Security Clearance Enhancement Act of 2014

To amend the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to enhance security clearance investigation procedures, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Security Clearance Enhancement Act of 2014 2. Enhancement of security clearance investigation procedures (a) Information collection Section 3001(c)(2) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (50 U.S.C. 3341(c)(2)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B) by striking and (2) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (D) ensure that each personnel security investigation collects data from a variety of sources, including government, commercial data, consumer reporting agencies, and social media; (E) ensure that each personnel security investigation of an individual collects data relevant to the granting, denial, or revocation of the access to classified information, including— (i) information relating to a criminal or civil legal proceeding to which the individual is or becomes a party or witness; (ii) financial information, including information relating to— (I) a bankruptcy proceeding; (II) a lien against property; (III) mortgage fraud; (IV) high-value assets, including financial assets, obtained by the individual from an unknown source; and (V) bank accounts and bank account balances; (iii) credit reports from the major consumer reporting agencies or a wealth indicator for any individual about whom the major credit reporting agencies have little or no information; (iv) associations, past or present, of the individual with an individual or group that may suggest ill intent, vulnerability to blackmail, compulsive behavior, allegiance to another country, or change in ideology; (v) public information, including news articles or reports, that includes derogatory information about the individual; (vi) information posted on a social media website or forum that may suggest ill intent, vulnerability to blackmail, compulsive behavior, allegiance to another country, or change in ideology; and (vii) data maintained on a terrorist or criminal watch list maintained by an agency, State or local government, or international organization, including any such list maintained by— (I) the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury; (II) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and (III) the International Criminal Police Organization; (F) provide for review of the accuracy and comprehensiveness of information relating to the access to classified information of an individual through timely periodic reinvestigations and include data collected during such reinvestigations in the database required by subsection (e); and (G) provide for a process for notification of an agency employing or contracting with personnel with access to classified information if a verification or periodic reinvestigation has revealed information pertinent to revocation of the access. . (b) Frequency of periodic reinvestigations Section 3001(a)(7) of such Act ( 50 U.S.C. 3341(a)(7) every 2 times every (c) Reports Section 3001(h) of such Act ( 50 U.S.C. 3341(h) (1) in paragraph (1) by striking through 2011 (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) an assessment of the effectiveness of the database required by subsection (e); . (d) Funding from the revolving fund of the Office of Personnel Management Section 1304(e)(1) the security clearance system required under section 3001(e) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (50 U.S.C. 3341(e)), including 3. Limitation None of the amendments made by this Act shall be construed as requiring increased consideration of information relating to minor financial or mental health issues of an individual in evaluating the access to classified information of such individual. 4. Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Security Clearance Enhancement Act of 2014 - Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to expand the responsibilities of the executive agency selected to conduct security clearance investigations of U.S. government employees and contractors who require access to classified information. Requires such agency to provide for: (1) the collection of data from government, commercial data, consumer reporting agency, and social media sources, as well as data relevant to the granting, denial, or revocation of access to classified information; (2) periodic reinvestigations to review the accuracy and comprehensiveness of information relating to such access; and (3) a process to notify an agency if a verification or periodic reinvestigation has revealed information pertinent to revocation of access. Requires personnel security investigations of an individual to include information collected from: criminal or civil legal proceedings; financial information sources, including bankruptcy proceedings, property liens, mortgages, high-value assets obtained from unknown sources, and bank accounts; credit reports or wealth indicators; associations with an individual or group that may suggest ill intent, vulnerability to blackmail, compulsive behavior, allegiance to another country, or change in ideology; public sources, including news articles or reports; social media websites or forums; and terrorist or criminal watch lists maintained by an agency, state or local government, or international organization, including the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the International Criminal Police Organization. Requires data collected during reinvestigations to be included in the security clearance database established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Increases the frequency of periodic investigations conducted for the purpose of updating a previously completed background investigation to two times (currently, once) every: (1) 5 years in the case of a top secret clearance or access to a highly sensitive program, (2) 10 years in the case of a secret clearance, or (3) 15 years in the case of a confidential clearance. Reestablishes an annual report to Congress regarding security clearances. Requires such reports to assess the effectiveness of OPM's security clearance database. Prohibits this Act from being construed to require increased consideration of information relating to an individual's minor financial or mental health issues.