140 
HR 5925 RFS 
(A) facilitating cooperation among Federal, 
State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agen-
cies to share information and implement coordi-
nated enforcement activities; 
(B) enhancing law enforcement intelligence 
sharing among Federal, State, local, and Tribal 
law enforcement agencies; 
(C) providing reliable law enforcement in-
telligence to law enforcement agencies needed to 
design effective enforcement strategies and op-
erations; and 
(D) supporting coordinated law enforce-
ment strategies which maximize use of available 
resources to reduce the supply of illegal drugs 
in designated areas and in the United States as 
a whole. 
(b) DESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director, in consulta-
tion with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the 
Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the 
head of each National Drug Control Program Agen-
cy, and the Governor of each applicable State, may 
designate any specified area of the United States as 
a high intensity drug trafficking area. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00140
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
141 
HR 5925 RFS 
(2) ACTIVITIES.—After making a designation 
under paragraph (1) and in order to provide Federal 
assistance to the area so designated, the Director 
may— 
(A) obligate such sums as are appropriated 
for the Program; 
(B) direct the temporary reassignment of 
Federal personnel to such area, subject to the 
approval of the head of the agency that employs 
such personnel; 
(C) take any other action authorized under 
this section or chapter 10 of title 31, United 
States Code, as added by section 2(c), to pro-
vide increased Federal assistance to those 
areas; and 
(D) coordinate activities under this section 
(specifically administrative, recordkeeping, and 
funds management activities) with State, local, 
and Tribal officials. 
(c) PETITIONS
FOR DESIGNATION.—The Director 
shall establish and maintain regulations under which a co-
alition of interested law enforcement agencies from an 
area may petition for designation as a high intensity drug 
trafficking area (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘HIDTA’’). Such regulations shall provide for a regular 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00141
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
142 
HR 5925 RFS 
review by the Director of the petition, including a rec-
ommendation regarding the merit of the petition to the 
Director by a panel of qualified, independent experts. 
(d) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In considering 
whether to designate an area under this section as a high 
intensity drug trafficking area, the Director shall consider, 
in addition to such other criteria as the Director considers 
to be appropriate, the extent to which— 
(1) the area is a significant center of illegal 
drug production, manufacturing, importation, or dis-
tribution; 
(2) State, local, and Tribal law enforcement 
agencies have committed resources to respond to the 
drug trafficking problem in the area, thereby indi-
cating a determination to respond aggressively to the 
problem; 
(3) drug-related activities in the area are hav-
ing a significant harmful impact in the area, and in 
other areas of the country; and 
(4) a significant increase in allocation of Fed-
eral resources is necessary to respond adequately to 
drug-related activities in the area. 
(e) ORGANIZATION OF HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAF-
FICKING AREAS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00142
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
143 
HR 5925 RFS 
(1) EXECUTIVE BOARD AND OFFICERS.—To be 
eligible for funds appropriated under this section, 
each high intensity drug trafficking area shall be 
governed by an Executive Board. The Executive 
Board shall designate a chairman, vice chairman, 
and any other officers to the Executive Board that 
it determines are necessary. 
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Executive Board 
of a high intensity drug trafficking area shall be re-
sponsible for— 
(A) providing direction and oversight in es-
tablishing and achieving the goals of the high 
intensity drug trafficking area; 
(B) managing the funds of the high inten-
sity drug trafficking area; 
(C) reviewing and approving all funding 
proposals consistent with the overall objective of 
the high intensity drug trafficking area; and 
(D) reviewing and approving all reports to 
the Director on the activities of the high inten-
sity drug trafficking area. 
(3) BOARD
REPRESENTATION.—None of the 
funds appropriated under this section may be ex-
pended for any high intensity drug trafficking area, 
or for a partnership or region of a high intensity 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00143
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
144 
HR 5925 RFS 
drug trafficking area, if the Executive Board for 
such area, region, or partnership, does not apportion 
an equal number of votes between representatives of 
participating agencies and representatives of partici-
pating State, local, and Tribal agencies. Where it is 
impractical for an equal number of representatives 
of agencies and State, local, and Tribal agencies to 
attend a meeting of an Executive Board in person, 
the Executive Board may use a system of proxy 
votes or weighted votes to achieve the voting balance 
required by this paragraph. 
