PROTECT Act

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to develop and make available guidance relating to domestic preparedness for and collective response to terrorism regarding active shooter and mass casualty incident response assistance, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Providing Rational Options Toward the Elimination of Catastrophic Terrorism Act of 2017 PROTECT Act 2. Active shooter and mass casualty incident response assistance (a) In general Subtitle H of title VIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 451 890B. Active shooter and mass casualty incident response assistance (a) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General and the heads of other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall develop and make available to State, local, tribal, territorial, private sector, and nongovernmental partners guidance relating to domestic preparedness for and collective response to terrorism in order to assist in the development of emergency action and response plans for active shooter and mass casualty incidents in public and private locations, including facilities that have been identified by the Department as potentially vulnerable targets. (b) Guidance described Guidance developed and provided pursuant to subsection (a) may relate to the development of the following: (1) A strategy for properly responding to an active shooter or mass casualty incident in a public or private location, including training, evacuating, and providing care to persons in such location, with consideration given to the needs of persons with disabilities. (2) A plan for establishing a unified command, including identification of casualty collection points and staging areas for law enforcement, fire response, and medical personnel. (3) A schedule for regular testing of equipment used to receive communications during such an incident. (4) A practiced method and plan to communicate with occupants of such location during such an incident. (5) A practiced method and plan to communicate with the surrounding community regarding such an incident and the needs of Federal, State, and local officials. (6) A plan for coordinating with volunteer organizations to expedite assistance for victims. (7) A schedule for joint exercises and training. (8) A plan for outreach to facilities that have been identified by the Department as potentially vulnerable targets. (9) Other planning documents, as determined by the Secretary, including appropriate regionally focused products, plans, training, and outreach. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 890A the following new item: Sec. 890B. Active shooter and mass casualty incident response assistance. . 3. Consideration of active shooter threats Subsection (b) of section 2007 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 608 (1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new paragraph: (9) Active shooters. .

Summary: Providing Rational Options Toward the Elimination of Catastrophic Terrorism Act of 2017 or the PROTECT Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct: (1) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and provide guidance on terrorism preparedness and response to assist in the development of plans for addressing active shooter and mass casualty incidents, including in facilities identified by DHS as vulnerable targets; and (2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to consider the threat from active shooters in allocating grant funds under the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program.