Title: Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017
This bill reauthorizes for FY2018-FY2022 (1) the public transportation security grant program, (2) the law enforcement reimbursement agreement program, (3) visible intermodal prevention and response teams, (4) explosives detection canine teams, and (5) surface transportation security inspectors.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall (1) establish a law enforcement officer reimbursement agreement program, and (2) increase by at least 200 the number of state and local law enforcement-led explosives detection canine teams trained and certified by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dedicated to surface transportation security.
DHS shall annually develop risk-based priorities based on risk assessments that consider threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences.
The TSA may establish a task force to identify and develop an innovative technology or capability with the potential to enhance transportation security.
DHS shall (1) prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts from the TSA and DHS to locations with participating fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset, (2) ensure there exists a national mechanism for an individual to report suspicious activity in a transportation facility, and (3) submit an assessment of threats to the transportation sector. A "fusion center" is a collaborative effort of two or more agencies that provide resources, expertise and information to the center with the goal of maximizing their ability to detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity.
DHS shall (1) establish a working group to promote collaborative engagement between DHS and stakeholders to develop non-binding recommendations for enhancing security in public areas of transportation facilities, and (2) disseminate best practices to enhance security against the threat of a vehicle-based terrorist attack.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4474 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4474

To enhance the security of surface transportation assets, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 28, 2017

  Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. 
Jackson Lee, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Lipinski) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland 
                                Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To enhance the security of surface transportation assets, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Surface 
Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
                      TITLE I--SECURITY RESOURCES

Sec. 101. Transit Security Grant Program.
Sec. 102. Reimbursement for law enforcement operations.
Sec. 103. Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams.
Sec. 104. Explosives detection canine teams for surface transportation 
                            security.
Sec. 105. Surface transportation security inspectors.
Sec. 106. Frontline employee security training.
Sec. 107. Local law enforcement security training.
         TITLE II--SECURITY STRATEGY, ASSESSMENTS, AND RESEARCH

Sec. 201. National strategy for transportation security review.
Sec. 202. Risk scenarios.
Sec. 203. Assessments and security plans.
Sec. 204. Research and development.
Sec. 205. Innovative technologies and capabilities.
      TITLE III--INFORMATION SHARING AND OPERATIONAL COORDINATION

Sec. 301. Threat information sharing.
Sec. 302. Integrated and unified operations centers.
Sec. 303. Suspicious activity reporting.
Sec. 304. Security technologies tied to foreign threat countries.
                     TITLE IV--PUBLIC AREA SECURITY

Sec. 401. Public area security working group.
Sec. 402. Technical assistance.
Sec. 403. Firearms and ammunition in public areas.
Sec. 404. Best practices to secure against vehicle-based attacks.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
     (a) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--The term ``appropriate 
congressional committees'' means the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate.
    (b) Surface Transportation Asset.--The term ``surface 
transportation asset'' includes facilities, equipment, or systems used 
to provide transportation services by--
            (1) 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)));
            (2) a railroad carrier (as such term is defined in section 
        20102(3) of title 49, United States Code);
            (3) an owner or operator of--
                    (A) 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
                    (B) a bus terminal; or
            (4) other transportation facilities, equipment, or systems, 
        as determined by the Secretary.
    (c) 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.
    (d) 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.

                      TITLE I--SECURITY RESOURCES

SEC. 101. TRANSIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 1406 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1135), is amended--
            (1) in subsection (m)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(F) $400,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 
                through 2022 to make grants under this section.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(n) Period of Performance.--Grant funds provided under this 
section may be used for projects with a duration of not longer than 36 
months.''.

SEC. 102. REIMBURSEMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS.

    Subtitle A of title XV of the Implementing Recommendations of the 
9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 1505. LAW ENFORCEMENT REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a law enforcement 
officer reimbursement agreement program for State, local, and other 
public authorities to receive reimbursement of non-Federal funds 
utilized for transportation security operations as identified by the 
Secretary as covered activities.
    ``(b) Use.--Not less than one-third of funds provided under the 
program established pursuant to this section shall be used for surface 
transportation security operations, as identified by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $67,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to 
carry out this section.''.

SEC. 103. VISIBLE INTERMODAL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TEAMS.