(4) NO AGENCY RELATIONSHIP.—The eligibility 
requirements of this section are intended to ensure 
the responsible use of Federal funds. Nothing in this 
section is intended to create an agency relationship 
between individual high intensity drug trafficking 
areas and the Federal Government. 
(f) USE OF FUNDS.—The Director shall ensure that 
not more than 5 percent of Federal funds appropriated 
for the Program are expended for substance use disorder 
treatment programs and not more than 5 percent of the 
Federal funds appropriated for the Program are expended 
for drug prevention programs. 
(g) COUNTERTERRORISM ACTIVITIES.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00144
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
145 
HR 5925 RFS 
(1) ASSISTANCE
AUTHORIZED.—The Director 
may authorize use of resources available for the Pro-
gram to assist Federal, State, local, and Tribal law 
enforcement agencies in investigations and activities 
related to terrorism and prevention of terrorism, es-
pecially but not exclusively with respect to such in-
vestigations and activities that are also related to 
drug trafficking. 
(2) LIMITATION.—The Director shall ensure— 
(A) that assistance provided under para-
graph (1) remains incidental to the purpose of 
the Program to reduce drug availability and 
carry out drug-related law enforcement activi-
ties; and 
(B) that significant resources of the Pro-
gram are not redirected to activities exclusively 
related to terrorism, except on a temporary 
basis under extraordinary circumstances, as de-
termined by the Director. 
(h) ROLE OF DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRA-
TION.—The Director, in consultation with the Attorney 
General, shall ensure that a representative of the Drug 
Enforcement Administration is included in the Intelligence 
Support Center for each high intensity drug trafficking 
area. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00145
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
146 
HR 5925 RFS 
(i) EMERGING THREAT RESPONSE FUND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Director may expend up to 10 
percent of the amounts appropriated under this sec-
tion on a discretionary basis, in accordance with the 
criteria established under paragraph (2)— 
(A) to respond to any emerging drug traf-
ficking threat in an existing high intensity drug 
trafficking area; 
(B) to establish a new high intensity drug 
trafficking area; or 
(C) to expand an existing high intensity 
drug trafficking area. 
(2) CONSIDERATION OF IMPACT.—In allocating 
funds under this subsection, the Director shall con-
sider— 
(A) the impact of activities funded on re-
ducing overall drug traffic in the United States, 
or minimizing the probability that an emerging 
drug trafficking threat will spread to other 
areas of the United States; and 
(B) such other criteria as the Director con-
siders appropriate. 
(j) ANNUAL HIDTA PROGRAM BUDGET SUBMIS-
SIONS.—As part of the documentation that supports the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00146
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
147 
HR 5925 RFS 
President’s annual budget request for the Office, the Di-
rector shall submit to Congress a budget justification that 
includes— 
(1) the amount proposed for each HIDTA, con-
ditional upon a review by the Office of the request 
submitted by such HIDTA and the performance of 
such HIDTA, with supporting narrative descriptions 
and rationale for each request; 
(2) a detailed justification that explains— 
(A) the reasons for the proposed funding 
level and how such funding level was deter-
mined based on a current assessment of the 
drug trafficking threat in each high intensity 
drug trafficking area; 
(B) how such funding will ensure that the 
goals and objectives of each such area will be 
achieved; and 
(C) how such funding supports the Na-
tional Drug Control Strategy; and 
(3) the amount of HIDTA funds used to inves-
tigate and prosecute organizations and individuals 
trafficking in each major illicit drug, as identified by 
the Director, in the prior calendar year, and a de-
scription of how those funds were used. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00147
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
148 
HR 5925 RFS 
(k) HIDTA ANNUAL EVALUATION REPORT.—As 
part of each report submitted pursuant to section 1006(a) 
of title 31, United States Code, as added by section 2(c), 
the Director shall include, for each designated high inten-
sity drug trafficking area, a report that— 
(1) describes— 
(A) the specific purposes for the high in-
tensity drug trafficking area; and 
(B) the specific long-term and short-term 
