II 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1187 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 4, 2009 Mrs. Murray introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize grants for use in response to homeland security events of national and international significance.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Local Homeland Event Response Operations Grant Act of 2009.

2.

Grants for local homeland event response operations

(a)

In general

Title XX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: C

Other assistance

2041.

Grants for local homeland event response operations

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means a law enforcement agency or fire department of a State or local government (including a tribal government), including a police department, sheriff’s office, or homeland security or emergency management department, that— (A)normally operates not more than 50 miles from— (i)the location of a special event; or (ii)the United States port of entry closest to the special event, if the special event takes place outside of the United States; or (B)participates in preparation for and activities during or directly following a special event. (2)

Special event

The term special event means an event designated under subsection (c). (b)

Grants

The Secretary may make a grant to an eligible entity for overtime expenses relating to preparation for and activities during or directly following from a special event. (c)

Designation of special events

(1)

In general

Regardless of whether an event is designated as a special event or given another similar security designation under any other provision of law, the President or the Secretary may designate an event as a special event for purposes of this section if the event is an event of significant national importance (including international events of significant national importance) that— (A)may require— (i)extensive Federal interagency security and incident management preparedness; (ii)predeployment of Federal assets; (iii)consultation, technical advice and support to specific functional areas in which the State or local government agencies may lack expertise or key resources; (iv)designation of a Federal Coordinator; and (v)development of an integrated Federal Support Plan; or (B)may require— (i)direct national-level Federal support and situational awareness; (ii)limited predeployment of Federal assets; (iii)consultation, technical advice, and support to specific functional areas in which the State or local government agencies may lack expertise or key resources; (iv)designation of a Federal Coordinator; and (v)development of an integrated Federal Support Plan. (2)

Special events of national significance

Any event that has been designated by the President as a special event of national significance under section 3056(e) of title 18, United States Code, or a similar provision of law shall be designated as a special event. (d)

Applications

(1)

In general

An eligible entity may apply for a grant under this section, and shall submit such information in support of the application as the Secretary may reasonably require. (2)

Joint applications authorized

A group of eligible entities may jointly submit an application for a grant under this section for a single special event. (3)

Notification of opportunity To apply

The Secretary shall— (A)notify an eligible entity of the opportunity to apply for a grant under this section; and (B)provide access to application materials and adequate time for preparation and submission of applications. (4)

Separate applications required

An eligible entity shall separately apply for each special event for which the eligible entity seeks amounts under a grant under this section. (5)

Minimum content of application

The Secretary shall require that an application for a grant under this section, at a minimum, includes— (A)the purpose for which the eligible entity seeks the grant; (B)a budget showing how the eligible entity intends to expend funds received under the grant; and (C)a description of the special event for which the eligible entity seeks the grant. (e)

Use of funds

(1)

In general

A grant under this section may be used by an eligible entity for salary and benefits for necessary overtime in preparation for, during, or directly following a special event by— (A)an employee of the eligible entity; or (B)a contractor of the eligible entity that performs law enforcement duties. (2)

Limitation

A grant under this section shall be used to supplement and not to supplant funds of State or local governments (including a tribal government). (f)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2015.

. (b)

Technical and conforming amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding after the item relating to section 2022 the following: Subtitle C—Other assistance Sec. 2041. Grants for local homeland event response operations. .