44-4-1605. Statewide public safety communications system advisory council -- duties and responsibilities. (1) The advisory council shall:

(a) advise the department concerning future development and sustainability of the statewide public safety communications system;

(b) provide recommendations to the department for the continued funding of the statewide public safety communications system;

(c) provide recommendations to the department concerning the establishment of potential rates and other charges for use of the statewide public safety communications system to sustain, expand, or both sustain and expand the system;

(d) advise the department in the development of statewide public safety communications system standards and policies; and

(e) advise the department on significant matters concerning statewide public safety communications system services in the state of Montana, including rulemaking in accordance with 44-4-1609.

(2) The advisory council shall review the operations and funding of the statewide public safety communications system in Montana to ensure:

(a) efficient spending of public funds;

(b) statewide standards for use and access of the public safety communications system;

(c) leveraging, when and where it has been deemed operationally suitable and economically advantageous, existing commercial communications infrastructure; and

(d) overall operational efficiency, while not unreasonably limiting system users in fulfilling their respective missions.