[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 45 Introduced in Senate (IS)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 45

     To make changes to the Office for State and Local Government 
             Coordination, Department of Homeland Security.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 7, 2003

  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 make changes to the Office for State and Local Government 
             Coordination, Department of Homeland Security.

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

SECTION 1. OFFICE FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COORDINATION.

    Section 801 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``to oversee'' and 
        inserting ``to be headed by a director, which shall oversee'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) 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; and
                    ``(D) proposals to increase the coordination of 
                Department priorities within each State and between the 
                States.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Homeland Security Liaison Officers.--
            ``(1) Designation.--The Secretary shall designate in each 
        State and the District of Columbia not less than 1 employee of 
        the Department to serve as the Homeland Security Liaison 
        Officer in that State or District.
            ``(2) Duties.--Each Homeland Security Liaison Officer 
        designated under paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) provide State and local government officials 
                with regular information, research, and technical 
                support to assist local efforts at securing the 
                homeland;
                    ``(B) provide coordination between the Department 
                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;
                    ``(C) notify the Department of the State and local 
                areas requiring additional information, training, 
                resources, and security;
                    ``(D) provide training, information, and education 
                regarding homeland security for State and local 
                entities;
                    ``(E) 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;
                    ``(F) 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;
                    ``(G) assist the Department to identify and 
                implement State and local homeland security objectives 
                in an efficient and productive manner;
                    ``(H) serve as a liaison to the Department in 
                representing State and local priorities and concerns 
                regarding homeland security;
                    ``(I) consult with State and local government 
                officials, including emergency managers, to coordinate 
                efforts and avoid duplication; and
                    ``(J) coordinate with Homeland Security Liaison 
                Officers in neighboring States to--
                            ``(i) address shared vulnerabilities; and
                            ``(ii) identify opportunities to achieve 
                        efficiencies through interstate activities.
    ``(d) Federal Interagency Committee on First Responders and State, 
Local, and Cross-Jurisdictional Issues.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established an Interagency 
        Committee on First Responders and State, Local, and Cross-
        jurisdictional Issues (in this section referred to as the 
        ``Interagency Committee''), that shall--
                    ``(A) ensure coordination, with respect to homeland 
                security functions, among the Federal agencies involved 
                with--
                            ``(i) State, local, and regional 
                        governments;
                            ``(ii) State, local, and community-based 
                        law enforcement;
                            ``(iii) fire and rescue operations; and
                            ``(iv) medical and emergency relief 
                        services;
                    ``(B) identify community-based law enforcement, 
                fire and rescue, and medical and emergency relief 
                services needs;
                    ``(C) recommend new or expanded grant programs to 
                improve community-based law enforcement, fire and 
                rescue, and medical and emergency relief services;
                    ``(D) 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
                    ``(E) assist in priority setting based on 
                discovered needs.
            ``(2) Membership.--The Interagency Committee shall be 
        composed of--
                    ``(A) a representative of the Office for State and 
                Local Government Coordination;
                    ``(B) a representative of the Health Resources and 
                Services Administration of the Department of Health and 
                Human Services;
                    ``(C) a representative of the Centers for Disease 
                Control and Prevention of the Department of Health and 
                Human Services;
                    ``(D) a representative of the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency of the Department;
                    ``(E) a representative of the United States Coast 
                Guard of the Department;
                    ``(F) a representative of the Department of 
                Defense;
                    ``(G) a representative of the Office of Domestic 
                Preparedness of the Department;
                    ``(H) a representative of the Directorate of 
                Immigration Affairs of the Department;
                    ``(I) a representative of the Transportation 
                Security Agency of the Department;
                    ``(J) a representative of the Federal Bureau of 
                Investigation of the Department of Justice; and
                    ``(K) representatives of any other Federal agency 
                identified by the President as having a significant 
                role in the purposes of the Interagency Committee.
            ``(3) Administration.--The Department shall provide 
        administrative support to the Interagency Committee and the 
        Advisory Council, which shall include--
                    ``(A) scheduling meetings;
                    ``(B) preparing agenda;
                    ``(C) maintaining minutes and records;
                    ``(D) producing reports; and
                    ``(E) reimbursing Advisory Council members.
            ``(4) Leadership.--The members of the Interagency Committee 
        shall select annually a chairperson.
            ``(5) Meetings.--The Interagency Committee shall meet--
                    ``(A) at the call of the Secretary; or
                    ``(B) not less frequently than once every 3 months.
    ``(e) Advisory Council for the Interagency Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established an Advisory 
        Council for the Interagency Committee (in this section referred 
        to as the ``Advisory Council'').
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Advisory Council shall be 
                composed of not more than 13 members, selected by the 
                Interagency Committee.
                    ``(B) Duties.--The Advisory Council shall--
                            ``(i) develop a plan to disseminate 
                        information on first response best practices;
                            ``(ii) identify and educate the Secretary 
                        on the latest technological advances in the 
                        field of first response;
                            ``(iii) identify probable emerging threats 
                        to first responders;
                            ``(iv) identify needed improvements to 
                        first response techniques and training;
                            ``(v) identify efficient means of 
                        communication and coordination between first 
                        responders and Federal, State, and local 
                        officials;
                            ``(vi) identify areas in which the 
                        Department can assist first responders; and
                            ``(vii) evaluate the adequacy and 
                        timeliness of resources being made available to 
                        local first responders.
                    ``(C) Representation.--The Interagency Committee 
                shall ensure that the membership of the Advisory 
                Council represents--
                            ``(i) the law enforcement community;
                            ``(ii) fire and rescue organizations;
                            ``(iii) medical and emergency relief 
                        services; and
                            ``(iv) both urban and rural communities.
            ``(3) Chairperson.--The Advisory Council shall select 
        annually a chairperson from among its members.
            ``(4) 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.
            ``(5) Meetings.--The Advisory Council shall meet with the 
        Interagency Committee not less frequently than once every 3 
        months.''.
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