Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reauthorize the Border Enforcement Security Task Force program within the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017 2. Modified instructions (a) Updated considerations for the establishment of units Paragraph (2) of section 432(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 240(c) (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking the Secretary shall consider the Secretary shall apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration (2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting before the semicolon the following: , including threats posed by transnational criminal organizations (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking and (4) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; (5) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: (E) the extent to which the BEST unit would advance the Department’s homeland and border security strategic priorities and related objectives; and (F) whether departmental Joint Task Force operations as established pursuant to section 708 and other joint cross-border initiatives would be enhanced, improved, or otherwise assisted by the BEST unit to be established. . (b) Port security Subsection (c) of section 432 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 240 (4) Port security BEST units A BEST unit established pursuant to paragraph (2) with a port security nexus shall be composed of at least one member of each of the following: (A) The Coast Guard Investigative Service. (B) The geographically-responsible Coast Guard Sector Intelligence Office. . (c) Updated report elements Subsection (e) of section 432 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 240 (e) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter for the following five years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following: (1) A description of the effectiveness of BEST in enhancing border security, disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and reducing drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international borders of the United States, as measured by crime statistics, including violent deaths, incidents of violence, and drug-related arrests. (2) An assessment of how BEST enhances information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information, among Federal, State, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies. (3) A description of how BEST advances the Department’s homeland and border security strategic priorities and effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives. (4) An assessment of BEST’s joint operational efforts with departmental Joint Task Force operations established pursuant to section 708 and other joint cross-border initiatives. . May 16, 2017 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), before establishing a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) unit, to apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration specified factors, including: whether the area in which the unit would be established is significantly impacted by threats posed by transnational criminal organizations; the extent to which the unit would advance DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and related objectives; and whether departmental Joint Task Force operations would be enhanced, improved, or otherwise assisted by the unit. A BEST unit with a port security nexus must be composed of at least one member of each of: (1) the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and (2) the geographically-responsible Coast Guard Sector Intelligence Office. The bill requires DHS to submit an annual report on the BEST program for the next five years, and such report must include: a description of the effectiveness of BEST in disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations; an assessment of how BEST enhances information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information, among federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies; a description of how BEST advances DHS's homeland and border security strategic priorities and effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives; and an assessment of BEST's joint operational efforts with departmental Joint Task Force operations.