Public Transportation Security Assistance Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-5808
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2006-07-17 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Animals
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Bus drivers
Cameras
Chemical warfare
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Transportation
Dogs
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic surveillance
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Employee training
Equipment and supplies
Evacuation of civilians
Explosives
Federal aid to transportation
Fire prevention
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Hours of labor
Identification of criminals
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Law
Law enforcement officers
Mass rapid transit
Motor buses
New York State
Nuclear terrorism
Police
Private police
Public service advertising
Recruiting of employees
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Terminals (Transportation)
Terrorism
Transportation engineering
Transportation planning
Transportation safety
Transportation workers
Tunnels

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: 
Public Transportation Security Assistance Act of 2006 - Requires a security assessment of each public transportation system. Requires each public transportation agency that receives an assessment to develop a prioritized plan of needed capital and operational security improvements.
 
Makes grants to eligible public transportation agencies for certain capital security improvements and operational security improvements. Sets the federal share of such security project costs at 80% and 50%, respectively.
 
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide notification of all credible terrorist threats against public transportation assets in the United States.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and issue guidelines for a public transportation employee security training program. Requires a public transportation agency that receives a public transportation security assessment to develop, and submit for the Secretary's approval, an employee training program in accordance with such guidelines.
 
Makes grants to private operators of over-the-road buses for certain system-wide security improvements to their operations. Sets the federal share of security project costs at 80%. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a preliminary report that includes an assessment of the over-the-road bus security grant program.

action_date: 2006-09-15
text: 
Public Transportation Security Assistance Act of 2006 - 
Title I: Public Transportation Security - 
(Sec. 101) States that the purpose of this title is to provide grants to public transportation agencies and over-the-road bus operators to improve security in a manner consistent with the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission).
 
(Sec. 103) Requires the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to request the Secretary of Homeland Security take action to ensure that a security assessment is made of each public transportation system. Requires each public transportation agency that receives an assessment to develop a prioritized plan of needed capital and operational security improvements.
 
(Sec. 104) Requires the Secretary to make grants to eligible public transportation agencies for certain capital security improvements and operational security improvements. Sets the federal share of such security project costs at 80% and 50%, respectively. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to allocate grants based on the results of the security assessment and in a manner that prioritizes such grants each fiscal year based on risk, consequences, vulnerability, and threat.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish security improvement priorities for each public transportation agency receiving a security assessment. Requires each public transportation agency to: (1) identify a security coordinator to coordinate security improvements; (2) develop a comprehensive plan that demonstrates the agency's capacity to operate and maintain purchased security equipment; and (3) report annually to the Department of Transportation (DOT) on the use of grant funds.
 
(Sec. 105) Requires the Secretary to request that the Secretary of Homeland Security provide notification of all credible terrorist threats against public transportation assets in the United States. Requires the Secretary to fund the reasonable costs of the Information Sharing and Analysis Center for Public Transportation (ISAC) established pursuant to Presidential Directive 63 to protect critical infrastructure. Requires public transportation agencies that are at significant risk of terrorist attack to participate in the ISAC.
 
(Sec. 106) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on implementation of security measures instituted in this Act.
 
(Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary to develop and issue guidelines for a public transportation employee security training program. Requires a public transportation agency that receives a public transportation security assessment to develop, and submit for the Secretary's approval, an employee training program in accordance with such guidelines.
 
(Sec. 108) Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2009 for: (1) capital security improvements and operational security improvements; and (2) the ISAC.
 

Title II: Over-The-Road Bus Security Assistance - 
(Sec. 201) Directs the Secretary to establish a program to make grants to private operators of over-the-road buses for certain system-wide security improvements to their operations. Sets the federal share of security project costs at 80%.
 
Directs the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to conduct, and report to the Secretary and the Secretary of Homeland Security on, a study of the critical systems of the nationwide over-the-road bus industry, including security threats and security weaknesses in such systems, and backup systems required to continue operation of the systems in the event of a terrorist attack or other incident. Requires the Secretary to allocate grants according to certain established priorities based on the report.
 
(Sec. 202) Prohibits the Secretary from making a grant to a private operator of over-the-road buses until the operator submits to the Secretary: (1) a plan for making security improvements that has been approved by the Secretary; and (2) such additional information as the Secretary may require to ensure accountability for the obligation of grant amounts.
 
(Sec. 204) Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a preliminary report that includes an assessment of the over-the-road bus security grant program. Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-09-15
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 394.
action_date: 2006-09-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 109-662.
action_date: 2006-09-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 109-662.
action_date: 2006-07-19
text: Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines Discharged.
action_date: 2006-07-19
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2006-07-19
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2006-07-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Introduced in House