Title: Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), before establishing a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) unit, to apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration specified factors, including:
A BEST unit with a port security nexus must be composed of at least one member of: (1) the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and (2) the geographically responsible Coast Guard Sector Intelligence Office.
The bill requires DHS to submit an annual report on the BEST program for the next five years, and such report must include:

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1199 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1199

 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reauthorize the Border 
   Enforcement Security Task Force program within the Department of 
               Homeland Security, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 22, 2017

Mrs. McCaskill introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reauthorize the Border 
   Enforcement Security Task Force program within the Department of 
               Homeland 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 ``Border Enforcement Security Task 
Force Reauthorization Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. MODIFIED INSTRUCTIONS.

    (a) Updated Considerations for the Establishment of Units.--Section 
432(c)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``shall consider'' and inserting ``shall apply risk-based 
        criteria that takes into consideration'';
            (2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, including threats 
        posed by transnational criminal organizations'' before the 
        semicolon at the end;
            (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (4) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) the extent to which the BEST unit would 
                advance the Department's homeland and border security 
                strategic priorities and related objectives; and
                    ``(F) whether departmental Joint Task Force 
                operations established pursuant to section 708 and 
                other joint cross-border initiatives would be enhanced, 
                improved, or otherwise assisted by the BEST unit.''.
    (b) Port Security.--Section 432(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(4) Port security best units.--A BEST unit established 
        pursuant to paragraph (2) with a port security nexus shall be 
        composed of at least 1 member of each of the following:
                    ``(A) The Coast Guard Investigative Service.
                    ``(B) The geographically responsible Coast Guard 
                Sector Intelligence Office.''.
    (c) Updated Report Elements.--Section 432(e) of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240(e)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(e) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter for the following 
5 years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that 
includes--
            ``(1) a description of the effectiveness of BEST in 
        enhancing border security, disrupting and dismantling 
        transnational criminal organizations, and reducing drug 
        trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and 
        smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the 
        international borders of the United States, as measured by 
        crime statistics, including violent deaths, incidents of 
        violence, and drug-related arrests;
            ``(2) an assessment of how BEST enhances information-
        sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security 
        information, among Federal, State, local, tribal, and foreign 
        law enforcement agencies;
            ``(3) a description of how BEST advances the Department's 
        homeland and border security strategic priorities and 
        effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives; and
            ``(4) an assessment of BEST's joint operational efforts 
        with departmental Joint Task Force operations established 
        pursuant to section 708 and other joint cross-border 
        initiatives.''.
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