National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2014

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make certain improvements regarding cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2014 2. Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Title I—Securing the Nation Against Cyber Attack Sec. 101. Homeland Security Act of 2002 definitions. Sec. 102. Enhancement of cybersecurity. Sec. 103. Protection of critical infrastructure and information sharing. Sec. 104. National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. Sec. 105. Cyber incident response and technical assistance. Sec. 106. Streamlining of Department cybersecurity organization. Title II—Public-Private Collaboration on Cybersecurity Sec. 201. Public-private collaboration on cybersecurity. Sec. 202. SAFETY Act and qualifying cyber incidents. Sec. 203. Prohibition on new regulatory authority. Sec. 204. Prohibition on additional authorization of appropriations. Sec. 205. Prohibition on collection activities to track individuals’ personally identifiable information. Sec. 206. Cybersecurity scholars. Sec. 207. National Research Council study on the resilience and reliability of the Nation’s power grid. Title III—Homeland Security Cybersecurity Workforce Sec. 301. Homeland security cybersecurity workforce. Sec. 302. Personnel authorities. I Securing the Nation Against Cyber Attack 101. Homeland Security Act of 2002 definitions Section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 101 (19) The term critical infrastructure 42 U.S.C. 5195c(e) (20) The term critical infrastructure owner (21) The term critical infrastructure operator (22) The term cyber incident (A) jeopardize or imminently jeopardize, without lawful authority, the security, integrity, confidentiality, or availability of an information system or network of information systems or any information stored on, processed on, or transiting such a system or network; (B) constitute a violation or imminent threat of violation of law, security policies, security procedures, or acceptable use policies related to such a system or network, or an act of terrorism against such a system or network; or (C) result in the denial of access to or degradation, disruption, or destruction of such a system or network, or the defeat of an operations control or technical control essential to the security or operation of such a system or network. (23) The term cybersecurity mission (24) The term cybersecurity purpose (A) a vulnerability of such a system or network; (B) a threat to the security, integrity, confidentiality, or availability of such a system or network, or any information stored on, processed on, or transiting such a system or network; (C) efforts to deny access to or degrade, disrupt, or destroy such a system or network; or (D) efforts to gain unauthorized access to such a system or network, including to gain such unauthorized access for the purpose of exfiltrating information stored on, processed on, or transiting such a system or network. (25) The term cyber threat (26) The term cyber threat information (A) a vulnerability of an information system or network of information systems of a government or private entity; (B) a threat to the security, integrity, confidentiality, or availability of such a system or network of a government or private entity, or any information stored on, processed on, or transiting such a system or network; (C) efforts to deny access to or degrade, disrupt, or destroy such a system or network of a government or private entity; (D) efforts to gain unauthorized access to such a system or network, including to gain such unauthorized access for the purpose of exfiltrating information stored on, processed on, or transiting such a system or network; or (E) an act of terrorism against an information system or network of information systems. (27) The term Federal civilian information systems (A) means information, information systems, and networks of information systems that are owned, operated, controlled, or licensed for use by, or on behalf of, any Federal agency, including such systems or networks used or operated by another entity on behalf of a Federal agency; but (B) does not include— (i) a national security system; or (ii) information, information systems, and networks of information systems that are owned, operated, controlled, or licensed solely for use by, or on behalf of, the Department of Defense, a military department, or an element of the intelligence community. (28) The term information security (A) integrity, including guarding against improper information modification or destruction, including ensuring nonrepudiation and authenticity; (B) confidentiality, including preserving authorized restrictions on access and disclosure, including means for protecting personal privacy and proprietary information; and (C) availability, including ensuring timely and reliable access to and use of information. (29) The term information system (30) The term private entity (31) The term shared situational awareness . 102. Enhancement of cybersecurity (a) In general Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 226. Enhancement of cybersecurity The Secretary, in collaboration with the heads of other appropriate Federal Government entities, shall conduct activities for cybersecurity purposes, including the provision of shared situational awareness to each other to enable real-time, integrated, and operational actions to protect from, prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents. . (b) Clerical amendments (1) Subtitle heading The heading for subtitle C of title II of such Act is amended to read as follows: C Cybersecurity and Information Sharing . (2) Table of contents The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended— (A) by adding after the item relating to section 225 the following new item: Sec. 226. Enhancement of cybersecurity. ; and (B) by striking the item relating to subtitle C of title II and inserting the following new item: Subtitle C—Cybersecurity and Information Sharing . 103. Protection of critical infrastructure and information sharing (a) In general Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by section 102, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 227. Protection of critical infrastructure and information sharing (a) Protection of critical infrastructure (1) In general The Secretary shall coordinate, on an ongoing basis, with Federal, State, and local governments, national laboratories, critical infrastructure owners, critical infrastructure operators, and other cross sector coordinating entities to— (A) facilitate a national effort to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure from cyber threats; (B) ensure that Department policies and procedures enable critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators to receive real-time, actionable, and relevant cyber threat information; (C) seek industry sector-specific expertise to— (i) assist in the development of voluntary security and resiliency strategies; and (ii) ensure that the allocation of Federal resources are cost effective and reduce any burden on critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators; (D) upon request of entities, facilitate and assist risk management efforts of such entities to reduce vulnerabilities, identify and disrupt threats, and minimize consequences to their critical infrastructure; (E) upon request of critical infrastructure owners or critical infrastructure operators, provide education and assistance to such owners and operators on how they may use protective measures and countermeasures to strengthen the security and resilience of the Nation’s critical infrastructure; and (F) coordinate a research and development strategy to facilitate and promote advancements and innovation in cybersecurity technologies to protect critical infrastructure. (2) Additional responsibilities The Secretary shall— (A) manage Federal efforts to secure, protect, and ensure the resiliency of Federal civilian information systems using a risk-based and performance-based approach, and, upon request of critical infrastructure owners or critical infrastructure operators, support such owners’ and operators’ efforts to secure, protect, and ensure the resiliency of critical infrastructure from cyber threats; (B) direct an entity within the Department to serve as a Federal civilian entity by and among Federal, State, and local governments, private entities, and critical infrastructure sectors to provide multi-directional sharing of real-time, actionable, and relevant cyber threat information; (C) build upon existing mechanisms to promote a national awareness effort to educate the general public on the importance of securing information systems; (D) upon request of Federal, State, and local government entities and private entities, facilitate expeditious cyber incident response and recovery assistance, and provide analysis and warnings related to threats to and vulnerabilities of critical information systems, crisis and consequence management support, and other remote or on-site technical assistance with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies to Federal, State, and local government entities and private entities for cyber incidents affecting critical infrastructure; (E) engage with international partners to strengthen the security and resilience of domestic critical infrastructure and critical infrastructure located outside of the United States upon which the United States depends; and (F) conduct outreach to educational institutions, including historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, Native American colleges, and institutions serving persons with disabilities, to encourage such institutions to promote cybersecurity awareness. (3) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to require any private entity to request assistance from the Secretary, or require any private entity requesting such assistance to implement any measure or recommendation suggested by the Secretary. (b) Critical infrastructure sectors The Secretary, in collaboration with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall designate critical infrastructure sectors (that may include subdivisions of sectors within a sector as the Secretary may determine appropriate). The critical infrastructure sectors designated under this subsection may include the following: (1) Chemical. (2) Commercial facilities. (3) Communications. (4) Critical manufacturing. (5) Dams. (6) Defense Industrial Base. (7) Emergency services. (8) Energy. (9) Financial services. (10) Food and agriculture. (11) Government facilities. (12) Healthcare and public health. (13) Information technology. (14) Nuclear reactors, materials, and waste. (15) Transportation systems. (16) Water and wastewater systems. (17) Such other sectors as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Sector specific agencies The Secretary, in collaboration with the relevant critical infrastructure sector and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall recognize the Federal agency designated as of November 1, 2013, as the Sector Specific Agency (1) support the security and resilience activities of the relevant critical infrastructure sector in accordance with this subtitle; and (2) provide institutional knowledge and specialized expertise to the relevant critical infrastructure sector. (d) Sector coordinating councils (1) Recognition The Secretary, in collaboration with each critical infrastructure sector and the relevant Sector Specific Agency, shall recognize and partner with the Sector Coordinating Council for each critical infrastructure sector designated under subsection (b) to coordinate with each such sector on security and resilience activities and emergency response and recovery efforts. (2) Membership (A) In general The Sector Coordinating Council for a critical infrastructure sector designated under subsection (b) shall— (i) be comprised exclusively of relevant critical infrastructure owners, critical infrastructure operators, private entities, and representative trade associations for the sector; (ii) reflect the unique composition of each sector; and (iii) include relevant small, medium, and large critical infrastructure owners, critical infrastructure operators, private entities, and representative trade associations for the sector. (B) Prohibition No government entity with regulating authority shall be a member of the Sector Coordinating Council. (C) Limitation The Secretary shall have no role in the determination of the membership of a Sector Coordinating Council. (3) Roles and responsibilities The Sector Coordinating Council for a critical infrastructure sector shall— (A) serve as a self-governing, self-organized primary policy, planning, and strategic communications entity for coordinating with the Department, the relevant Sector-Specific Agency designated under subsection (c), and the relevant Information Sharing and Analysis Centers under subsection (e) on security and resilience activities and emergency response and recovery efforts; (B) establish governance and operating procedures, and designate a chairperson for the sector to carry out the activities described in this subsection; (C) coordinate with the Department, the relevant Information Sharing and Analysis Centers under subsection (e), and other Sector Coordinating Councils to update, maintain, and exercise the National Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan in accordance with section 229(b); and (D) provide any recommendations to the Department on infrastructure protection technology gaps to help inform research and development efforts at the Department. (e) Sector information sharing and analysis centers (1) Recognition The Secretary, in collaboration with the relevant Sector Coordinating Council and the critical infrastructure sector represented by such Council, and in coordination with the relevant Sector Specific Agency, shall recognize at least one Information Sharing and Analysis Center for each critical infrastructure sector designated under subsection (b) for purposes of paragraph (3). No other Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations, including Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, may be precluded from having an information sharing relationship within the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center established pursuant to section 228. Nothing in this subsection or any other provision of this subtitle may be construed to limit, restrict, or condition any private entity or activity utilized by, among, or between private entities. (2) Roles and responsibilities In addition to such other activities as may be authorized by law, at least one Information Sharing and Analysis Center for a critical infrastructure sector shall— (A) serve as an information sharing resource for such sector and promote ongoing multi-directional sharing of real-time, relevant, and actionable cyber threat information and analysis by and among such sector, the Department, the relevant Sector Specific Agency, and other critical infrastructure sector Information Sharing and Analysis Centers; (B) establish governance and operating procedures to carry out the activities conducted under this subsection; (C) serve as an emergency response and recovery operations coordination point for such sector, and upon request, facilitate cyber incident response capabilities in coordination with the Department, the relevant Sector Specific Agency and the relevant Sector Coordinating Council; (D) facilitate cross-sector coordination and sharing of cyber threat information to prevent related or consequential impacts to other critical infrastructure sectors; (E) coordinate with the Department, the relevant Sector Coordinating Council, the relevant Sector Specific Agency, and other critical infrastructure sector Information Sharing and Analysis Centers on the development, integration, and implementation of procedures to support technology neutral, real-time information sharing capabilities and mechanisms within the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center established pursuant to section 228, including— (i) the establishment of a mechanism to voluntarily report identified vulnerabilities and opportunities for improvement; (ii) the establishment of metrics to assess the effectiveness and timeliness of the Department’s and Information Sharing and Analysis Centers’ information sharing capabilities; and (iii) the establishment of a mechanism for anonymous suggestions and comments; (F) implement an integration and analysis function to inform sector planning, risk mitigation, and operational activities regarding the protection of each critical infrastructure sector from cyber incidents; (G) combine consequence, vulnerability, and threat information to share actionable assessments of critical infrastructure sector risks from cyber incidents; (H) coordinate with the Department, the relevant Sector Specific Agency, and the relevant Sector Coordinating Council to update, maintain, and exercise the National Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan in accordance with section 229(b); and (I) safeguard cyber threat information from unauthorized disclosure. (3) Funding Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016 for the Cybersecurity and Communications Office of the Department, the Secretary is authorized to use not less than $25,000,000 for any such year for operations support at the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center established under section 228(a) of all recognized Information Sharing and Analysis Centers under paragraph (1) of this subsection. (f) Clearances The Secretary— (1) shall expedite the process of security clearances under Executive Order 13549 or successor orders for appropriate representatives of Sector Coordinating Councils and the critical infrastructure sector Information Sharing and Analysis Centers; and (2) may so expedite such processing to— (A) appropriate personnel of critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators; and (B) any other person as determined by the Secretary. (g) Public-Private collaboration The Secretary, in collaboration with the critical infrastructure sectors designated under subsection (b), such sectors’ Sector Specific Agencies recognized under subsection (c), and the Sector Coordinating Councils recognized under subsection (d), shall— (1) conduct an analysis and review of the existing public-private partnership model and evaluate how the model between the Department and critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators can be improved to ensure the Department, critical infrastructure owners, and critical infrastructure operators are equal partners and regularly collaborate on all programs and activities of the Department to protect critical infrastructure; (2) develop and implement procedures to ensure continuous, collaborative, and effective interactions between the Department, critical infrastructure owners, and critical infrastructure operators; and (3) ensure critical infrastructure sectors have a reasonable period for review and comment of all jointly produced materials with the Department. (h) Protection of Federal civilian information systems (1) In general The Secretary shall administer the operational information security activities and functions to protect and ensure the resiliency of all Federal civilian information systems. (2) Roles and responsibilities The Secretary, in coordination with the heads of other Federal civilian agencies, shall— (A) develop, issue, and oversee the implementation and compliance of all operational information security policies and procedures to protect and ensure the resiliency