A bill to establish a technology, equipment, and information transfer within the Department of Homeland Security.

Summary: Homeland Security Technology Improvement Act of 2004 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to include, as an element of the program to encourage technological innovation in facilitating the mission of the Department of Homeland Security, the establishment of a multi-agency homeland security technology, equipment, and information transfer program to allow for the transfer of technology, equipment, and information to State and local law enforcement agencies. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, in developing such program, to: (1) in close cooperation with the Office for Domestic Preparedness, conduct research and development of new technologies, surveys and reviews of available appropriate technologies, and tests, evaluations, and demonstrations of new and available technologies that significantly improve the capability of law enforcement agencies in countering terrorist threats; (2) in support of such activities, consult with State and local law enforcement agencies and others, work with the National Institute for Standards and Technology and any other office or agency, and enter into agreements and coordinate with other Federal agencies to maximize the effectiveness of the technologies, equipment, and information; and (3) provide a comprehensive list of available technologies, equipment, and information to the Office of Domestic Preparedness, which shall administer the technology transfer program.

 Requires the Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness, in coordination with the Under Secretary, to: (1) make counterterrorism technology, equipment, and information available to State and local law enforcement agencies based on the list of available technologies, equipment, and information and the needs identified by the technology transfer advisory committee established by this Act; (2) consult with State and local law enforcement agencies; (3) accept applications from State and local law enforcement agencies that wish to acquire such technologies, equipment, and information to improve their homeland security capabilities and review such applications with the advisory committee; and (4) transfer the approved technology, equipment, and information and provide training to the State or local law enforcement agencies to implement such technology equipment, and information.



Allows the Director, upon approval of the Secretary, to expand the program to first responders other than law enforcement agencies and to revise the advisory committee accordingly.

Limits expenditures for administrative costs to ten percent of the program budget.

Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Homeland Security Technology 
Improvement Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. HOMELAND SECURITY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 313 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 193) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) The establishment of a multi-agency homeland security 
        technology, equipment, and information transfer program to 
        allow for the transfer of technology, equipment, and 
        information to State and local law enforcement agencies.'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Technology Transfer Program.--In developing the program 
described under subsection (b)(6), the Secretary, acting through the 
Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall--
            ``(1) in close cooperation with the Office of Domestic 
        Preparedness, conduct, on an ongoing basis--
                    ``(A) research and development of new technologies;
                    ``(B) surveys and reviews of available appropriate 
                technologies; and
                    ``(C) tests, evaluations, and demonstrations of new 
                and available technologies that significantly improve 
                the capability of law enforcement agencies in 
                countering terrorist threats;
            ``(2) in support of the activities described in paragraph 
        (1)--
                    ``(A) consult with State and local law enforcement 
                agencies and others determined by the Secretary, 
                including the advisory committee established under 
                section 430(d);
                    ``(B) work with the National Institute for 
                Standards and Technology and any other office or agency 
                determined by the Secretary;
                    ``(C) at the discretion of the Secretary, enter 
                into agreements and coordinate with other Federal 
                agencies to maximize the effectiveness of the 
                technologies, equipment, and information; and
            ``(3) provide a comprehensive list of available 
        technologies, equipment, and information to the Office for 
        Domestic Preparedness which shall administer a technology 
        transfer program described under section 430(d).''.
    (b) Office for Domestic Preparedness.--Section 430 of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 238) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Technology, Equipment, and Information Transfer Program.--
            ``(1) Administration.--The Director of the Office for 
        Domestic Preparedness, in coordination with the Under Secretary 
        for Science and Technology, shall establish and administer a 
        technology transfer program through which the Director shall--
                    ``(A) make the counterterrorism technology, 
                equipment, and information available to State and local 
                law enforcement agencies each year based on--
                            ``(i) the comprehensive list of available 
                        technologies, equipment, and information 
                        described under section 313(c); and
                            ``(ii) the needs identified by the advisory 
                        committee established under this subsection;
                    ``(B) consult with State and local law enforcement 
                agencies and others, as determined by the Secretary;
                    ``(C) accept applications from the head of State 
                and local law enforcement agencies that wish to acquire 
                such technologies, equipment, and information to 
                improve the homeland security capabilities of those 
                agencies, and review these applications with the 
                advisory committee established under this subsection; 
                and
                    ``(D) transfer the approved technology, equipment, 
                and information and provide the appropriate training to 
                the State or local law enforcement agencies to 
                implement such technology, equipment, and information.
            ``(2) Technology transfer advisory committee.--Under the 
        authority of section 871, the Secretary, acting through the 
        Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness, shall 
        establish an advisory committee, or designate an existing 
        advisory committee comprised of retired and active duty State 
        and local law enforcement officers, to advise the Director of 
        the Office for Domestic Preparedness and the Under Secretary 
        for Science and Technology regarding the homeland security 
        technology transfer program established under this subsection.
            ``(3) Expansion of program.--Upon the approval of the 
        Secretary, the Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness 
        may expand the program established under this subsection to 
        transfer technology, equipment, and information to first 
        responders other than law enforcement agencies and revise the 
        advisory committee accordingly.
            ``(4) Limitation on administration expenditure.--Not more 
        than 10 percent of the budget of the technology, equipment, and 
        information transfer program established under this subsection 
        may be used for administrative expenses.
            ``(5) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of the 
        fiscal years 2005 through 2014 to carry out this subsection.''.

            Passed the Senate February 4, 2004.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
108th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1612

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To establish a technology, equipment, and information transfer program 
              within the Department of Homeland Security.