IIB 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3598 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
NOVEMBER 3, 2015 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs 
AN ACT 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance 
the partnership between the Department of Homeland 
Security and the National Network of Fusion Centers, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fusion Center En-
hancement Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FUSION 
CENTER PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 210A of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h) is amended— 
(1) by amending the section heading to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 210A. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FU-
SION CENTER PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ‘‘Beginning on the date of 
the enactment of the Fusion Center Enhancement 
Act of 2015, such Initiative shall be known as the 
‘Department of Homeland Security Fusion Center 
Partnership Initiative’.’’; 
(3) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) INTERAGENCY SUPPORT AND COORDINATION.— 
Through the Department of Homeland Security Fusion 
Center Partnership Initiative, in coordination with prin-
cipal officials of fusion centers in the National Network 
of Fusion Centers and the officers designated as the 
Homeland Security Advisors of the States, the Secretary 
shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
‘‘(1) coordinate with the heads of other Federal 
departments and agencies to provide operational and 
intelligence advice and assistance to the National 
Network of Fusion Centers; 
‘‘(2) support the integration of fusion centers 
into the information sharing environment; 
‘‘(3) support the maturation and sustainment 
of the National Network of Fusion Centers; 
‘‘(4) reduce inefficiencies and maximize the ef-
fectiveness of Federal resource support to the Na-
tional Network of Fusion Centers; 
‘‘(5) provide analytic and reporting advice and 
assistance to the National Network of Fusion Cen-
ters; 
‘‘(6) review information within the scope of the 
information sharing environment, including home-
land security information, terrorism information, 
and weapons of mass destruction information, that 
is gathered by the National Network of Fusion Cen-
ters and incorporate such information, as appro-
priate, into the Department’s own such information; 
‘‘(7) provide for the effective dissemination of 
information within the scope of the information 
sharing environment to the National Network of Fu-
sion Centers; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
‘‘(8) facilitate close communication and coordi-
nation between the National Network of Fusion 
Centers and the Department and other Federal de-
partments and agencies; 
‘‘(9) provide the National Network of Fusion 
Centers with expertise on Department resources and 
operations; 
‘‘(10) coordinate the provision of training and 
technical assistance to the National Network of Fu-
sion Centers and encourage such fusion centers to 
participate in terrorism threat-related exercises con-
ducted by the Department; 
‘‘(11) ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, 
that support for the National Network of Fusion 
Centers is included as a national priority in applica-
ble homeland security grant guidance; 
‘‘(12) ensure that each fusion center in the Na-
tional Network of Fusion Centers has a privacy pol-
icy approved by the Chief Privacy Officer of the De-
partment and a civil rights and civil liberties policy 
approved by the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil 
Liberties of the Department; 
‘‘(13) coordinate the nationwide suspicious ac-
tivity report initiative to ensure information gath-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
ered by the National Network of Fusion Centers is 
incorporated as appropriate; 
‘‘(14) lead Department efforts to ensure fusion 
centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers 
are the primary focal points for the sharing of home-
land security information, terrorism information, 
and weapons of mass destruction information with 
State and local entities to the greatest extent prac-
ticable; 
‘‘(15) develop and disseminate best practices on 
the appropriate levels for staffing at fusion centers 
in the National Network of Fusion Centers of quali-
fied representatives from State, local, tribal, and ter-
ritorial law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, 
and emergency management services, and public 
health disciplines, as well as the private sector; and 
‘‘(16) carry out such other duties as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate.’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking so much as precedes para-
graph (3)(B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) RESOURCE ALLOCATION.— 
‘‘(1) INFORMATION SHARING AND PERSONNEL 
ASSIGNMENT.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
‘‘(A) INFORMATION SHARING.—The Under 
Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis shall en-
sure that, as appropriate— 
‘‘(i) fusion centers in the National 
Network of Fusion Centers have access to 
homeland security information sharing sys-
tems; and 
‘‘(ii) Department personnel are de-
ployed to support fusion centers in the Na-
tional Network of Fusion Centers in a 
manner consistent with the Department’s 
mission and existing statutory limits. 
‘‘(B) PERSONNEL
ASSIGNMENT.—Depart-
ment personnel referred to in subparagraph 
(A)(ii) may include the following: 
‘‘(i) Intelligence officers. 
‘‘(ii) Intelligence analysts. 
‘‘(iii) Other liaisons from components 
and offices of the Department, as appro-
priate. 
