Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act

Subjects: Science, Technology, Communications, Health

Summary:  <p><b>Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to develop and annually report to Congress about a workforce development strategy to address the unmet need for cybersecurity professionals in rural hospitals. Additionally, CISA must disseminate materials that rural hospitals may use to train staff about cybersecurity.</p>

<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1560 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1560

     To require the development of a comprehensive rural hospital 
 cybersecurity workforce development strategy, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 11, 2023

Mr. Hawley (for himself and Mr. Peters) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
                        and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To require the development of a comprehensive rural hospital 
 cybersecurity workforce development strategy, 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 ``Rural Hospital Cybersecurity 
Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
                of Representatives.
            (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
            (3) Rural hospital.--The term ``rural hospital'' means a 
        healthcare facility that--
                    (A) is located in a non-urbanized area, as 
                determined by the Bureau of the Census; and
                    (B) provides inpatient and outpatient healthcare 
                services, including primary care, emergency care, and 
                diagnostic services.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Homeland Security.

SEC. 3. RURAL HOSPITAL CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall develop 
and transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress a comprehensive 
rural hospital cybersecurity workforce development strategy to address 
the growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals in rural 
hospitals.
    (b) Consultation.--
            (1) Agencies.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
        Secretary and Director may consult with the Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services, the Secretary of Education, and the 
        Secretary of Labor.
            (2) Providers.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
        Secretary shall consult with rural healthcare providers from 
        each geographic region in the United States.
    (c) Considerations.--The rural hospital cybersecurity workforce 
development strategy developed under subsection (a) shall, at a 
minimum, consider the following components:
            (1) Partnerships between rural hospitals, educational 
        institutions, private sector entities, and nonprofit 
        organizations to develop, promote, and expand cybersecurity 
        education and training programs tailored to the needs of rural 
        hospitals.
            (2) The development of a cybersecurity curriculum and 
        teaching resources that focus on teaching technical skills and 
        abilities related to cybersecurity in rural hospitals for use 
        in community colleges, vocational schools, and other 
        educational institutions located in rural areas.
            (3) Recommendations for legislation, rulemaking, or 
        guidance to implement the components of the rural hospital 
        cybersecurity workforce development strategy.
    (d) Annual Review.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which 
the first full fiscal year ends following the date on which the 
Secretary transmits the rural hospital cybersecurity workforce 
development strategy developed under subsection (a), and not later than 
60 days after the date on which each fiscal year thereafter ends, the 
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report that includes, at a minimum, information relating to--
            (1) updates to the rural hospital cybersecurity workforce 
        development strategy, as appropriate;
            (2) any programs or initiatives established pursuant to the 
        rural hospital cybersecurity workforce development strategy, as 
        well as the number of individuals trained or educated through 
        such programs or initiatives;
            (3) additional recommendations for legislation, rulemaking, 
        or guidance to implement the components of the rural hospital 
        cybersecurity workforce development strategy; and
            (4) the effectiveness of the rural hospital cybersecurity 
        workforce development strategy in addressing the need for 
        skilled cybersecurity professionals in rural hospitals.

SEC. 4. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR RURAL HOSPITALS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Director shall make available instructional materials 
for rural hospitals that can be used to train staff on fundamental 
cybersecurity efforts.
    (b) Duties.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Director shall--
            (1) consult with experts in cybersecurity education and 
        rural healthcare experts;
            (2) identify existing cybersecurity instructional materials 
        that can be adapted for use in rural hospitals and create new 
        materials as needed; and
            (3) conduct an awareness campaign to promote the materials 
        available to rural hospitals developed under subsection (a).

SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION.

    Any action undertaken pursuant to this Act shall not be subject to 
chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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