SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2014 SESSION

  • | print version

HB 310 First informer broadcaster; access to station in state emergency area to disseminate news.

Introduced by: L. Scott Lingamfelter | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

First informer broadcaster. Provides that state and local governmental agencies shall grant first informer broadcasters access to their broadcasting station or television system within an area declared a state of emergency area by the Governor for the purpose of provision of news, public service and public safety information, and repairing or resupplying their facility or equipment. A first informer is defined as the critical personnel of a radio or television broadcast station engaged in (i) the process of broadcasting; (ii) the maintenance or repair of broadcast station equipment, transmitters, and generators; or (iii) the transportation of fuel for generators of broadcast stations.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

First informer broadcaster. Provides that state and local governmental agencies shall grant first informer broadcasters access to their broadcasting station or television system within an area declared a state of emergency area by the Governor for the purpose of provision of news, public service and public safety information, and repairing or resupplying their facility or equipment. A first informer is defined as the critical radio, television, or cable television personnel of a radio or television broadcast station or cable television system engaged in (i) the process of broadcasting or cablecasting; (ii) the maintenance or repair of broadcast station or cable system equipment, transmitters, and generators; or (iii) the transportation of fuel for generators of broadcast stations or cable systems.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

First informer broadcaster. Provides that state and local governmental agencies shall grant first informer broadcasters access to an area affected by a disaster, emergency, or major disaster for the purposes of (i) disseminating news and public service and public safety information concerning the disaster, emergency, or major disaster and (ii) repairing, maintaining, or resupplying any facility necessary to the ability of the first informer broadcaster to acquire, produce, and transmit such news and information, unless granting such access would endanger public safety or inhibit recovery efforts or is otherwise inconsistent with state or federal law. The Department of Emergency Management shall, in cooperation with representatives of broadcasters, develop a comprehensive plan for the dissemination of such news and information in the event of a disaster, emergency, or major disaster that includes the minimum training requirements for a first informer broadcaster. A first informer broadcast is defined as a radio broadcast station or a television broadcast station, cable television system, wireless-cable multipoint distribution system, satellite company, or telephone company transmitting video programming that disseminates news and public service and public safety information in the Commonwealth that has met the training requirement and has been certified by the Department.