‘‘(C) MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.— 
The Under Secretary for Intelligence and Anal-
ysis shall negotiate memoranda of under-
standing between the Department and a State 
or local government, in coordination with the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
appropriate representatives from fusion centers 
in the National Network of Fusion Centers, re-
garding the exchange of information between 
the Department and such fusion centers. Such 
memoranda shall include the following: 
‘‘(i) The categories of information to 
be provided by each entity to the other en-
tity that are parties to any such memo-
randa. 
‘‘(ii) The contemplated uses of the ex-
changed information that is the subject of 
any such memoranda. 
‘‘(iii) The procedures for developing 
joint products. 
‘‘(iv) The information sharing dispute 
resolution processes. 
‘‘(v) Any protections necessary to en-
sure the exchange of information accords 
with applicable law and policies. 
‘‘(2) SOURCES OF SUPPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Information shared 
and personnel assigned pursuant to paragraph 
(1) may be shared or provided, as the case may 
be, by the following Department components 
and offices, in coordination with the respective 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
component or office head and in consultation 
with the principal officials of fusion centers in 
the National Network of Fusion Centers: 
‘‘(i) The Office of Intelligence and 
Analysis. 
‘‘(ii) The Office of Infrastructure Pro-
tection. 
‘‘(iii) The Transportation Security 
Administration. 
‘‘(iv) U.S. Customs and Border Pro-
tection. 
‘‘(v) U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement. 
‘‘(vi) The Coast Guard. 
‘‘(vii) Other components or offices of 
the Department, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(B) COORDINATION
WITH
OTHER
FED-
ERAL AGENCIES.—The Under Secretary for In-
telligence and Analysis shall coordinate with ap-
propriate officials throughout the Federal Gov-
ernment to ensure the deployment to fusion 
centers in the National Network of Fusion Cen-
ters of representatives with relevant expertise of 
other Federal departments and agencies. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
‘‘(3) RESOURCE ALLOCATION CRITERIA.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
make available criteria for sharing information 
and deploying personnel to support a fusion 
center in the National Network of Fusion Cen-
ters in a manner consistent with the Depart-
ment’s mission and existing statutory limits.’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (4)(B), in the matter 
preceding clause (i), by inserting ‘‘in which 
such fusion center is located’’ after ‘‘region’’; 
(5) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘government’’ and in-
serting ‘‘governments’’; and 
(ii) by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5) utilize Department information, including 
information held by components and offices, to de-
velop analysis focused on the mission of the Depart-
ment under section 101(b).’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
(6) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—To the greatest extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall make it a priority to 
allocate resources, including deployed personnel, 
under this section from U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforce-
ment, and the Coast Guard to support fusion centers 
in the National Network of Fusion Centers located 
in jurisdictions along land or maritime borders of 
the United States in order to enhance the integrity 
of and security at such borders by helping Federal, 
State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement 
authorities to identify, investigate, and otherwise 
interdict persons, weapons, and related contraband 
that pose a threat to homeland security.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘partici-
pating State, local, and regional’’; 
(7) in subsection (j)— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (6); and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) the term ‘National Network of Fusion 
Centers’ means a decentralized arrangement of fu-
sion centers intended to enhance individual State 
and urban area fusion centers’ ability to leverage the 
capabilities and expertise of all fusion centers for the 
purpose of enhancing analysis and homeland secu-
rity information sharing nationally; and’’; and 
(8) by striking subsection (k). 
(b) ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annu-
ally thereafter through 2022, the Under Secretary for In-
telligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland 
Security shall report to the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Se-
lect Committee on Intelligence of the Senate on the efforts 
of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Depart-
ment and other relevant components and offices of the De-
partment to enhance support provided to fusion centers 
in the National Network of Fusion Centers, including 
meeting the requirements specified in section 210A of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3598 RFS
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h), as 
amended by subsection (a) of this section. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by striking the 
item relating to section 210A and inserting the following 
new item: 
‘‘Sec. 210A. Department of Homeland Security Fusion Centers Initiative.’’. 
(d) REFERENCE.—Any reference in any law, rule, or 
regulation to the ‘‘Department of Homeland Security 
State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative’’ shall 
be deemed to be a reference to the ‘‘Department of Home-
land Security Fusion Center Initiative’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives November 2, 
2015. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:13 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3598.RFS
H3598
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS