Title: Securing Our Schools Act
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Securing Our Schools Act
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy for securing elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education from homeland security threats.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5731 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5731

To require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to 
   secure elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of 
  higher education from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and other 
           homeland security threats, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 9, 2018

    Mr. McCaul (for himself, Mr. King of New York, Ms. McSally, Mr. 
Donovan, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. 
Bacon, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Katko, and Mr. Perry) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in 
  addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and the 
 Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to 
   secure elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of 
  higher education from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and other 
           homeland security threats, 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 ``Securing Our Schools Act''.

SEC. 2. SCHOOL SECURITY STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
through the Under Secretary responsible for overseeing critical 
infrastructure protection, cybersecurity and any other related programs 
of the Department of Homeland Security referred to in section 
103(a)(1)(H) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
113(a)(1)(H)), shall develop a Department-wide strategy on efforts and 
activities of the Department related to securing elementary schools, 
secondary schools, and institutions of higher education from acts of 
terrorism, active shooters, and other homeland security threats.
    (b) Scope.--The strategy required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) A description of the coordination among the components, 
        directorates, and offices of the Department of Homeland 
        Security regarding current and future efforts and activities 
        related to securing elementary schools, secondary schools, and 
        institutions of higher education from acts of terrorism, active 
        shooters, and other homeland security threats.
            (2) A description of ongoing efforts and activities across 
        the components, directorates, and offices of the Department 
        related to securing such schools and institutions from acts of 
        terrorism, active shooters, and other homeland security 
        threats.
            (3) A description of the manner in which the Department 
        works with State, local, tribal, and territorial government 
        organizations on efforts and activities related to securing 
        such schools and institutions from acts of terrorism, active 
        shooters, and other homeland security threats.
            (4) Recommendations for future efforts and activities 
        related to securing such schools and institutions from acts of 
        terrorism, active shooters, and other homeland security 
        threats, and the promotion of such efforts and activities.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        development of the strategy required under subsection (a), the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on 
        Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
        Senate such strategy and brief such Committees on the 
        operations and activities of the Department related to securing 
        elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of 
        higher education from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and 
        other homeland security threats, and the policies and 
        procedures developed for coordinating such efforts and 
        activities.
            (2) Form.--The report required under this subsection shall 
        be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified 
        annex.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Elementary school; secondary school.--The terms 
        ``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' have the 
        meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 102 in the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1002).

SEC. 3. HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS.

    Section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(8), by striking ``preparedness'' and 
        inserting ``security, including planning, training, exercises, 
        information sharing, and target hardening activities''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(6) Firearms.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A grant awarded under section 
                2003 or 2004 may not be used for the provision to any 
                person of a firearm or training in the use of a 
                firearm.
                    ``(B) No effect on other laws.--Nothing in this 
                paragraph may be construed to preclude or contradict 
                any other provision of law authorizing the provision of 
                firearms or training in the use of firearms.''.

SEC. 4. OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 710. OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Office of 
Partnership and Engagement of the Department an Office of Academic 
Engagement.
    ``(b) Executive Director.--The Office of Academic Engagement shall 
be headed by an Executive Director, who shall report to the Assistant 
Secretary for Partnership and Engagement.
    ``(c) Functions.--In consultation with the heads of relevant 
components, directorates, and offices of the Department, as 
appropriate, the Executive Director shall be responsible for the 
following:
            ``(1) Conducting outreach and serving as a liaison between 
        the Department and stakeholders in the academic community, 
        including elementary schools, secondary schools, and 
        institutions of higher education.
            ``(2) Providing information on and awareness of Department 
        programs and assistance related to securing such schools and 
        institutions from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and other 
        homeland security threats.
            ``(3) Coordinating, as appropriate, exercises and 
        vulnerability assessments related to securing such schools and 
        institutions from acts of terrorism, active shooters, and other 
        homeland security threats.
            ``(4) Other activities as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Elementary school; secondary school.--The terms 
        `elementary school' and `secondary school' have the meanings 
        given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 102 in the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1002).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 709 the following new item:

``Sec. 710. Office of Academic Engagement.''.
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