    (a) Number of Teams; Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection 
(b) of section 1303 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1112) is amended 
by--
            (1) striking ``more'' and inserting ``fewer''; and
            (2) striking ``through 2018'' and inserting ``through 
        2022''.
    (b) Adequacy of Resources.--Not later than January 31, 2019, and 
each year thereafter for five years, the Administrator of the 
Transportation Security Administration shall annually assess whether 
the number of Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams 
is adequate to respond to requests for collaboration from public and 
private sector stakeholders and to carry out counterterrorism 
activities with respect to United States transportation systems.
    (c) Performance Measures.--Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation 
Security Administration shall develop a system of qualitative 
performance measures and objectives by which to assess the roles, 
activities, and effectiveness of VIPR team operations on an ongoing 
basis, including a mechanism through which transportation entities may 
submit feedback on VIPR team operations involving the systems or 
facilities of such entities.
    (d) Interoperability.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation 
Security Administration shall develop a plan to ensure interoperable 
communications among and within VIPR teams and between VIPR teams and, 
to the extent practicable, transportation entities with systems or 
facilities involved in VIPR team operations.

SEC. 104. EXPLOSIVES DETECTION CANINE TEAMS FOR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION 
              SECURITY.

    (a) Increased Capacity.--Not later than two years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
increase by at least 200 the number of State and local law enforcement-
led explosives detection canine teams trained and certified by the 
Transportation Security Administration that are dedicated to surface 
transportation security.
    (b) Deployment.--Explosives detection canine teams trained and 
certified under subsection (a) shall be deployed to surface 
transportation assets in a risk-based manner, to address specific 
threats, or on an as-needed basis. Such teams may also be used on a 
more limited basis for the security of other transportation modes and 
to support other homeland security missions, as determined appropriate 
by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            (1) $23,900,000 for fiscal year 2018; and
            (2) $20,300,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2022.

SEC. 105. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY INSPECTORS.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (j) of section 
1304 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 
2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1113) is amended by striking ``this 
section'' and all that follows through the period at the end and 
inserting ``this section such sums as may be necessary for each of 
fiscal years 2018 through 2022.''.
    (b) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
and the Comptroller General of the United States a strategy to guide 
operations of surface transportation security inspectors that addresses 
the following:
            (1) Any limitations in data systems for such inspectors, as 
        identified by the Comptroller General.
            (2) Alignment of operations with risk assessment findings, 
        including an approach to identifying and prioritizing entities 
        and locations for inspections.
            (3) Measurable objectives for the surface transportation 
        security inspectors program.
    (c) Comptroller General Review.--Not later than 180 days after the 
submission of the strategy required under subsection (b), the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall review such strategy 
and, as appropriate, issue recommendations.

SEC. 106. FRONTLINE EMPLOYEE SECURITY TRAINING.

    (a) Timeline.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees and the Inspector General 
of the Department of Homeland Security a report on the status of 
regulations for a security training program to prepare transportation 
employees for potential security threats and conditions as set forth in 
sections 1408, 1517, and 1534 of the Implementing Recommendations of 
the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1137, 1167, and 1184) that 
includes a timeline for the issuance of a final rulemaking subsequent 
to the December 16, 2016, publication in the Federal Register of a 
notice of proposed rulemaking.
    (b) Inspector General Review.--Not later than 120 days after 
submission of the report under subsection (a), the Inspector General of 
the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a review of such report that includes 
information on--
            (1) departmental efforts to finalize rulemaking; and
            (2) recommendations, as necessary, to ensure implementation 
        of the regulations referred to in subsection (a).

SEC. 107. 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 Center, a training program 
to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of 
law enforcement agencies to a terrorist attack against 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 the Homeland Security Grant 
        Program under section 2002 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
        (6 U.S.C. 603) and officers employed by railroad carriers that 
        operate interstate passenger service.

         TITLE II--SECURITY STRATEGY, ASSESSMENTS, AND RESEARCH

SEC. 201. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY REVIEW.

    Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall evaluate the 
degree to which the 2016 Biennial National Strategy for Transportation 
Security, as required pursuant to section 114(s) of title 49, United 
States Code, that was issued on August 11, 2016, by the Administrator 
of the Transportation Security Administration, is reflected in Federal 
transportation security programs, budgets, research, and related 
efforts and, in carrying out such evaluation, shall consider the degree 
to which--
            (1) such strategy is sufficiently forward-looking to guide 
        future Federal efforts;
            (2) Federal programs, budgets, staffing levels, research, 
        and related efforts for fiscal year 2018 and beyond are guided 
        by such strategy; and
            (3) the annual progress reports submitted to Congress 
        pursuant to such section subsequent to the issuance of such 
        strategy provide information on the degree to which such 
        strategy guides Federal efforts.

