hurdle for the legislation.

The financial impact of Becker's bill remains heavily disputed, with proponents arguing that it would be relatively inexpensive to adopt policies that increase public access while retaining encryption for most communication and opponents arguing that it would cost millions of dollars to achieve compliance. The debate over costs and implementation is expected to be a key issue in determining whether the bill makes it out of the suspense file.

SB 1000 gives public agencies a menu of options for complying. These include using an encrypted channel to exchange confidential and personal information while leaving other communications accessible; transmitting confidential information through a mobile data terminal, tablet or other text display device; or using a telephone to share such information.

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