[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2746 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2746

 To establish a Federal Liaison on Homeland Security in each State, to 
 provide coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and 
       State and local first responders, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 17, 2002

  Mr. Feingold (for himself and Ms. Collins) introduced the following 
      bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                          Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a Federal Liaison on Homeland Security in each State, to 
 provide coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and 
       State and local first responders, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``First Responders Support Act of 
2002''.

SEC. 2. HOMELAND SECURITY LIAISON OFFICERS.

    (a) Chief Homeland Security Liaison Officer.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
        appoint a Chief Homeland Security Liaison Officer to coordinate 
        the activities of the Homeland Security Liaison Officers, 
        designated under subsection (b).
            (2) Annual report.--The Chief Homeland Security Liaison 
        Officer shall prepare an annual report, that contains--
                    (A) a description of the State and local priorities 
                in each of the 50 States based on discovered needs of 
                first responder organizations, including law 
                enforcement agencies, fire and rescue agencies, medical 
                providers, emergency service providers, and relief 
                agencies;
                    (B) a needs assessment that identifies homeland 
                security functions in which the Federal role is 
                duplicative of the State or local role, and 
                recommendations to decrease or eliminate inefficiencies 
                between the Federal Government and State and local 
                entities;
                    (C) recommendations to Congress regarding the 
                creation, expansion, or elimination of any program to 
                assist State and local entities to carry out their 
                respective functions under the Department of Homeland 
                Security; and
                    (D) proposals to increase the coordination of 
                Department of Homeland Security priorities within each 
                State and between the States.
    (b) Homeland Security Liaison Officers.--
            (1) Designation.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
        designate in each State not less than 1 employee of the 
        Department of Homeland Security to--
                    (A) serve as the Homeland Security Liaison Officer 
                in that State; and
                    (B) provide coordination between the Department of 
                Homeland Security and State and local first responders, 
                including--
                            (i) law enforcement agencies;
                            (ii) fire and rescue agencies;
                            (iii) medical providers;
                            (iv) emergency service providers; and
                            (v) relief agencies.
            (2) Duties.--Each Homeland Security Liaison Officer 
        designated under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) ensure coordination between the Department of 
                Homeland Security and--
                            (i) State, local, and community-based law 
                        enforcement;
                            (ii) fire and rescue agencies; and
                            (iii) medical and emergency relief 
                        organizations;
                    (B) identify State and local areas requiring 
                additional information, training, resources, and 
                security;
                    (C) provide training, information, and education 
                regarding homeland security for State and local 
                entities;
                    (D) identify homeland security functions in which 
                the Federal role is duplicative of the State or local 
                role, and recommend ways to decrease or eliminate 
                inefficiencies;
                    (E) assist State and local entities in priority 
                setting based on discovered needs of first responder 
                organizations, including law enforcement agencies, fire 
                and rescue agencies, medical providers, emergency 
                service providers, and relief agencies;
                    (F) assist the Department of Homeland Security to 
                identify and implement State and local homeland 
                security objectives in an efficient and productive 
                manner; and
                    (G) serve as a liaison to the Department of 
                Homeland Security in representing State and local 
                priorities and concerns regarding homeland security.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON FIRST RESPONDERS.

    (a) In General.--There is established an Interagency Committee on 
First Responders, that shall--
            (1) ensure coordination among the Federal agencies involved 
        with--
                    (A) State, local, and community-based law 
                enforcement;
                    (B) fire and rescue operations; and
                    (C) medical and emergency relief services;
            (2) identify community-based law enforcement, fire and 
        rescue, and medical and emergency relief services needs;
            (3) recommend new or expanded grant programs to improve 
        community-based law enforcement, fire and rescue, and medical 
        and emergency relief services;
            (4) identify ways to streamline the process through which 
        Federal agencies support community-based law enforcement, fire 
        and rescue, and medical and emergency relief services; and
            (5) assist in priority setting based on discovered needs.
    (b) Membership.--The Interagency Committee on First Responders 
shall be composed of--
            (1) the Chief Homeland Security Liaison Officer of the 
        Department of Homeland Security;
            (2) a representative of the Health Resources and Services 
        Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services;
            (3) a representative of the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services;
            (4) a representative of the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency of the Department of Homeland Security;
            (5) a representative of the United States Coast Guard of 
        the Department of Homeland Security;
            (6) a representative of the Department of Defense;
            (7) a representative of the Office of Domestic Preparedness 
        of the Department of Homeland Security;
            (8) a representative of the Immigration and Naturalization 
        Service of the Department of Homeland Security;
            (9) a representative of the Transportation Security Agency 
        of the Department of Homeland Security;
            (10) a representative of the Federal Bureau of 
        Investigation of the Department of Justice; and
            (11) representatives of any other Federal agency identified 
        by the President as having a significant role in the purposes 
        of the Interagency Committee on First Responders.
    (c) Administration.--The Department of Homeland Security shall 
provide administrative support to the Interagency Committee on First 
Responders and the Advisory Council, which shall include--
            (1) scheduling meetings;
            (2) preparing agenda;
            (3) maintaining minutes and records;
            (4) producing reports; and
            (5) reimbursing Advisory Council members.
    (d) Leadership.--The members of the Interagency Committee on First 
Responders shall select annually a chairperson.
    (e) Meetings.--The Interagency Committee on First Responders shall 
meet--
            (1) at the call of the Chief Homeland Security Liaison 
        Officer of the Department of Homeland Security; or
            (2) not less frequently than once every 3 months.

SEC. 4. ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON FIRST 
              RESPONDERS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established an Advisory Council for 
the Federal Interagency Committee on First Responders (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Advisory Council'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Advisory Council shall be composed of 
        not more than 13 members, selected by the Interagency Committee 
        on First Responders.
            (2) Representation.--The Interagency Committee on First 
        Responders shall ensure that the membership of the Advisory 
        Council represents--
                    (A) the law enforcement community;
                    (B) fire and rescue organizations;
                    (C) medical and emergency relief services; and
                    (D) both urban and rural communities.
    (c) Chairperson.--The Advisory Council shall select annually a 
chairperson from among its members.
    (d) Compensation of Members.--The members of the Advisory Council 
shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for 
reimbursement of necessary expenses connected with their service to the 
Advisory Council.
    (e) Meetings.--The Advisory Council shall meet with the Interagency 
Committee on First Responders not less frequently than once every 3 
months.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
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