goals and objectives for the high intensity drug 
trafficking area; 
(2) includes an evaluation of the performance of 
the high intensity drug trafficking area in accom-
plishing the specific long-term and short-term goals 
and objectives identified under subparagraph (1)(B); 
(3) assesses the number and operation of all 
federally funded drug enforcement task forces within 
such high intensity drug trafficking area; 
(4) describes— 
(A) each Federal, State, local, and Tribal 
drug enforcement task force operating in such 
high intensity drug trafficking area; 
(B) how such task forces coordinate with 
each other, with any high intensity drug traf-
ficking area task force, and with investigations 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00148
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
149 
HR 5925 RFS 
receiving funds from the Organized Crime and 
Drug Enforcement Task Force; 
(C) what steps, if any, each such task 
force takes to share information regarding drug 
trafficking and drug production with other fed-
erally funded drug enforcement task forces in 
the high intensity drug trafficking area; 
(D) the role of the high intensity drug 
trafficking area in coordinating the sharing of 
such information among task forces; 
(E) the nature and extent of cooperation 
by each Federal, State, local, and Tribal partic-
ipant in ensuring that such information is 
shared among law enforcement agencies and 
with the high intensity drug trafficking area; 
(F) the nature and extent to which infor-
mation sharing and enforcement activities are 
coordinated with joint terrorism task forces in 
the high intensity drug trafficking area; and 
(G) any recommendations for measures 
needed to ensure that task force resources are 
utilized efficiently and effectively to reduce the 
availability of illegal drugs in the high intensity 
drug trafficking areas; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00149
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
150 
HR 5925 RFS 
(5) in consultation with the Director of Na-
tional Intelligence— 
(A) evaluates existing and planned law en-
forcement intelligence systems supported by 
such high intensity drug trafficking area, or 
utilized by task forces receiving any funding 
under the Program, including the extent to 
which such systems ensure access and avail-
ability of law enforcement intelligence to Fed-
eral, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement 
agencies within the high intensity drug traf-
ficking area and outside of such area; 
(B) evaluates the extent to which Federal, 
State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agen-
cies participating in each high intensity drug 
trafficking area are sharing law enforcement in-
telligence information to assess current drug 
trafficking threats and design appropriate en-
forcement strategies; and 
(C) identifies the measures needed to im-
prove effective sharing of information and law 
enforcement intelligence regarding drug traf-
ficking and drug production among Federal, 
State, local, and Tribal law enforcement partici-
pating in a high intensity drug trafficking area, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00150
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
151 
HR 5925 RFS 
and between such agencies and similar agencies 
outside the high intensity drug trafficking area. 
(l) COORDINATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INTEL-
LIGENCE SHARING WITH ORGANIZED CRIME DRUG EN-
FORCEMENT TASK FORCE PROGRAM.— 
(1) DRUG ENFORCEMENT INTELLIGENCE SHAR-
ING.—The Director, in consultation with the Attor-
ney General, shall ensure that any drug enforcement 
intelligence obtained by the Intelligence Support 
Center for each high intensity drug trafficking area 
is shared, on a timely basis, with the drug intel-
ligence fusion center operated by the Organized 
Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force of the Depart-
ment of Justice. 
(2) 
CERTIFICATION.—Before 
the 
Director 
awards any funds to a high intensity drug traf-
ficking area, the Director shall certify that the law 
enforcement entities participating in that HIDTA 
are providing laboratory seizure data to the national 
clandestine laboratory database at the El Paso Intel-
ligence Center. 
(m) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Office to carry out 
this section $280 million for each fiscal years 2019 
through 2023. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:16 Jun 21, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00151
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5925.RFS
H5925
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS