Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act of 2018

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a data framework to provide access for appropriate personnel to law enforcement and other information of the Department, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act of 2018 2. Department of Homeland Security data framework (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop a data framework to integrate existing Department of Homeland Security datasets and systems, as appropriate, for access by authorized personnel in a manner consistent with relevant legal authorities and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties policies and protections. In developing such framework, the Secretary shall ensure, in accordance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, the following information is included: (1) All information acquired, held, or obtained by an office or component of the Department that falls within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, weapons of mass destruction information, and national intelligence. (2) Any information or intelligence relevant to priority mission needs and capability requirements of the homeland security enterprise, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (b) Data framework access (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that the data framework required under this section is accessible to employees of the Department of Homeland Security who the Secretary determines— (A) have an appropriate security clearance; (B) are assigned to perform a function that requires access to information in such framework; and (C) are trained in applicable standards for safeguarding and using such information. (2) Guidance The Secretary of Homeland Security shall— (A) issue guidance for Department of Homeland Security employees authorized to access and contribute to the data framework pursuant to paragraph (1); and (B) ensure that such guidance enforces a duty to share between offices and components of the Department when accessing or contributing to such framework for mission needs. (3) Efficiency The Secretary of Homeland Security shall promulgate data standards and instruct components of the Department of Homeland Security to make available information through the data framework under this section in a machine-readable format, to the greatest extent practicable. (c) Exclusion of information The Secretary of Homeland Security may exclude from the data framework information that the Secretary determines access to or the confirmation of the existence of could— (1) jeopardize the protection of sources, methods, or activities; (2) compromise a criminal or national security investigation; (3) be inconsistent with the other Federal laws or regulations; or (4) be duplicative or not serve an operational purpose if included in such framework. (d) Safeguards The Secretary of Homeland Security shall incorporate into the data framework systems capabilities for auditing and ensuring the security of information included in such framework. Such capabilities shall include the following: (1) Mechanisms for identifying insider threats. (2) Mechanisms for identifying security risks. (3) Safeguards for privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. (e) Deadline for implementation Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure the data framework required under this section has the ability to include the information described in subsection (a). (f) Notice to Congress (1) Status updates The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees regular updates on the status of the data framework required under this section until the date on which such data framework is fully operational. (2) Operational notification Not later than 60 days after the date on which the data framework required under this section is fully operational, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide notice to the appropriate congressional committees of such. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committee The term appropriate congressional committee 6 U.S.C. 101 (2) National intelligence The term national intelligence 50 U.S.C. 3003(5)

Summary: Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to (1) develop a data framework to integrate existing DHS datasets and systems for access by authorized personnel in a manner consistent with relevant legal authorities and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties policies and protections; (2) ensure that all information of a DHS office or component that falls within the scope of the information sharing environment, and any information or intelligence relevant to priority mission needs and capability requirements of the homeland security enterprise, is included; and (3) ensure that the framework is accessible to DHS employees who have an appropriate security clearance, who are assigned to perform a function that requires access, and who are trained in applicable standards for safeguarding and using such information. DHS shall (1) issue guidance for DHS employees authorized to access and contribute to the framework that enforces a duty to share between DHS offices and components for mission needs, and (2) promulgate data standards and instruct DHS components to make available information through the framework in a machine-readable format. DHS may exclude information that could jeopardize the protection of sources, methods, or activities or compromise a criminal or national security investigation. DHS shall incorporate into such framework systems capabilities for auditing and ensuring the security of information. Such capabilities shall include mechanisms for identifying insider threats and security risks and safeguards for privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.