Military Facilities Force Protection Act of 2015

To enhance military facilities force protection. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Military Facilities Force Protection Act of 2015 2. Military recruiting and Reserve component facilities force protection enhancements (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Firearm The term firearm (2) Handgun The term handgun (3) Military personnel The term military personnel (4) Military recruiting facilities The term military recruiting facilities (5) Reserve component facility The term reserve component facility facility (b) Use of armed security personnel (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law or Department of Defense or military department regulation, the Secretary of Defense shall station military police or other military personnel armed with firearms, as deemed appropriate by the Secretary, at military recruiting and reserve component facilities for the exclusive purpose of force protection. (2) Use of alternative personnel Upon a determination by the Secretary that military personnel are not available to meet the force protection requirement under paragraph (1), the Secretary is authorized to enter into memoranda of understanding with State or local law enforcement agencies or State National Guards for the exclusive purpose of such force protection. (3) Required training (A) In general In consultation with the Attorney General and State and local law enforcement, as appropriate, the Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement a required training program for all force protection personnel stationed under this section. (B) Elements The training program required under subparagraph (A) shall include— (i) civil law enforcement rules of engagement, including appropriate escalation of force; (ii) gun safety procedures, including safe storage and transport; and (iii) education on the relevant laws and first responder policies of the State and local jurisdictions in which the assigned force protection personnel are located. (c) Facility infrastructure enhancements (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law or Department of Defense or military department regulation, the Secretary of Defense shall implement all reasonable and appropriate measures to improve the security of existing military recruitment and reserve component facilities. (2) Elements The measures implemented under paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum, include the installation of bullet-proof glass and enhanced video surveillance equipment, where appropriate. (3) Relocation of facilities Upon determination by the Secretary that adequate security improvements cannot be made at an existing military recruitment or reserve component facility in its current location, the Secretary shall relocate such facility to a location consistent with the security improvements required under this subsection. (d) Rules of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed as providing armed military personnel with— (1) additional law enforcement authorities, including authorities to make arrests, to execute or serve warrants, or perform any other civil law enforcement function; or (2) the authority to perform force protection functions outside military recruiting or reserve component facilities or the immediate vicinity thereof. (e) Report Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report describing the actions taken to comply with the requirements under this section.

Summary: Military Facilities Force Protection Act of 2015 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to station military police or other military personnel armed with firearms at military recruiting and reserve component facilities for the exclusive purpose of force protection. DOD is authorized to enter into memoranda of understanding with state or local law enforcement agencies or National Guards to provide such protection if military personnel are not available. DOD shall: implement a training program for all force protection personnel stationed under this Act; implement measures to improve the security of existing military recruitment and reserve component facilities, including installation of bullet-proof glass and enhanced video surveillance equipment; and relocate a facility for which adequate security improvements cannot be made to a location consistent with required security improvements.