Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Operation Stonegarden grant program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act 2. Operation Stonegarden (a) In general Subtitle A of title XX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 601 2009. Operation Stonegarden (a) Establishment There is established in the Department a program, which shall be known as Operation Stonegarden (b) Eligible recipients A law enforcement agency is eligible to receive a grant under this section if the agency— (1) is located in— (A) a State bordering Canada or Mexico; or (B) a State or territory with a maritime border; and (2) is involved in an active, ongoing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation coordinated through a U.S. Border Patrol sector office. (c) Permitted uses Grant funds received under this section may be used by the grant recipient for— (1) equipment, including maintenance and sustainment costs; (2) personnel, including overtime and backfill, in support of enhanced border law enforcement activities; (3) any activity permitted for Operation Stonegarden under the Department of Homeland Security’s most recent Homeland Security Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity; and (4) any other appropriate activity, as determined by the Administrator, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (d) Period of performance The Secretary shall award grants under this section to grant recipients for a period of not less than 36 months. (e) Report The Administrator shall submit a report, for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024, to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $110,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024 for grants under this section. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 2002(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 603(a) (a) Grants authorized The Secretary, through the Administrator, may award grants under sections 2003, 2004, and 2009 to State, local, and tribal governments, as appropriate. . (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2008 the following: Sec. 2009. Operation Stonegarden. . 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act 2. Operation Stonegarden (a) In general Subtitle A of title XX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 601 2009. Operation Stonegarden (a) Establishment There is established in the Department a program, which shall be known as Operation Stonegarden (b) Eligible law enforcement agencies A law enforcement agency is eligible to receive a grant under this section if the agency, either directly or through the State in which agency is located, if the agency— (1) is located in— (A) a State bordering Canada or Mexico; or (B) a State or territory with an international maritime border; and (2) is involved in an active, ongoing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation coordinated through a sector office. (c) Permitted uses Grant funds received under this section may be used by a State or an eligible law enforcement agency for— (1) equipment, including maintenance and sustainment costs; (2) personnel, including overtime and backfill for law enforcement personnel or non-law enforcement personnel who support enhanced border law enforcement activities; (3) allowable and approved personnel costs, including salaries, fringe benefits, overtime and backfill for dedicated intelligence analysts supporting Operation Stonegarden operations in support of enhanced border law enforcement activities (4) any activity permitted for Operation Stonegarden under— (A) the Department of Homeland Security’s most recent Homeland Security Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity; or (B) the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Preparedness Grants Manual; and (5) any other appropriate activity, as determined by the Secretary. (d) Period of performance The Secretary may award grants under this section to grant recipients for a period of not less than 36 months. (e) Collection of information For any fiscal year beginning on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act (1) the amount of the awards; (2) the amount obligated for the awards; (3) the amount of outlays under the awards; (4) financial plans with respect to the use of the awards; (5) any funding transfers or reallocations; and (6) any adjustments to spending plans or reprogramming. (f) Administrator oversight (1) In general The Administrator shall establish and implement guidelines— (A) to ensure that amounts made available under Operation Stonegarden are used in accordance with grant guidance and applicable Federal laws; (B) to increase the proportion of each grant made under Operation Stonegarden that is used for operational expenses by the ultimate grantee; (C) to improve program performance reporting and program performance measurements to facilitate designing, implementing, and enforcing procedures under Operation Stonegarden; and (D) to require the recording of standardized performance data regarding program output. (2) Submission Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act (A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate (B) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (C) the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives (g) Financial review guidelines (1) In general The Administrator, in coordination with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall develop and implement guidelines establishing procedures for implementing the auditing and reporting requirements set forth in section 2022 with respect to Operation Stonegarden. (2) Submission Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act (h) Report and briefing During each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024, the Administrator, in coordination with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall submit a report and provide a briefing to the congressional committees listed under subsection (f)(2) that includes, for the period covered by the report— (1) information on how each recipient of a grant under Operation Stonegarden expended amounts received under the grant; (2) information regarding the nature of operations carried out using amounts made available under Operation Stonegarden; and (3) in the first report submitted under this subsection— (A) an examination of the effects changing Operation Stonegarden to award multi-year grants would have on its mission; and (B) the findings and recommendations of the Administrator regarding what changes could improve Operation Stonegarden, which may include feedback from grant recipients. (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $110,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024 for grants under this section. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 2002(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 603(a) (a) Grants authorized The Secretary may award grants under sections 2003, 2004, and 2009 to State, tribal, territorial, and local governments, as appropriate. . (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2008 the following: Sec. 2009. Operation Stonegarden. . February 4, 2020 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act This bill provides statutory authorization for the Operation Stonegarden grant program within the Department of Homeland Security. Through the program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide grants for enhancing border security to law enforcement agencies that are (1) in a state with an international land or maritime border, and (2) involved in an active U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation coordinated through a sector office.  The bill imposes various information collecting and reporting requirements related to Operation Stonegarden activities.