Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act
Bill: H.R.2894 | Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy (D-CA)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act
This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to each create a temporary Civilian Cyber Security Reserve within their agencies to address U.S. cybersecurity needs with respect to national security.
Reserve members must be former federal employees or former military personnel, have cybersecurity expertise, and obtain any necessary security clearances, in addition to any other criteria specified by each agency. Membership in the reserves is contingent on a mutual agreement between the agency and the individual. Reserves may consist of different components, with one component obligated to respond to a call to activation and the other not obligated to do so; each agency may establish penalties for those individuals who fail to respond when required.
The Government Accountability Office and each agency must evaluate and report on the reserves, including whether they should be made permanent.

To establish a Civilian Cyber Security Reserve as a pilot project to 
 address the cyber security needs of the United States with respect to 
               national security, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Civilian Cyber Security Reserve 
Act''.

SEC. 2. CIVILIAN CYBER SECURITY RESERVE PILOT PROJECT.

    (a) Pilot Project.--
            (1) In general.--Each appropriate agency head may carry out 
        a pilot project to establish a Civilian Cyber Security Reserve 
        at the covered agency to address the cyber security needs of 
        the United States with respect to national security.
            (2) Appointments.--Under a pilot project authorized under 
        paragraph (1), the appropriate agency head may noncompetitively 
        appoint members of the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve to 
        temporary positions in the competitive or excepted service.
            (3) Status as employees.--An individual appointed under 
        paragraph (2) shall be considered a Federal civil service 
        employee under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Eligibility; Application and Selection.--
            (1) In general.--Under a pilot project authorized under 
        subsection (a), the appropriate agency head shall establish 
        criteria for--
                    (A) individuals to be eligible for the Civilian 
                Cyber Security Reserve in the covered agency; and
                    (B) the application and selection processes for the 
                Reserve.
            (2) Requirements for individuals.--The criteria established 
        under paragraph (1)(A) with respect to an individual shall 
        include--
                    (A) previous employment by the Federal Government 
                or within the uniformed services; and
                    (B) cyber security expertise.
            (3) Agreement required.--An individual may become a member 
        of the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve only if the individual 
        enters into an agreement with the appropriate agency head to 
        become such a member, which shall set forth the rights and 
        obligations of the individual and the covered agency.
            (4) Exception for continuing military service 
        commitments.--A member of the Selected Reserve under section 
        10143 of title 10, United States Code, may not be a member of 
        the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve.
    (c) Components of the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve.--The 
appropriate agency head may consider, in carrying out a pilot project 
authorized under subsection (a), developing different components of the 
Civilian Cyber Security Reserve in the covered agency, one with an 
obligation to respond when called into activation at the direction of 
the appropriate agency head and one that is not compelled to so 
respond, with appropriate corresponding differing benefits for each 
such component.
    (d) Security Clearances.--
            (1) In general.--The appropriate agency head shall ensure 
        that all members of the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve in the 
        covered agency undergo the appropriate personnel vetting and 
        adjudication commensurate with the duties of the position, 
        including a determination of eligibility for access to 
        classified information where a security clearance is necessary, 
        in accordance with Executive Order 12968 (50 U.S.C. 3161 note; 
        relating to access to classified information) and Executive 
        Order 13467 (50 U.S.C. 3161 note; relating to reforming 
        processes related to suitability for Government employment, 
        fitness for contractor employees, and eligibility for access to 
        classified national security information).
            (2) Cost of maintaing clearances.--The original sponsor of 
        a security clearance of a member of a Civilian Cyber Security 
        Reserve at a covered agency shall be responsible for the cost 
        of maintaining that security clearance.
    (e) Project Guidance.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, each appropriate agency head may 
        issue guidance establishing and implementing a pilot project 
        authorized under subsection (a) at the covered agency.
            (2) Penalties.--
                    (A) In general.--In developing guidance under 
                paragraph (1), an appropriate agency head may provide 
                for penalties for individuals who do not respond to 
                activation when called, such as recoupment of pay or 
                benefits earned as a member of the Civilian 
                Cybersecurity Reserve, or recoupment of civilian 
                service creditable under section 8411 of title 5, 
                United States Code.
                    (B) Procedures.--In the case of a proposed penalty 
                or action under this paragraph, the individual shall be 
                entitled to the applicable procedures set forth in 
                title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or as otherwise 
                specified in applicable guidance.
    (f) Evaluation.--Not later than 5 years after the pilot project 
authorized under subsection (a) is established in each covered agency, 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) conduct a study evaluating the pilot project at each 
        such agency; and
            (2) submit to Congress--
                    (A) a report on the results of the study; and
                    (B) a recommendation with respect to whether the 
                pilot project should be modified, extended in duration, 
                or established as a permanent program.
    (g) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the pilot project 
authorized under subsection (a) is established in a covered agency, the 
appropriate agency head shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report--
            (1) relating to the activities carried out under the pilot 
        project; and
            (2) that includes a recommendation with respect to whether 
        the pilot project should be modified, extended in duration, or 
        established as a permanent program.
    (h) Sunset.--A pilot project authorized under this section shall 
terminate on the date that is 6 years after the date on which the pilot 
project is established.
    (i) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate agency head.--The term ``appropriate agency 
        head'' means--
                    (A) in the case of the Department of Homeland 
                Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security; and
                    (B) in the case of the Department of Defense, the 
                Secretary of Defense.
            (2) Competitive service.--The term ``competitive service'' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 2102 of title 5, 
        United States Code.
            (3) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means the 
        Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Defense.
            (4) Excepted service.--The term ``excepted service'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 2103 of title 5, United 
        States Code.
            (5) Temporary.--The term ``temporary'' means a period of 
        not more than 6 months.
            (6) Uniformed services.--The term ``uniformed services'' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 2101 of title 5, 
        United States Code.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to each appropriate agency head such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section.
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