Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Local Transportation 
Security Capabilities Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Public and private sector stakeholders.--The term 
        ``public and private sector stakeholders'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 114(u)(1)(C) of title 49, United 
        States Code.
            (2) Surface transportation asset.--The term ``surface 
        transportation asset'' includes facilities, equipment, or 
        systems used to provide transportation services by--
                    (A) a public transportation agency (as such term is 
                defined in section 1402(5) of the Implementing 
                Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 
                (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1131(5)));
                    (B) a railroad carrier (as such term is defined in 
                section 20102(3) of title 49, United States Code);
                    (C) an owner or operator of--
                            (i) an entity offering scheduled, fixed-
                        route transportation services by over-the-road 
                        bus (as such term is defined in section 1501(4) 
                        of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
                        Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 
                        U.S.C. 1151(4))); or
                            (ii) a bus terminal; or
                    (D) other transportation facilities, equipment, or 
                systems, as determined by the Secretary.
            (3) Transportation facility.--The term ``transportation 
        facility'' means a bus terminal, intercity or commuter 
        passenger rail station, airport, multi-modal transportation 
        center, or other transportation facility, as determined by the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security.

SEC. 3. THREAT INFORMATION SHARING.

    (a) Prioritization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts under 
section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h) from 
the Transportation Security Administration and, as appropriate, from 
the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland 
Security, to locations with participating State, local, and regional 
fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation 
asset in order to enhance the security of such assets, including by 
improving timely sharing of classified information regarding terrorist 
and other threats.
    (b) Intelligence Products.--Officers and intelligence analysts 
assigned to locations with participating State, local, and regional 
fusion centers under this section shall participate in the generation 
and dissemination of transportation security intelligence products, 
with an emphasis on terrorist and other threats to surface 
transportation assets that--
            (1) assist State, local, and tribal law enforcement 
        agencies in deploying their resources, including personnel, 
        most efficiently to help detect, prevent, investigate, 
        apprehend, and respond to terrorist and other threats;
            (2) promote more consistent and timely sharing of threat 
        information among jurisdictions; and
            (3) enhance the Department of Homeland Security's 
        situational awareness of such terrorist and other threats.
    (c) Clearances.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make 
available to appropriate owners and operators of surface transportation 
assets, and any other person that the Secretary determines appropriate 
to foster greater sharing of classified information relating to 
terrorist and other threats to surface transportation assets, the 
process of application for security clearances under Executive Order 
No. 13549 (75 Fed. Reg. 162; relating to a classified national security 
information program) or any successor Executive order.

SEC. 4. INTEGRATED AND UNIFIED OPERATIONS CENTERS.

    (a) Framework.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate 
offices or components of the Department of Homeland Security, shall 
make available to public and private sector stakeholders a framework 
for establishing an integrated and unified operations center 
responsible for overseeing daily operations of a transportation 
facility that promotes coordination for responses to terrorism, serious 
incidents, and other purposes, as determined appropriate by the 
Administrator.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate regarding the establishment and 
activities of integrated and unified operations centers at 
transportation facilities at which the Transportation Security 
Administration has a presence.

SEC. 5. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TRAINING.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
consultation with public and private sector stakeholders, may develop, 
through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, a training 
program to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response 
capabilities of law enforcement agencies with respect to terrorism and 
other serious incidents at a surface transportation asset.
    (b) Requirements.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security develops 
the training program described in subsection (a), such training program 
shall--
            (1) be informed by current information regarding terrorist 
        tactics;
            (2) include tactical instruction tailored to the diverse 
        nature of the surface transportation asset operational 
        environment; and
            (3) prioritize training officers from law enforcement 
        agencies that are eligible for or receive grants under sections 
        2003 or 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 604 
        and 605) and


              

         officers employed by railroad carriers that operate passenger 
        service, including interstate passenger service.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 22, 2018.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Summary: Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018 (Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and DHS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis, to locations with participating state, local, and regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset in order to enhance the security of such asset. A &quot;surface transportation asset&quot; includes facilities, equipment, or systems used to provide transportation services by: (1) a public transportation agency, (2) a railroad carrier, (3) an owner or operator of bus services or a bus terminal, or (4) other facilities as determined by DHS.   Officers and intelligence analysts assigned to locations with participating state, local, and regional fusion centers shall participate in the generation and dissemination of transportation security intelligence products, with an emphasis on terrorist and other threats to surface transportation assets that: (1) assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in deploying their resources; (2) promote more consistent and timely sharing of threat information among jurisdictions; and (3) enhance DHS's situational awareness of such terrorist and other threats. (Sec. 4) The TSA shall: (1) make available to public and private sector stakeholders a framework for establishing an integrated and unified operations center responsible for overseeing daily operations of a transportation facility that promotes coordination for responses to terrorism, serious incidents, and other purposes; and (2) report to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on operations centers at transportation facilities at which the TSA has a presence.  (Sec. 5) DHS, may develop, through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, a training program to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of law enforcement agencies with respect to terrorism and other serious incidents at a surface transportation asset.