Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act

To establish a Civilian Cyber Security Reserve as a pilot project to address the cyber security needs of the United States with respect to national security, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act 2. Civilian Cyber Security Reserve pilot project (a) Pilot project (1) In general Each appropriate agency head may carry out a pilot project to establish a Civilian Cyber Security Reserve at the covered agency to address the cyber security needs of the United States with respect to national security. (2) Appointments Under a pilot project authorized under paragraph (1), the appropriate agency head may noncompetitively appoint members of the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve to temporary positions in the competitive or excepted service. (3) Status as employees An individual appointed under paragraph (2) shall be considered a Federal civil service employee under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code. (b) Eligibility; application and selection (1) In general Under a pilot project authorized under subsection (a), the appropriate agency head shall establish criteria for— (A) individuals to be eligible for the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve in the covered agency; and (B) the application and selection processes for the Reserve. (2) Requirements for individuals The criteria established under paragraph (1)(A) with respect to an individual shall include— (A) previous employment by the Federal Government or within the uniformed services; and (B) cyber security expertise. (3) Agreement required An individual may become a member of the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve only if the individual enters into an agreement with the appropriate agency head to become such a member, which shall set forth the rights and obligations of the individual and the covered agency. (4) Exception for continuing military service commitments A member of the Selected Reserve under section 10143 of title 10, United States Code, may not be a member of the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve. (c) Components of the civilian cyber security reserve The appropriate agency head may consider, in carrying out a pilot project authorized under subsection (a), developing different components of the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve in the covered agency, one with an obligation to respond when called into activation at the direction of the appropriate agency head and one that is not compelled to so respond, with appropriate corresponding differing benefits for each such component. (d) Security clearances (1) In general The appropriate agency head shall ensure that all members of the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve in the covered agency undergo the appropriate personnel vetting and adjudication commensurate with the duties of the position, including a determination of eligibility for access to classified information where a security clearance is necessary, in accordance with Executive Order 12968 ( 50 U.S.C. 3161 50 U.S.C. 3161 (2) Cost of maintaing clearances The original sponsor of a security clearance of a member of a Civilian Cyber Security Reserve at a covered agency shall be responsible for the cost of maintaining that security clearance. (e) Project guidance (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each appropriate agency head may issue guidance establishing and implementing a pilot project authorized under subsection (a) at the covered agency. (2) Penalties (A) In general In developing guidance under paragraph (1), an appropriate agency head may provide for penalties for individuals who do not respond to activation when called, such as recoupment of pay or benefits earned as a member of the Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve, or recoupment of civilian service creditable under section 8411 of title 5, United States Code. (B) Procedures In the case of a proposed penalty or action under this paragraph, the individual shall be entitled to the applicable procedures set forth in title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or as otherwise specified in applicable guidance. (f) Evaluation Not later than 5 years after the pilot project authorized under subsection (a) is established in each covered agency, the Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1) conduct a study evaluating the pilot project at each such agency; and (2) submit to Congress— (A) a report on the results of the study; and (B) a recommendation with respect to whether the pilot project should be modified, extended in duration, or established as a permanent program. (g) Report Not later than 5 years after the pilot project authorized under subsection (a) is established in a covered agency, the appropriate agency head shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report— (1) relating to the activities carried out under the pilot project; and (2) that includes a recommendation with respect to whether the pilot project should be modified, extended in duration, or established as a permanent program. (h) Sunset A pilot project authorized under this section shall terminate on the date that is 6 years after the date on which the pilot project is established. (i) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate agency head The term appropriate agency head (A) in the case of the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security; and (B) in the case of the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Defense. (2) Competitive service The term competitive service (3) Covered agency The term covered agency (4) Excepted service The term excepted service (5) Temporary The term temporary (6) Uniformed services The term uniformed services (j) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to each appropriate agency head such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Summary: Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to each create a temporary Civilian Cyber Security Reserve within their agencies to address U.S. cybersecurity needs with respect to national security. Reserve members must be former federal employees or former military personnel, have cybersecurity expertise, and obtain any necessary security clearances, in addition to any other criteria specified by each agency. Membership in the reserves is contingent on a mutual agreement between the agency and the individual. Reserves may consist of different components, with one component obligated to respond to a call to activation and the other not obligated to do so; each agency may establish penalties for those individuals who fail to respond when required. The Government Accountability Office and each agency must evaluate and report on the reserves, including whether they should be made permanent.