SEC. 202. RISK SCENARIOS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall annually 
develop, consistent with the transportation modal security plans 
required under section 114(s) of title 49, United States Code, risk-
based priorities based on risk assessments conducted or received by the 
Secretary across all transportation modes that consider threats, 
vulnerabilities, and consequences.
    (b) Scenarios.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that the risk-based priorities identified pursuant to subsection (a) 
are informed by analysis of terrorist attack scenarios for each 
transportation mode, including cyber attack scenarios and intelligence 
and open source information about current and evolving threats.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 120 days after each development under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the 
following:
            (1) Copies of the risk assessments for each transportation 
        mode.
            (2) A summary that ranks the risks within and across modes.
            (3) A description of the risk-based priorities for securing 
        the transportation sector that identifies and prioritizes the 
        greatest security needs of the transportation sector, both 
        across and within modes, in the order that such priorities 
        should be addressed.
            (4) Information on the underlying methodologies used to 
        assess risks across and within each transportation mode and the 
        basis for any assumptions regarding threats, vulnerabilities, 
        and consequences made in assessing and prioritizing risks 
        within and across modes.
    (d) Classification.--The report required under subsection (c) may 
be submitted in a classified format or unclassified format, as 
appropriate.

SEC. 203. ASSESSMENTS AND SECURITY PLANS.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees and the Inspector General of the 
Department of Homeland Security a report on the status of regulations 
requiring assessments and security plans as set forth in sections 1405, 
1512, and 1531 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1134, 1162, and 1181) that includes a 
timeline for the issuance of a final rulemaking subsequent to the 
December 16, 2016, publication in the Federal Register of an advance 
notice of proposed rulemaking.
    (b) Inspector General Review.--Not later than 120 days after 
submission of the report under subsection (a), the Inspector General of 
the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a review of such report that includes 
information on--
            (1) departmental efforts to finalize rulemaking; and
            (2) recommendations, as necessary, to ensure implementation 
        of the regulations referred to in subsection (a).

SEC. 204. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (h) of section 1409 of the Implementing 
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 
6 U.S.C. 1138) is amended by striking ``to make grants'' and all that 
follows through the period at the end and inserting ``to carry out this 
section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2018 
through 2022.''.
    (b) Emerging Issues.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report regarding 
technological, privacy, and operational considerations with respect to 
the potential for--
            (1) next generation technologies to be integrated into 
        systems of surface transportation assets to detect explosives, 
        including through the deployment of mobile explosives detection 
        technologies to conduct risk-based passenger and property 
        screening at high-risk passenger rail and public transportation 
        systems;
            (2) providing passenger rail and public transportation 
        system operators with access to the Transportation Security 
        Administration's Secure Flight Program or a similar passenger 
        vetting system maintained by the Transportation Security 
        Administration;
            (3) deploying a credential authentication technology or 
        other means of identification document inspection to high-risk 
        passenger rail and public transportation systems to assist 
        operators conducting passenger vetting; and
            (4) deploying scalable, cost-effective technology solutions 
        to detect chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or 
        explosive threats within high-risk passenger rail and public 
        transportation systems that are capable of passive, continuous, 
        and real-time sensing and detection of, and alerting passengers 
        and operating personnel to, the presence of such a threat.

SEC. 205. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND CAPABILITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration may establish a task force to collaborate with public 
and private sector stakeholders to identify and develop an innovative 
technology or capability with the potential to enhance transportation 
security, including by--
            (1) conducting a field demonstration of such a technology 
        or capability in an operational environment;
            (2) gathering performance data from such a demonstration to 
        inform the acquisition process; and
            (3) providing funding and promoting efforts to enable 
        participation in a demonstration by a small business that has 
        an innovative technology or capability but does not have 
        adequate resources to participate in a field demonstration 
        under paragraph (1).
    (b) Composition.--The task force authorized under subsection (a) 
shall be chaired by the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration's designee and comprised of representatives appointed by 
the Administrator, in consultation with the Chairperson of the Aviation 
Security Advisory Committee (established pursuant to section 44946 of 
title 49, United States Code).
    (c) Activities.--The chair of the task force shall--
            (1) seek technologies and capabilities for field 
        demonstrations with potential to enhance surface transportation 
        security, in addition to technologies and capabilities with 
        potential to enhance aviation security;
            (2) coordinate with the Science and Technology Directorate 
        of the Department of Homeland Security to leverage such 
        technologies and capabilities; and
            (3) submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security an annual 
        report regarding the task force's activities that identifies, 
        for each such technology or capability, what mode of 
        transportation could be enhanced by the integration of such 
        technology or capability into security operations and, as 
        appropriate, plans for deploying such technology or capability.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall require 
the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to 
acquire an innovative technology or capability.
    (e) Non-Applicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the task force.

