The bill mandates that public utilities must enter into pole attachment agreements with law enforcement agencies upon request. These agreements will allow law enforcement to attach, access, operate, maintain, or remove their equipment on utility poles located in the public right-of-way. The agreements must specify the utility poles involved, the nature of the law enforcement equipment, safety and security specifications, and the public utility's discretion regarding the work performed. Additionally, law enforcement agencies are required to indemnify the public utility against any liabilities arising from these agreements.
Furthermore, the bill stipulates that public utilities may charge reasonable fees to recover costs associated with the attachment and maintenance of law enforcement equipment, although they cannot charge for the space used for the attachment itself. Law enforcement agencies are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws and securing any necessary court orders. The bill also designates public utilities as instrumentalities of governmental entities under the Kansas tort claims act, providing them with certain liability protections.