of Federal civilian information systems; (B) administer Federal Government-wide efforts to develop and provide adequate, risk-based, cost-effective, and technology neutral information security capabilities; (C) establish and sustain continuous diagnostics systems for Federal civilian information systems to aggregate data and identify and prioritize the mitigation of cyber vulnerabilities in such systems for cybersecurity purposes; (D) develop, acquire, and operate an integrated and consolidated system of intrusion detection, analytics, intrusion prevention, and other information sharing and protective capabilities to defend Federal civilian information systems from cyber threats; (E) develop and conduct targeted risk assessments and operational evaluations of Federal civilian information systems, in consultation with government and private entities that own and operate such information systems, including threat, vulnerability, and impact assessments and penetration testing; (F) develop and provide technical assistance and cyber incident response capabilities to secure and ensure the resilience of Federal civilian information systems; (G) review annually the operational information security activities and functions of each of the Federal civilian agencies; (H) develop minimum technology neutral operational requirements for network and security operations centers to facilitate the protection of all Federal civilian information systems; (I) develop reporting requirements, consistent with relevant law, to ensure the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center established pursuant to section 228 receives all actionable cyber threat information identified on Federal civilian information systems; (J) develop technology neutral performance requirements and metrics for the security of Federal civilian information systems; (K) implement training requirements that include industry recognized certifications to ensure that Federal civilian agencies are able to fully and timely comply with policies and procedures issued by the Secretary under this subsection; and (L) develop training requirements regarding privacy, civil rights, civil liberties, and information oversight for information security employees who operate Federal civilian information systems. (3) Use of certain communications (A) In general The Secretary may enter into contracts or other agreements, or otherwise request and obtain, in accordance with applicable law, the assistance of private entities that provide electronic communication services, remote computing services, or cybersecurity services to acquire, intercept, retain, use, and disclose communications and other system traffic, deploy countermeasures, or otherwise operate protective capabilities in accordance with subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), and (F) of paragraph (2). No cause of action shall exist against private entities for assistance provided to the Secretary in accordance with this subsection. (B) Rule of construction Nothing in subparagraph (A) may be construed to— (i) require or compel any private entity to enter in a contract or agreement described in such subparagraph; or (ii) authorize the Secretary to take any action with respect to any communications or system traffic transiting or residing on any information system or network of information systems other than a Federal civilian information system. (i) Recommendations regarding new agreements Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees recommendations on how to expedite the implementation of information sharing agreements for cybersecurity purposes between the Secretary and critical information owners and critical infrastructure operators and other private entities. Such recommendations shall address the development and utilization of a scalable form that retains all privacy and other protections in such agreements in existence as of such date, including Cooperative and Research Development Agreements. Such recommendations should also include any additional authorities or resources that may be needed to carry out the implementation of any such new agreements. (j) Rule of construction No provision of this title may be construed as modifying, limiting, or otherwise affecting the authority of any other Federal agency under any other provision of law. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding after the item relating to section 226 (as added by section 102) the following new item: Sec. 227. Protection of critical infrastructure and information sharing. . 104. National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (a) In general Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by sections 102 and 103, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 228. National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (a) Establishment There is established in the Department the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (referred to in this section as the Center (b) Composition The Center shall include each of the following entities: (1) At least one Information Sharing and Analysis Center established under section 227(e) for each critical infrastructure sector. (2) The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center to collaborate with State and local governments. (3) The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team to coordinate cyber threat information sharing, proactively manage cyber risks to the United States, collaboratively respond to cyber incidents, provide technical assistance to information system owners and operators, and disseminate timely notifications regarding current and potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities. (4) The Industrial Control System Cyber Emergency Response Team to coordinate with industrial control systems owners and operators and share industrial control systems-related security incidents and mitigation measures. (5) The National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications to coordinate the protection, response, and recovery of national security emergency communications. (6) Such other Federal, State, and local government entities, private entities, organizations, or individuals as the Secretary may consider appropriate that agree to be included. (c) Cyber incident In the event of a cyber incident, the Secretary may grant the entities referred to in subsection (a) immediate temporary access to the Center as a situation may warrant. (d) Roles and responsibilities The Center shall— (1) promote ongoing multi-directional sharing by and among the entities referred to in subsection (a) of timely and actionable cyber threat information and analysis on a real-time basis that includes emerging trends, evolving threats, incident reports, intelligence information, risk assessments, and best practices; (2) coordinate with other Federal agencies to streamline and reduce redundant reporting of cyber threat information; (3) provide, upon request, timely technical assistance and crisis management support to Federal, State, and local government entities and private entities that own or operate information systems or networks of information systems to protect from, prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents; (4) facilitate cross-sector coordination and sharing of cyber threat information to prevent related or consequential impacts to other critical infrastructure sectors; (5) collaborate and facilitate discussions with Sector Coordinating Councils, Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, Sector Specific Agencies, and relevant critical infrastructure sectors on the development of prioritized Federal response efforts, if necessary, to support the defense and recovery of critical infrastructure from cyber incidents; (6) collaborate with the Sector Coordinating Councils, Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, Sector Specific Agencies, and the relevant critical infrastructure sectors on the development and implementation of procedures to support technology neutral real-time information sharing capabilities and mechanisms; (7) collaborate with the Sector Coordinating Councils, Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, Sector Specific Agencies, and the relevant critical infrastructure sectors to identify requirements for data and information formats and accessibility, system interoperability, and redundant systems and alternative capabilities in the event of a disruption in the primary information sharing capabilities and mechanisms at the Center; (8) within the scope of relevant treaties, cooperate with international partners to share information and respond to cyber incidents; (9) safeguard sensitive cyber threat information from unauthorized disclosure; (10) require other Federal civilian agencies to— (A) send reports and information to the Center about cyber incidents, threats, and vulnerabilities affecting Federal civilian information systems and critical infrastructure systems and, in the event a private vendor product or service of such an agency is so implicated, the Center shall first notify such private vendor of the vulnerability before further disclosing such information; (B) provide to the Center cyber incident detection, analysis, mitigation, and response information; and (C) immediately send and disclose to the Center cyber threat information received by such agencies; (11) perform such other duties as the Secretary may require to facilitate a national effort to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure from cyber threats; (12) implement policies and procedures to— (A) provide technical assistance to Federal civilian agencies to prevent and respond to data breaches involving unauthorized acquisition or access of personally identifiable information that occur on Federal civilian information systems; (B) require Federal civilian agencies to notify