      TITLE III--INFORMATION SHARING AND OPERATIONAL COORDINATION

SEC. 301. 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 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 
13549 (75 Fed. Reg. 162; relating to a classified national security 
information program) or any successor Executive order.

SEC. 302. 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 one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall report to the appropriate congressional committees 
regarding the establishment and activities of integrated and unified 
operations centers at transportation facilities at which the 
Transportation Security Administration has a presence.

SEC. 303. SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTING.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
there exists a national mechanism for an individual to report 
suspicious activity in a transportation facility.
    (b) Procedures.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
consultation with the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration, shall establish procedures for the Department of 
Homeland Security to--
            (1) review quickly a report received under subsection (a), 
        but not later than 48 hours after receiving such a report;
            (2) follow-up, as necessary, on each such report; and
            (3) share with appropriate Federal, State, local, and 
        tribal entities, as necessary and in accordance with law, such 
        reports.
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
to replace or affect in any way the use of 9-1-1 or other local 
emergency services in an emergency.

SEC. 304. SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES TIED TO FOREIGN THREAT COUNTRIES.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under 
Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland 
Security, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an 
assessment of the terrorist and other threats to the transportation 
sector, including surface transportation assets, posed by the use of 
security technologies, including software and networked technologies, 
developed or manufactured by firms that are owned or closely linked to 
the governments of countries that are known to pose a cyber or homeland 
security threat.

                     TITLE IV--PUBLIC AREA SECURITY

SEC. 401. PUBLIC AREA SECURITY WORKING GROUP.

    (a) Working Group.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
establish a working group to promote collaborative engagement between 
the Department of Homeland Security and public and private sector 
stakeholders to develop non-binding recommendations for enhancing 
security in public areas of transportation facilities (including 
facilities that are surface transportation assets), including 
recommendations regarding the following topics:
            (1) Information sharing and interoperable communication 
        capabilities among the Department of Homeland Security and 
        public and private stakeholders with respect to terrorist or 
        other threats.
            (2) Coordinated incident response procedures.
            (3) The prevention of terrorist attacks and other incidents 
        through strategic planning, security training, exercises and 
        drills, law enforcement patrols, worker vetting, and suspicious 
        activity reporting.
            (4) Infrastructure protection through effective 
        construction design barriers and installation of advanced 
        surveillance and other security technologies.
    (b) Annual Report.--Not later than one year after the establishment 
of the working group under subsection (a) and annually thereafter for 
five years, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the working group's 
organization, participation, activities, findings, and non-binding 
recommendations for the immediately preceding 12-month period. The 
Secretary may publish a public version such report that describes the 
working group's activities and such related matters as would be 
informative to the public, consistent with section 552(b) of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (c) Inapplicability of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
working group established under subsection (a) or any subsidiary 
thereof.

SEC. 402. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall--
            (1) inform owners and operators of surface transportation 
        assets about the availability of technical assistance, 
        including vulnerability assessment tools and cybersecurity 
        guidelines, to help protect and enhance the resilience of 
        public areas of such assets; and
            (2) subject to availability of appropriations, provide such 
        technical assistance to requesting owners and operators of 
        surface transportation assets.
    (b) Best Practices.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish 
on the Department's website and widely disseminate, as appropriate, 
best practices for protecting and enhancing the resilience of public 
areas of transportation facilities (including facilities that are 
surface transportation assets), including associated frameworks or 
templates for implementation. Such best practices shall be updated 
periodically.

SEC. 403. FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION IN PUBLIC AREAS.

    (a) Review.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a security risk assessment 
of State and Federal laws, regulations, directives, policies, and 
procedures regarding the open or concealed carrying in public areas of 
a transportation facility or on a transportation system of a firearm 
and ammunition by an individual not involved in law enforcement 
operations. Such assessment shall include--
            (1) as appropriate, proposals to modify such regulations, 
        directives, policies, or procedures within the jurisdiction of 
        the Department of Homeland Security to reduce risks identified 
        in such assessment; and
            (2) information on possible changes to other State and 
        Federal laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures 
        that would reduce risks identified in such assessment.
    (b) Consultation.--In carrying out the risk assessment required 
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult 
with public and private sector stakeholders, privacy experts, and law 
enforcement experts.

SEC. 404. BEST PRACTICES TO SECURE AGAINST VEHICLE-BASED ATTACKS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall disseminate best 
practices to public and private sector stakeholders regarding how to 
enhance transportation security against the threat of a vehicle-based 
terrorist attack.
                                 <all>