§ 12-10-306 — Communications personnel

The staff and supervisors of a public safety answering point or dispatch center shall be: (1) (A) Paid employees, either sworn officers or civilians, of the operating agency designated by the chief executive of the political subdivisions. (B) Personnel other than law enforcement or fire officers shall be considered public safety officers for the purposes of public safety communications or engaging by contract with the operating agency; (2) Required to submit to criminal background checks for security clearances before accessing files available through the Arkansas Crime Information Center if the public safety answering point or dispatch center is charged with information service functions for criminal justice agencies of the political subdivision; (3) Trained in operation of 911 system equipment and other training as necessary to operate a public safety answering point or dispatch center, or both; (4) Subject to the authority of the affiliated agency and the chief executive of the political subdivision through the public safety answering point or dispatch center; and (5) (A) Required to immediately release without the consent or approval of any supervisor or other entity any information in their custody or control to a prosecuting attorney if requested by a subpoena issued by a prosecutor, grand jury, or any court for use in the prosecution or the investigation of any criminal or suspected criminal activity. (B) The staff or supervisor of a public safety answering point or dispatch center, or both, an operating agency, and the service supplier are not liable in any civil action as a result of complying with a subpoena as required in subdivision (5)(A) of this section.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 660,§ 3, eff. 7/24/2019. Acts 1985, No. 683, § 8; A.S.A. 1947, § 73-1829; Acts 2007, No. 651, § 1; 2009, No. 165, § 1.