the Center about data breaches involving unauthorized acquisition or access of personally identifiable information that occur on Federal civilian information systems not later than two business days after the discovery of such a breach; and (C) require Federal civilian agencies to notify all potential victims of a data breach involving unauthorized acquisition or access of personally identifiable information that occur on Federal civilian information systems without unreasonable delay consistent with the needs of law enforcement; and (13) participate in exercises run by the Department’s National Exercise Program, where appropriate. (e) Integration and analysis The Center, in coordination with the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department, shall maintain an integration and analysis function, which shall — (1) integrate and analyze all cyber threat information received from other Federal agencies, State and local governments, Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, private entities, critical infrastructure owners, and critical infrastructure operators, and share relevant information in near real-time; (2) on an ongoing basis, assess and evaluate consequence, vulnerability, and threat information to share with the entities referred to in subsection (a) actionable assessments of critical infrastructure sector risks from cyber incidents and to assist critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators by making recommendations to facilitate continuous improvements to the security and resiliency of the critical infrastructure of the United States; (3) facilitate cross-sector integration, identification, and analysis of key interdependencies to prevent related or consequential impacts to other critical infrastructure sectors; (4) collaborate with the Information Sharing and Analysis Centers to tailor the analysis of information to the specific characteristics and risk to a relevant critical infrastructure sector; and (5) assess and evaluate consequence, vulnerability, and threat information regarding cyber incidents in coordination with the Office of Emergency Communications of the Department to help facilitate continuous improvements to the security and resiliency of public safety communications networks. (f) Report of cyber attacks against Federal Government networks The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Comptroller General of the United States an annual report that summarizes major cyber incidents involving Federal civilian agency information systems and provides aggregate statistics on the number of breaches, the extent of any personally identifiable information that was involved, the volume of data exfiltrated, the consequential impact, and the estimated cost of remedying such breaches. (g) Report on the operations of the Center The Secretary, in consultation with the Sector Coordinating Councils and appropriate Federal Government entities, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Comptroller General of the United States an annual report on— (1) the capability and capacity of the Center to carry out its cybersecurity mission in accordance with this section, and sections 226, 227, 229, 230, 230A, and 230B; (2) the extent to which the Department is engaged in information sharing with each critical infrastructure sector designated under section 227(b), including— (A) the extent to which each such sector has representatives at the Center; and (B) the extent to which critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators of each critical infrastructure sector participate in information sharing at the Center; (3) the volume and range of activities with respect to which the Secretary collaborated with the Sector Coordinating Councils and the Sector-Specific Agencies to promote greater engagement with the Center; and (4) the volume and range of voluntary technical assistance sought and provided by the Department to each critical infrastructure owner and critical infrastructure operator. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding after the item relating to section 227 (as added by section 103) the following new item: Sec. 228. National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. . (c) GAO report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 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 effectiveness of the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center established under section 228 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a) of this section, in carrying out its cybersecurity mission (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by section 101) in accordance with this Act and such section 228 and sections 226, 227, 229, 230, 230A, and 230B of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by this Act. 105. Cyber incident response and technical assistance (a) In general Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by sections 102, 103, and 104, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 229. Cyber incident response and technical assistance (a) In general The Secretary shall establish Cyber Incident Response Teams to— (1) upon request, provide timely technical assistance and crisis management support to Federal, State, and local government entities, private entities, and critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators involving cyber incidents affecting critical infrastructure; and (2) upon request, provide actionable recommendations on security and resilience measures and countermeasures to Federal, State, and local government entities, private entities, and critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators prior to, during, and after cyber incidents. (b) Coordination In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate with the relevant Sector Specific Agencies, if applicable. (c) Cyber incident response plan The Secretary, in coordination with the Sector Coordinating Councils, Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, and Federal, State, and local governments, shall develop, regularly update, maintain, and exercise a National Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan which shall— (1) include effective emergency response plans associated with cyber threats to critical infrastructure, information systems, or networks of information systems; (2) ensure that such National Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan can adapt to and reflect a changing cyber threat environment, and incorporate best practices and lessons learned from regular exercises, training, and after-action reports; and (3) facilitate discussions on the best methods for developing innovative and useful cybersecurity exercises for coordinating between the Department and each of the critical infrastructure sectors designated under section 227(b). (d) Update to Cyber Incident Annex to the National Response Framework The Secretary, in coordination with the heads of other Federal agencies and in accordance with the National Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan under subsection (c), shall regularly update, maintain, and exercise the Cyber Incident Annex to the National Response Framework of the Department. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding after the item relating to section 228 (as added by section 104) the following new item: Sec. 229. Cyber incident response and technical assistance. . 106. Streamlining of Department cybersecurity organization (a) Cybersecurity and infrastructure protection directorate The National Protection and Programs Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security shall, after the date of the enactment of this Act, be known and designated as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Directorate (b) Senior leadership of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Directorate (1) In general Paragraph (1) of section 103(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 113(a) (K) Under Secretary for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection. (L) Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity. (M) Deputy Under Secretary for Infrastructure Protection. . (2) Continuation in office The individuals who hold the positions referred to in subparagraphs (K), (L), and (M) of subsection (a) of section 103 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by paragraph (1) of this subsection) as of the date of the enactment of this Act may continue to hold such positions. (c) Report on improving the capability and effectiveness of the Cybersecurity and Communications Office To improve the operational capability and effectiveness in carrying out the cybersecurity mission (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by section 101) of the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security 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— (1) the feasibility of making the Cybersecurity and Communications Office of the Department an operational component of the Department; (2) recommendations for restructuring the SAFETY Act Office within the Department to protect and maintain operations in accordance with the Office’s mission to provide incentives for the development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies while elevating the profile and mission of the Office, including the feasibility of utilizing third-party registrars for improving the throughput and effectiveness of the certification process. (d) Report on cybersecurity acquisition capabilities The Secretary of Homeland Security shall assess the effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security’s acquisition processes and the use of existing authorities for acquiring cybersecurity technologies to ensure that such processes and authorities are capable of meeting the needs and demands of the Department’s cybersecurity mission (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by section 101). Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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 effectiveness of the Department’s acquisition processes for cybersecurity technologies. (e) Resource information The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make available Department of Homeland Security contact information to serve as a resource for Sector Coordinating Councils and critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators to better coordinate cybersecurity efforts with the Department relating to emergency response and recovery efforts for cyber incidents. II Public-Private Collaboration on Cybersecurity 201. Public-private collaboration on cybersecurity (a) National Institute of Standards and Technology (1) In general The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall, on an ongoing basis, facilitate and support the development of a voluntary, industry-led set of standards, guidelines, best practices, methodologies, procedures, and processes to reduce cyber risks to critical infrastructure. The Director, in coordination with the Secretary— (A) shall— (i) coordinate closely and continuously with relevant private entities, critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators, Sector Coordinating Councils, Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, and other relevant industry organizations, and incorporate industry expertise to the fullest extent possible; (ii) consult with the Sector Specific Agencies, Federal, State and local governments, the governments of other countries, and international organizations; (iii) utilize a prioritized, flexible, repeatable, performance-based, and cost-effective approach, including information security measures and controls, that may be voluntarily adopted by critical infrastructure owners and critical infrastructure operators to help them identify, assess, and manage cyber risks; (iv) include methodologies to— (I) identify and mitigate impacts of the cybersecurity measures or controls on business confidentiality; and (II) protect individual privacy and civil liberties; (v) incorporate voluntary consensus standards and industry best practices, and align with voluntary international standards to the fullest extent possible; (vi) prevent duplication of existing regulatory processes and prevent conflict with or superseding of existing regulatory requirements and processes; and (vii) include such other similar and consistent elements as determined necessary; and (B) shall not prescribe or otherwise require— (i) the use of specific solutions; (ii) the use of specific information technology products or services; or (iii) that information technology products or services be designed, developed, or manufactured in a particular manner. (2) Limitation Information shared with or provided to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology or the Secretary of Homeland Security for the purpose of the activities under paragraph (1) may not be used by any Federal, State, or local government department or agency to regulate the activity of any private entity. (b) Amendment (1) In general Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by sections 102, 103, 104, and 105, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 230. Public-private collaboration on cybersecurity (a) Meetings The Secretary shall meet with the Sector Coordinating Council for each critical infrastructure sector designated under section 227(b) on a biannual basis to discuss the cybersecurity threat to critical infrastructure, voluntary activities to address cybersecurity, and ideas to improve the public-private partnership to enhance cybersecurity, in which the Secretary shall— (1) provide each Sector Coordinating Council an assessment of the cybersecurity threat to each critical infrastructure sector designated under section 227(b), including information relating to— (A) any actual or assessed cyber threat, including a consideration of adversary capability and intent, preparedness, target attractiveness, and deterrence capabilities; (B) the extent and likelihood of death, injury, or serious adverse effects to human health and safety caused by an act of terrorism or other disruption, destruction, or unauthorized use of critical infrastructure; (C) the threat to national security caused by an act of terrorism or other disruption, destruction, or unauthorized use of critical infrastructure; and (D) the harm to the economy that would result from an act of terrorism or other disruption, destruction, or unauthorized use of critical infrastructure; and (2) provide recommendations, which may be voluntarily adopted, on ways to improve cybersecurity of critical infrastructure. (b) Report (1) In general Starting 30 days after the end of the fiscal year in which the National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013 is enacted and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the state of cybersecurity for each critical infrastructure sector designated under section 227(b) based on discussions between the Department and the Sector Coordinating Council in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. The Secretary shall maintain a public copy of each report, and each report may include a non-public annex for proprietary, business-sensitive information, or other sensitive information. Each report shall include, at a minimum information relating to— (A) the risk to each critical infrastructure sector, including known cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and potential consequences; (B) the extent and nature of any cybersecurity incidents during the previous year, including the extent to which cyber incidents jeopardized or imminently jeopardized information systems; (C) the current status of the voluntary, industry-led set of standards, guidelines, best practices, methodologies, procedures, and processes to reduce cyber risks within each critical infrastructure sector; and (D) the volume and range of voluntary technical assistance sought and provided by the Department to each critical infrastructure sector. (2) Sector Coordinating Council response Before making public and submitting each report required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide a draft of each report to the Sector Coordinating Council for the critical infrastructure sector covered by each such report. The Sector Coordinating Council at issue may provide to the Secretary a written response to such report within 45 days of receiving the draft. If such Sector Coordinating Council provides a written response, the Secretary shall include such written response in the final version of each report required under paragraph (1). (c) Limitation Information shared with or provided to a Sector Coordinating Council, a critical infrastructure sector, or the Secretary for the purpose of the activities under subsections (a) and (b) may not be used by any Federal, State, or local government department or agency to regulate the activity of any private entity. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding after the item relating to section 229 (as added by section 105) the following new item: Sec. 230. Public-private collaboration on cybersecurity. . 202. SAFETY Act and qualifying cyber incidents (a) In general The Support Anti-Terrorism By Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 441 et seq. (1) in section 862(b) ( 6 U.S.C. 441(b) (A) in the heading, by striking Designation of Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technologies Designation of Anti-Terrorism and Cybersecurity Technologies (B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting and cybersecurity anti-terrorism (C) in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), by inserting or cybersecurity anti-terrorism (D) in paragraph (7)— (i) by inserting or cybersecurity technology Anti-terrorism technology (ii) by inserting or qualifying cyber incidents acts of terrorism (2) in section 863 ( 6 U.S.C. 442 (A) by inserting or cybersecurity anti-terrorism (B) by inserting or qualifying cyber incident act of terrorism (C) by inserting or qualifying cyber incidents acts of terrorism (3) in section 864 ( 6 U.S.C. 443 (A) by inserting or cybersecurity anti-terrorism (B) by inserting or qualifying cyber incident act of terrorism (4) in section 865 ( 6 U.S.C. 444 (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the heading, by inserting or cybersecurity anti-terrorism (ii) by inserting or cybersecurity anti-terrorism (iii) by inserting or qualifying cyber incidents acts of terrorism (iv) by inserting or incidents such acts (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7) Qualifying cyber incident (A) In general The term qualifying cyber incident (B) Requirements A qualifying cyber incident meets the requirements of this subparagraph if— (i) the incident is unlawful or otherwise exceeds authorized access authority; (ii) the incident disrupts or imminently jeopardizes the integrity, operation, confidentiality, or availability of programmable electronic devices, communication networks, including hardware, software and data that are essential to their reliable operation, electronic storage devices, or any other information system, or the information that system controls, processes, stores, or transmits; (iii) the perpetrator of the incident gains access to an information system or a network of information systems resulting in— (I) misappropriation or theft of data, assets, information, or intellectual property; (II) corruption of data, assets, information, or intellectual property; (III) operational disruption; or (IV) an adverse effect on such system or network, or the data, assets, information, or intellectual property contained therein; and (iv) the incident causes harm inside or outside the United States that results in material levels of damage, disruption, or casualties severely affecting the United States population, infrastructure, economy, or national morale, or Federal, State, local, or tribal government functions. (C) Rule of construction For purposes of clause (iv) of subparagraph (B), the term severely (i) the United States population, infrastructure, economy, or national morale, or (ii) Federal, State, local, or tribal government functions. . (b) Funding Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016 for the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to use not less than $20,000,000 for any such year for the Department’s SAFETY Act Office. 203. Prohibition on new regulatory authority This Act and the amendments made by this Act (except that this section shall not apply in the case of section 202 of this Act and the amendments made by such section 202) do not— (1) create or authorize the issuance of any new regulations or additional Federal Government regulatory authority; or (2) permit regulatory actions that would duplicate, conflict with, or supercede existing regulatory requirements, mandatory standards, or related processes. 204. Prohibition on additional authorization of appropriations No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. This Act and such amendments shall be carried out using amounts otherwise available for such purposes. 205. Prohibition on collection activities to track individuals’ personally identifiable information Nothing in this Act shall permit the Department of Homeland Security to engage in the monitoring, surveillance, exfiltration, or other collection activities for the purpose of tracking an individual’s personally identifiable information. 206. Cybersecurity scholars The Secretary of Homeland Security shall determine the feasibility and potential benefit of developing a visiting security researchers program from academia, including cybersecurity scholars at the Department of Homeland Security’s Centers of Excellence, as designated by the Secretary, to enhance knowledge with respect to the unique challenges of addressing cyber threats to critical infrastructure. Eligible candidates shall possess necessary security clearances and have a history of working with Federal agencies in matters of national or domestic security. 207. National Research Council study on the resilience and reliability of the Nation’s power grid (a) Independent study Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the heads of other departments and agencies, as necessary, shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council to conduct research of the future resilience and reliability of the Nation’s electric power transmission and distribution system. The research under this subsection shall be known as the Saving More American Resources Today Study SMART Study (1) research the options for improving the Nation’s ability to expand and strengthen the capabilities of the Nation’s power grid, including estimation of the cost, time scale for implementation, and identification of the scale and scope of any potential significant health and environmental impacts; (2) consider the forces affecting the grid, including technical, economic, regulatory, environmental, and geopolitical factors, and how such forces are likely to affect— (A) the efficiency, control, reliability and robustness of operation; (B) the ability of the grid to recover from disruptions, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks; (C) the ability of the grid to incorporate greater reliance on distributed and intermittent power generation and electricity storage; (D) the ability of the grid to adapt to changing patterns of demand for electricity; and (E) the economic and regulatory factors affecting the evolution of the grid; (3) review Federal, State, industry, and academic research and development programs and identify technological options that could improve the future grid; (4) review the implications of increased reliance on digital information and control of the power grid for improving reliability, resilience, and congestion and for potentially increasing vulnerability to cyber attack; (5) review regulatory, industry, and institutional factors and programs affecting the future of the grid; (6) research the costs and benefits, as well as the strengths and weaknesses, of the options identified under paragraph (1) to address the emerging forces described in paragraph (2) that are shaping the grid; (7) identify the barriers to realizing the options identified and suggest strategies for overcoming those barriers including suggested actions, priorities, incentives, and possible legislative and executive actions; and (8) research the ability of the grid to integrate existing and future infrastructure, including utilities, telecommunications lines, highways, and other critical infrastructure. (b) Cooperation and access to information and personnel The Secretary shall ensure that the National Research Council receives full and timely cooperation, including full access to information and personnel, from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy, including the management and operating components of the Departments, and other Federal departments and agencies, as necessary, for the purposes of conducting the study described in subsection (a). (c) Report (1) In general Not later than 18 months from the date on which the Secretary enters into the agreement with the National Research Council described in subsection (a), the National Research Council shall submit to the Secretary and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report containing the findings of the research required by that subsection. (2) Form of report The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (d) Funding Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for 2014 for the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to obligate and expend not more than $2,000,000 for the National Research Council report. III Homeland Security Cybersecurity Workforce 301. Homeland security cybersecurity workforce (a) In general Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by sections 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, and 201, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 230A. Cybersecurity occupation categories, workforce assessment, and strategy (a) Short title This section may be cited as the Homeland Security Cybersecurity Boots-on-the-Ground Act (b) Cybersecurity occupation categories (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall develop and issue comprehensive occupation categories for individuals performing activities in furtherance of the cybersecurity mission of the Department. (2) Applicability The Secretary shall ensure that the comprehensive occupation categories issued under paragraph (1) are used throughout the Department and are made available to other Federal agencies. (c) Cybersecurity workforce assessment (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall assess the readiness and capacity of the workforce of the Department to meet its cybersecurity mission. (2) Contents The assessment required under paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum, include the following: (A) Information where cybersecurity positions are located within the Department, specified in accordance with the cybersecurity occupation categories issued under subsection (b). (B) Information on which cybersecurity positions are— (i) performed by— (I) permanent full time departmental employees, together with demographic information about such employees’ race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, and veterans status; (II) individuals employed by independent contractors; and (III) individuals employed by other Federal agencies, including the National Security Agency; and (ii) vacant. (C) The number of individuals hired by the Department pursuant to the authority granted to the Secretary in 2009 to permit the Secretary to fill 1,000 cybersecurity positions across the Department over a three year period, and information on what challenges, if any, were encountered with respect to the implementation of such authority. (D) Information on vacancies within the Department’s cybersecurity supervisory workforce, from first line supervisory positions through senior departmental cybersecurity positions. (E) Information on the percentage of individuals within each cybersecurity occupation category who received essential training to perform their jobs, and in cases in which such training is not received, information on what challenges, if any, were encountered with respect to the provision of such training. (F) Information on recruiting costs incurred with respect to efforts to fill cybersecurity positions across the Department in a manner that allows for tracking of overall recruiting and identifying areas for better coordination and leveraging of resources within the Department. (d) Workforce strategy (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall develop, maintain, and, as necessary, update, a comprehensive workforce strategy that enhances the readiness, capacity, training, recruitment, and retention of the cybersecurity workforce of the Department. (2) Contents The comprehensive workforce strategy developed under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a multiphased recruitment plan, including relating to experienced professionals, members of disadvantaged or underserved communities, the unemployed, and veterans; (B) a 5-year implementation plan; (C) a 10-year projection of the Department’s cybersecurity workforce needs; and (D) obstacles impeding the hiring and development of a cybersecurity workforce at the Department. (e) Information security training Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish and maintain a process to verify on an ongoing basis that individuals employed by independent contractors who serve in cybersecurity positions at the Department receive initial and recurrent information security training comprised of general security awareness training necessary to perform their job functions, and role-based security training that is commensurate with assigned responsibilities. The Secretary shall maintain documentation to ensure that training provided to an individual under this subsection meets or exceeds requirements for such individual’s job function. (f) Updates The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees annual updates regarding the cybersecurity workforce assessment required under subsection (c), information on the progress of carrying out the comprehensive workforce strategy developed under subsection (d), and information on the status of the implementation of the information security training required under subsection (e). (g) GAO study The Secretary shall provide the Comptroller General of the United States with information on the cybersecurity workforce assessment required under subsection (c) and progress on carrying out the comprehensive workforce strategy developed under subsection (d). The Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional committees a study on such assessment and strategy. (h) Cybersecurity Fellowship Program Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the feasibility of establishing a Cybersecurity Fellowship Program to offer a tuition payment plan for undergraduate and doctoral candidates who agree to work for the Department for an agreed-upon period of time. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding after the item relating to section 230 (as added by section 201) the following new item: Sec. 230A. Cybersecurity occupation categories, workforce assessment, and strategy. . 302. Personnel authorities (a) In general Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by sections 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 201, and 301 is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 230B. Personnel authorities (a) In general (1) Personnel authorities The Secretary may exercise with respect to qualified employees of the Department the same authority that the Secretary of Defense has with respect to civilian intelligence personnel and the scholarship program under sections 1601, 1602, 1603, and 2200a of title 10, United States Code, to establish as positions in the excepted service, appoint individuals to such positions, fix pay, and pay a retention bonus to any employee appointed under this section if the Secretary determines that such is needed to retain essential personnel. Before announcing the payment of a bonus under this paragraph, 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 written explanation of such determination. Such authority shall be exercised— (A) to the same extent and subject to the same conditions and limitations that the Secretary of Defense may exercise such authority with respect to civilian intelligence personnel of the Department of Defense; and (B) in a manner consistent with the merit system principles set forth in section 2301 (2) Civil service protections Sections 1221 and 2302, and chapter 75 (3) Plan for execution of authorities Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 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 that contains a plan for the use of the authorities provided under this subsection. (b) Annual report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter for four years, 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 detailed report (including appropriate metrics on actions occurring during the reporting period) that discusses the processes used by the Secretary in implementing this section and accepting applications, assessing candidates, ensuring adherence to veterans’ preference, and selecting applicants for vacancies to be filled by a qualified employee. (c) Definition of qualified employee In this section, the term qualified employee . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding after the item relating to section 230A (as added by section 301) the following new item: Sec. 230B. Personnel authorities. . July 23, 2014 Reported from the Committee on Homeland Security July 23, 2014 The Committees on Science, Space, and Technology Oversight and Government Reform

Summary: National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2014 - Title I: Securing the Nation Against Cyber Attack - (Sec. 102) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct cybersecurity activities, including the provision of shared situational awareness among federal entities to enable real-time, integrated, and operational actions to protect from, prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents. Defines &ldquo;cyber incident&rdquo; as an incident, or an attempt to cause an incident, that if successful, would: (1) jeopardize the security, integrity, confidentiality, or availability of an information system or network or any information stored on, processed on, or transiting such a system; (2) violate laws or procedures relating to system security, acceptable use policies, or acts of terrorism against such a system or network; or (3) deny access to or degrade, disrupt, or destruct such a system or network or defeat an operations or technical control of such a system or network. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to coordinate with federal, state, and local governments, national laboratories, critical infrastructure owners and operators, and other cross-sector coordinating entities to: (1) facilitate a national effort to strengthen and maintain critical infrastructure from cyber threats; (2) ensure that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies and procedures enable critical infrastructure owners and operators to receive appropriate and timely cyber threat information; (3) seek industry sector-specific expertise to develop voluntary security and resiliency strategies and to ensure that the allocation of federal resources is cost effective and reduces burdens on critical infrastructure owners and operators; (4) upon request, provide risk management assistance to entities and education to critical infrastructure owners and operators; and (5) coordinate a research and development strategy for cybersecurity technologies. Directs the Secretary: (1) to manage federal efforts to secure federal civilian information systems (excluding national security, Department of Defense [DOD], military, and intelligence community systems) using a risk-based and performance-based approach and, upon request, to support the efforts of critical infrastructure owners and operators to protect against cyber threats; (2) to direct a DHS entity to serve as a federal civilian entity by and among federal, state, and local governments, private entities, and critical infrastructure sectors to share cyber threat information; (3) to promote national awareness and educate the public regarding information system security; (4) upon request, to facilitate cyber incident response and recovery assistance and provide analysis and warnings related to threats to, and vulnerabilities of, critical information systems, crisis and consequence management support, and other remote or on-site technical assistance to federal, state, and local government entities and private entities for cyber incidents affecting critical infrastructure; and (5) to engage with international partners and conduct outreach to educational institutions. Requires the Secretary to: (1) designate critical infrastructure sectors; and (2) recognize, for each sector, a previously designated Sector Specific Agency (SSA), a Sector Coordinating Council (SCC), and at least one Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). Permits to be included as critical infrastructure sectors: chemical; commercial facilities; communications; critical manufacturing; dams; Defense Industrial Base; emergency services; energy; financial services; food and agriculture; government facilities; health care and public health; information technology; nuclear reactors, materials, and waste; transportation systems; and water and wastewater systems. Requires SCCs to: (1) be comprised of small, medium, and large critical infrastructure owners and operators, private entities, and representative trade associations; and (2) serve as a self-governing, self-organized, primary policy, planning, and strategic communications entity for coordinating with DHS, SSAs, and ISACs on security and resilience activities and emergency response and recovery efforts. Prohibits a government entity with regulating authority from being an SCC member. Bars the Secretary from having any role in the determination of SCC membership. Directs the Secretary to implement procedures for continuous, collaborative, and effective interactions between DHS and critical infrastructure owners and operators. (Sec. 104) Establishes the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) as a federal civilian information sharing interface to: (1) provide shared situational awareness to enable real-time, integrated, and operational actions across the federal government; and (2) share cyber threat information among federal, state, and local government entities, ISACs, private entities, and critical infrastructure owners and operators that have information sharing relationships. Requires the NCCIC to include: (1) at least one ISAC, (2) the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center to collaborate with state and local governments, (3) the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, (4) the Industrial Control System Cyber Emergency Response Team, and (5) the National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications. Requires the NCCIC to: (1) promote ongoing multi-directional sharing among entities and provide technical assistance as well as crisis management support; (2) identify requirements for data and information formats and accessibility, system interoperability, redundant systems, and alternative capabilities in the event of a disruption in NCCIC's primary information sharing mechanisms; (3) cooperate with international partners to share information and respond to cyber incidents; (4) safeguard sensitive cyber threat information from unauthorized disclosure; and (5) participate in appropriate exercises run by the National Exercise Program. Directs the NCCIC to require other federal civilian agencies to provide NCCIC with: (1) reports and information about cyber incidents, threats, and vulnerabilities affecting federal civilian information systems and critical infrastructure systems; (2) cyber incident detection, analysis, mitigation, and response information; and (3) cyber threat information received by such agencies. Requires the NCCIC, in the event a private vendor product or service of such an agency is implicated, to first notify such private vendor of a vulnerability before further disclosing such information. Directs the NCCIC to require federal civilian agencies with data breaches involving unauthorized acquisition or access of personally identifiable information to notify: (1) the NCCIC without unreasonable delay after discovery of the breach; and (2) potential victims without unreasonable delay, based on the risk of harm and consistent with the needs of law enforcement. Requires the NCCIC to: (1) collaborate with SCCs, ISACs, SSAs, and relevant critical infrastructure sectors on the development of prioritized federal response efforts to support the defense and recovery of critical infrastructure from cyber incidents; and (2) facilitate continuous improvements to the security and resiliency of public safety communications networks. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress and the Comptroller General (GAO) regarding: (1) major cyber incidents involving federal civilian agency information systems, including aggregate statistics on the number of breaches, the extent of any personally identifiable information involved, the volume of data exfiltrated, the consequential impact, and the estimated cost of remedies; (2) the capacity of the NCCIC to carry out its cybersecurity mission; (3) DHS's interactions with critical infrastructure sectors, SCCs, and SSAs; and (4) the volume and range of voluntary technical assistance sought and provided by DHS to critical infrastructure owners and operators. Requires a Comptroller General report on the effectiveness of NCCIC. (Sec. 105) Requires the Secretary to establish Cyber Incident Response Teams to provide technical assistance and recommendations to federal, state, and local government entities, private entities, and critical infrastructure owners and operators. Directs the Secretary, in coordination with SCCs, ISACs, and federal, state, and local governments, to develop, regularly update, and exercise a National Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan that: (1) includes emergency response plans associated with cyber threats to critical infrastructure, information systems, or networks; (2) adapts to a changing cyber threat environment; (3) incorporates best practices from exercises, training, and after-action reports; and (4) facilitates coordination between DHS and each critical infrastructure sector. (Sec. 106) Redesignates the National Protection and Programs Directorate as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Directorate. Requires the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint: (1) the Under Secretary for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, (2) the Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity, and (3) the Deputy Under Secretary for Infrastructure Protection. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress with recommendations for: (1) making the Cybersecurity and Communications Office an operational component of DHS; and (2) restructuring the SAFETY Act Office (the office implementing the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002) within DHS to provide incentives for the development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies, including the use of third-party registrars to improve the certification process. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress regarding the effectiveness of DHS's acquisition processes for cybersecurity technologies. Title II: Public-Private Collaboration on Cybersecurity - (Sec. 201) Directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to facilitate and support the development of a voluntary, industry-led set of standards and processes to reduce cyber risks to critical infrastructure. Prohibits NIST from requiring the use of specific solutions, products, services, or manufacturing or design techniques. Requires the Secretary to: (1) meet biannually with each SCC, and (2) submit annual reports to Congress on the state of cybersecurity in each sector. (Sec. 202) Expands liability protections for technology providers under the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002 to include designated cybersecurity technologies deployed in defense of qualifying cyber incidents, which include: (1) unlawful or unauthorized access incidents; (2) disruption of the integrity, operation, confidentiality, or availability of programmable electronic devices or communication networks; (3) misappropriation, corruption, or disruption of data, assets, information, or intellectual property; and (4) harm inside or outside the United States that results in damages, disruptions, or casualties severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, economy, national morale, or federal, state, local, or tribal government functions. (Sec. 203) Prohibits this Act from being construed to create or authorize any new regulations or additional federal government regulatory authority. (Sec. 204) Declares that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act. (Sec. 205) Prohibits this Act from permitting DHS to engage in monitoring, surveillance, exfiltration, or other collection activities for the purpose of tracking an individual's personally identifiable information. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary to determine the feasibility and potential benefit of developing a visiting security researchers program from academia, including cybersecurity scholars at DHS's Centers of Excellence. (Sec. 207) Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the National Research Council (NRC) to research the future resilience and reliability of the nation's electric power transmission and distribution system. Names such research the &quot;Saving More American Resources Today Study&quot; or &quot;SMART Study.&quot; Requires the NRC to report to the Secretary and Congress regarding its findings. Title III: Homeland Security Cybersecurity Workforce - (Sec. 301) Amends the HSA to add provisions entitled the Homeland Security Cybersecurity Boots-on-the-Ground Act, which require the Secretary to: (1) develop occupation categories for individuals performing activities in furtherance of DHS's cybersecurity mission, (2) ensure that such categories may be used throughout DHS and are made available to other federal agencies, and (3) conduct an annual assessment of the readiness and capacity of the DHS workforce to meet its cybersecurity mission. Directs the Secretary to include in such readiness assessment information on which cybersecurity positions are performed by: (1) permanent full time departmental employees (together with demographic information about such employees' race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, and veterans status); (2) individuals employed by independent contractors; and (3) individuals employed by other federal agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA). Requires the assessment to address vacancies within the supervisory workforce, job training, and recruiting costs. Directs the Secretary to develop: (1) a workforce strategy that enhances the readiness, capacity, training, recruitment, and retention of the DHS cybersecurity workforce, including a multi-phased recruitment plan, a 5-year implementation plan, and a 10-year projection of DHS workforce needs; and (2) a process to verify that employees of independent contractors who serve in DHS cybersecurity positions receive initial and recurrent information security and role-based security training commensurate with assigned responsibilities. Requires the Secretary to provide Congress with annual updates regarding such strategies, assessments, and training. Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to the Secretary and Congress with respect to such assessments and strategies. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress regarding the feasibility of establishing a Cybersecurity Fellowship Program to offer a tuition payment plan for undergraduate and doctoral candidates who agree to work for DHS for an agreed-upon period of time. (Sec. 302) Authorizes the Secretary to exercise personnel authorities (in the same manner as the DOD Secretary exercises authority with respect to civilian intelligence personnel and scholarship programs) to establish positions in the excepted service, appoint individuals, fix pay, and pay retention bonuses if needed to retain essential DHS employees who perform functions relating to the security of federal civilian information systems, critical infrastructure information systems, or related networks. Requires the Secretary to provide an explanation to Congress before announcing a bonus. Requires the Secretary to provide an annual report to Congress for a specified period regarding the processes used in accepting applications, assessing candidates, ensuring adherence to veterans' preference, and selecting applicants for vacancies to be filled by a qualified employee.