local law enforcement agencies, shall establish best 
practices for— 
(A) the issuance of alerts through the Net-
work; 
(B) the extent of the dissemination of alerts 
issued through the Network; and 
(C) the achievement of the goals described in 
section 3(c). 
(2) UPDATING
BEST
PRACTICES.—The Coordi-
nator shall review the best practices established under 
paragraph (1) no less frequently than every 5 years 
to ensure the best practices are consistent with up-
dated data and recommendations on active shooter 
situations and technological advancements in the In-
tegrated Public Alert and Warning System or other 
technologies. The Coordinator shall convene the Advi-
sory Panel as necessary to provide updated rec-
ommendations if the best practices are to be updated. 
(b) ADVISORY PANEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Coordinator 
shall establish an Advisory Panel to make rec-
ommendations with respect to the establishment of 
best practices under subsection (a). 
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(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Panel shall be 
comprised of at least 9 members, including— 
(A) at least 5 law enforcement officers, in-
cluding at least one nonsupervisory law enforce-
ment officer, who have responded to active shoot-
er incidents and who represent rural, suburban, 
and urban communities; 
(B) at least 1 public safety expert who is 
not a law enforcement officer and who has re-
sponded to an active shooter incident; 
(C) at least 1 emergency response official 
who is not a law enforcement officer; 
(D) at least 1 city planning expert; and 
(E) at least 1 mental and behavioral health 
expert. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 15 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Advisory Panel shall submit to Coordinator rec-
ommendations with respect to the establishment of 
best practices under subsection (a). 
(c) LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The best practices established 
under subsection (a) shall— 
(A) be adoptable on a voluntary basis only; 
and 
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(B) to the maximum extent practicable (as 
determined by the Coordinator, in consultation 
with State, Tribal, and local law enforcement 
agencies), provide that— 
(i) appropriate information relating to 
an active shooter response is disseminated 
to the appropriate law enforcement, public 
health, communications, and other public 
officials; and 
(ii) the dissemination of an alert 
through the Network be limited to the geo-
graphic areas most likely to be affected by, 
or able to respond to, an active shooter situ-
ation. 
(2) NO
INTERFERENCE.—In establishing best 
practices under subsection (a), the Coordinator may 
not interfere with systems of voluntary coordination 
between local broadcasters and State, Tribal, and 
local law enforcement agencies for improving and im-
plementing the Network. 
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SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON STATE RE-
SPONSES TO ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATIONS 
REQUIRING 
THE 
ISSUANCE 
OF 
PUBLIC 
ALERTS AND WARNINGS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study on State and local responses 
to active shooters and situations requiring the issuance of 
a public alert or warning. Such study shall address each 
of the following: 
(1) Differences between the definitions of the 
term ‘‘active shooter’’ used by different States. 
(2) The amount of time it takes and the process 
in each State to receive approval from the State alert-
ing officials after a local law enforcement agency re-
quests the issuance of a public alert or warning, such 
as an AMBER Alert, a Blue Alert, or an Ashanti 
alert. 
(3) A comparison of the timing and effectiveness 
of the issuance of public alerts and warnings by 
State, Tribal, and local alerting officials. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall submit to Congress a report 
containing the findings of the study conducted under sub-
section (a). 
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SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Attorney General to carry out this Act 
$2,000,000 for fiscal year 2023. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated 
under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. 
SEC. 7. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act may be con-
strued to provide that a participating agency, or an officer, 
employee, or agent thereof, shall be liable for any act or 
omission pertaining to the Network. 
(b) STATE OR OTHER FEDERAL LAW.— Nothing in 
this section may be construed to limit the application of 
any State or other Federal law providing for liability for 
any act or omission pertaining to the Network. 
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Union Calendar No. 290 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6538 
[Report No. 117–379] 
A BILL 
To create an Active Shooter Alert Communications 
Network, and for other purposes. 
JUNE 21, 2022 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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