[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5890 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5890

 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Community 
 Preparedness Division of the Department of Homeland Security and the 
             Citizen Corps Program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 24, 2008

 Mr. Cuellar (for himself, Mr. Dent, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. 
    Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Pascrell, Mrs. 
 Christensen, and Mr. Etheridge) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and 
 in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Community 
 Preparedness Division of the Department of Homeland Security and the 
             Citizen Corps Program, 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 ``Citizen and Community Preparedness 
Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS DIVISION.

    (a) Establishment of Community Preparedness Division.--The Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``TITLE XXI--DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO TERRORISM 
                         AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

``SEC. 2101. COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS DIVISION.

    ``(a) In General.--There is in the Department a Community 
Preparedness Division.
    ``(b) Director.--The Community Preparedness Division shall be 
headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Director of the Community Preparedness 
Division, shall have the primary responsibility within the Department 
for assisting the efforts of State, local, and tribal governments in 
preparing citizens in the United States for acts of terrorism and other 
emergencies, including primary responsibility for each of the 
following:
            ``(1) Administration of the Citizen Corps Program under 
        section 2102.
            ``(2) Supporting public and community preparedness efforts.
            ``(3) Serving as the principal advisor to the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security on public and community preparedness issues.
            ``(4) Providing Citizen Corps Councils with tools, 
        information, and technical assistance to connect local and 
        national citizen preparedness efforts.
            ``(5) Establishing specialized preparedness programs for 
        underserved populations under subsection (d).
            ``(6) Ensuring coordination with, and leveraging to the 
        greatest extent feasible, efforts by private sector entities, 
        faith-based groups, research and educational institutions, 
        other nongovernmental organizations, including such 
        organizations that work with the disabled and others with 
        special needs, and emergency response provider organizations to 
        promote citizen preparedness and participation.
            ``(7) Assisting in the implementation of national 
        strategies for public and community preparedness, including the 
        development of individual preparedness skills and capabilities, 
        assembling preparedness kits, developing emergency 
        communications plans, training in basic first aid, and learning 
        how to react to a variety of emergencies, including an act of 
        terrorism involving chemical, biological, radiological, or 
        nuclear weapons, and natural disasters, including hurricanes, 
        floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
            ``(8) Establishing and maintaining a community preparedness 
        resource center to compile and disseminate best practices of 
        citizen preparedness programs.
    ``(d) Underserved Populations.--In carrying out the 
responsibilities under this section, the Director shall consider the 
unique preparedness challenges faced by--
            ``(1) persons with physical and mental disabilities, health 
        problems, visual impairments, hearing impairments, limited 
        English proficiency, and literacy barriers;
            ``(2) socially and economically disadvantaged households 
        and communities;
            ``(3) the elderly;
            ``(4) children; and
            ``(5) individuals with pets or service animals.

``SEC. 2102. CITIZEN CORPS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is in the Community Preparedness 
Division a Citizen Corps Program, through which the Secretary shall 
bring community and government leaders together to coordinate and 
leverage efforts to strengthen community involvement in emergency 
preparedness, planning, mitigation, response, and recovery for acts of 
terrorism and natural disasters.
    ``(b) Grant Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--As part of the Citizen Corps Program, 
        the Secretary shall carry out a grant program to make grants to 
        States.
            ``(2) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subsection, a State shall submit an application containing 
        such information and assurances as the Secretary may require.
            ``(3) Use of funds.--A grant under this subsection may be 
        used for any of the following purposes:
                    ``(A) To form and sustain a State or local Citizen 
                Corps Council.
                    ``(B) To develop and implement educational programs 
                for the public on both terrorism and natural disaster 
                preparedness and volunteer responsibilities.
                    ``(C) To develop and implement a plan or to amend 
                an existing plan to facilitate citizen preparedness and 
                participation.
                    ``(D) To facilitate citizen participation in 
                preparedness training and exercises.
                    ``(E) To implement volunteer programs and 
                activities to support emergency response providers.
            ``(4) Conditions of receipt of funds.--Each State that 
        receives a grant under this subsection shall ensure that in 
        carrying out any of the purposes under paragraph (3) outreach 
        efforts extend, as appropriate, to--
                    ``(A) underserved populations specified in section 
                2101(d);
                    ``(B) neighborhoods bordering critical 
                infrastructure;
                    ``(C) urban and rural communities;
                    ``(D) border communities; and
                    ``(E) faith-based and volunteer community service 
                organizations.
    ``(c) Administration and Coordination.--As part of the Citizen 
Corps Program, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) administer--
                    ``(A) the Community Emergency Response Team Program 
                under section 2103, or any successor thereto; and
                    ``(B) the Fire Corps Program under section 2104, or 
                any successor thereto;
            ``(2) coordinate with the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services in the administration of the Medical Reserve Corps, or 
        any successor thereto, which is a program to educate and train 
        citizens and medical professionals to assist with medical and 
        public health outreach and administration before, during, and 
        after acts of terrorism and other emergencies; and
            ``(3) coordinate with the Attorney General in the 
        administration of--
                    ``(A) Neighborhood Watch, or any successor thereto, 
                which is a program to provide information, training, 
                and resources to citizens and law enforcement agencies 
                throughout the country to identify potential terrorist 
                activities and other threats; and
                    ``(B) Volunteers In Police Services, or any 
                successor thereto, which is a program to educate and 
                train citizens to increase the capacity of volunteer 
                State and local law enforcement officials to assist 
                before, during, and after an act of terrorism or other 
                emergency.
    ``(d) Cooperative Agreements With Non-Profit Entities.--The 
Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with non-profit 
entities to enhance citizen preparedness and outreach programs that the 
Secretary has determined have a proven track record of success on a 
national or regional basis.
    ``(e) Reports to Congress.--Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of the Citizen and Community Preparedness Act of 2008, 
and every two years thereafter, the Director of the Community 
Preparedness Division shall submit to Congress a report that evaluates 
the management and effectiveness of the Fire Corps Program under 
section 2104 and the Community Emergency Response Team Program under 
section 2103.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            ``(1) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            ``(2) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(3) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(4) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
            ``(5) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.

``SEC. 2103. COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is in the Community Preparedness 
Division a Community Emergency Response Team Program, through which the 
Secretary shall educate citizens about preparedness and mitigation and 
train citizens in basic response skills, including fire safety, light 
search and rescue, and medical operations in preparation for acts of 
terrorism and other emergencies.
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized 
to be appropriated under section 2102(f) for any fiscal year, 
$1,750,000 is authorized to carry out this section.

``SEC. 2104. FIRE CORPS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is in the Community Preparedness 
Division a Fire Corps Program, through which the Secretary shall 
facilitate the use of volunteers in non-emergency roles at fire and 
rescue departments to better prepare local communities to respond to 
acts of terrorism and other emergencies.
    ``(d) Fire Corps Advisory Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        advisory committee to be known as the `Fire Corps Advisory 
        Committee' (hereinafter referred to in this section as the 
        `Committee') to provide guidance and assistance to the 
        Secretary in carrying out the Fire Corps Program.
            ``(2) Membership.--The members of the Committee shall be 
        appointed by the Secretary and shall include--
                    ``(A) representatives of fire and emergency service 
                organizations;
                    ``(B) representatives of the United States Fire 
                Administration; and
                    ``(C) other individuals that the Secretary 
                determines are appropriate.
            ``(3) Terms of service; pay and allowances.--The Secretary 
        shall determine the number, terms of service, and pay and 
        allowances of members of the Committee appointed by the 
        Secretary, except that the term of service of any such member 
        may not exceed three years.
            ``(4) Applicability of federal advisory committee act.--
        Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Committee.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized 
to be appropriated under section 2102(g)(1) for any fiscal year, 
$1,500,000 is authorized to carry out this section.

``SEC. 2105. NATIONAL CITIZEN CORPS COUNCIL.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is in the Community Preparedness 
Division a National Citizen Corps Council.
    ``(b) Membership.--The members of the Council shall be national 
leaders of organizations and associations representing emergency 
response providers, community and volunteer services providers, 
government officials, the private sector, and underserved populations 
described in section 2101(d) and shall be appointed by the Secretary. 
The Secretary shall determine the number of members of the Council.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the Council are as 
follows:
            ``(1) To facilitate cooperation at the national level in 
        support of the Citizen Corps Program under section 2102.
            ``(2) To identify opportunities for Federal, State, local, 
        and tribal organizations to collaborate to accomplish the 
        shared goals of the Citizen Corps Program.
            ``(3) To encourage the development and support of State and 
        local Citizen Corps Councils.
            ``(4) To exchange facts and information regarding programs 
        to promote citizen preparedness, public awareness, and 
        volunteer service opportunities.
    ``(d) Meetings.--The Secretary or a designee shall convene meetings 
of the National Citizen Corps Council at the discretion of the 
Secretary but not less than annually.

``SEC. 2106. PUBLIC AFFAIRS CAMPAIGN.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall carry out a public 
affairs campaign using various media outlets that is designed to assist 
citizens in preparing for an act of terrorism or other emergency.
    ``(b) Information Dissemination.--The campaign shall--
            ``(1) utilize a broad spectrum of both mainstream and 
        specialty print, radio and television outlets; and
            ``(2) disseminate information to underserved communities 
        specified in section 2101(d).
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2009 through 2013.

``SEC. 2107. PILOT PROGRAM TO ENHANCE CITIZEN PREPAREDNESS AT 
              EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Citizen and Community Preparedness Act of 2008, the 
Secretary shall commence a pilot program to enhance citizen 
preparedness at primary and secondary schools and on university and 
college campuses by providing training, exercises, and public awareness 
campaigns.
    ``(b) Selection of Educational Institutions.--The Secretary shall 
select at least three primary and secondary schools and at least three 
colleges and universities to participate in the pilot program required 
under subsection (a). At each school, college, and university selected 
by the Secretary, the Secretary shall develop and implement a program 
to prepare administrators, teachers, students, and parents for acts of 
terrorism and other emergencies.
    ``(c) Selection Criteria.--In selecting educational institutions 
under subsection (b) to participate in the pilot program required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure the participation of 
educational institutions of varying sizes that represent a geographic 
(including urban and rural) cross section of the United States. The 
Secretary shall also ensure the participation of historically black 
colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Tribal 
colleges and universities.
    ``(d) Transfer of Information and Knowledge.--The Secretary shall 
establish mechanisms to ensure that the information and knowledge 
acquired by each participant in the pilot program are transferred to 
the other participants and other interested parties.
    ``(e) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date on which the 
Secretary completes the pilot program under this section, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report on the pilot program under this section.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(g) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program 
under this section shall terminate on the date that is two years after 
the date of the enactment of the Citizen and Community Preparedness Act 
of 2008.
    ``(h) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
            ``(1) The term `historically Black college or university' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 322 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
            ``(2) The term `Hispanic-serving institution' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 502(5) of such Act (20 
        U.S.C. 1101a(5)).
            ``(3) The term `Tribal College or University' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 316 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
        1059c(b)(3)).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
such Act is amended by adding at the end the following:

``TITLE XXI--DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO TERRORISM 
                         AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

        ``Sec. 2101. Community Preparedness Division.
        ``Sec. 2102. Citizen Corps Program.
        ``Sec. 2103. Community Emergency Response Team Program.
        ``Sec. 2104. Fire Corps Program.
        ``Sec. 2105. National Citizen Corps Council.
        ``Sec. 2106. Public affairs campaign.
        ``Sec. 2107. Pilot program to enhance citizen preparedness at 
                            educational institutions.''.

SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 
specifying the amount of grant funds awarded to each State under 
section 2102(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by 
section 2, and the purposes for which such funds were awarded.
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