Enhanced Security Clearance Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-1618
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2013-10-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Bankruptcy
Civil actions and liability
Consumer credit
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Evidence and witnesses
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Housing finance and home ownership
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Summary:
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: 
Enhanced Security Clearance Act of 2013 - Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM): (1) to implement the enhanced security clearance system (i.e., the database established by OPM under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004) within one year after enactment of this Act; and (2) not less than twice every five years, to review, using such system, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of information relating to the security clearance or access to classified information of each individual who is appointed to a position that requires such a clearance or access (covered individual). Requires such security clearance system to: (1) integrate information from various sources, including government and commercial data sources, the major consumer reporting agencies, and social media; and (2) include relevant information on individuals who are being considered for, or have been appointed to, a position that requires access to classified information. 
 
 Exempts from the reporting requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act any communication made in connection with the granting, denial, review, or revocation of a federal security clearance or access to classification of a covered individual.

action_date: 2014-12-02
text: 
Enhanced Security Clearance Act of 2014 - Requires the Director of National Intelligence to develop and implement a plan to eliminate the backlog of overdue periodic reinvestigations of individuals determined eligible for access to classified information or eligible to hold a sensitive position (covered individuals). Requires such plan to: (1) use a risk-based approach to identify high-risk populations and prioritize reinvestigations that are due or overdue to be conducted, and (2) use random automated record checks of covered individuals that shall include all covered individuals in the pool of individuals subject to a one-time check. 
 
Requires the Director to direct each executive agency, military department, and element of the intelligence community to implement a program to provide enhanced security review of covered individuals not later than the earlier of five years after the enactment date of this Act or the date on which the backlog of overdue periodic reinvestigations of covered individuals is eliminated. Requires such agency program to integrate relevant information from various sources to obtain information relating to any criminal or civil legal proceeding, financial and credit information, public information, publicly available electronic information on social media, and data maintained on any terrorist or criminal watch list. 
 
Requires an agency enhanced personnel security program to conduct periodic reviews, not less than two times every five years, of information to ensure the continued eligibility of covered individuals or agency contractors for a security clearance or access to classified information. 
 
Requires the head of each agency to ensure that each covered individual is adequately advised of the types of relevant security or counterintelligence information he or she is required to report.
 
Requires the Director to issue guidance defining minor financial or mental health issues. 
 
Requires an Inspector General of an agency implementing an enhanced personnel security program to conduct at least one audit to assess the effectiveness and fairness of the program and to submit the results of the audit to the Director. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 610.
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Carper with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 113-283.
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Carper with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 113-283.
action_date: 2014-07-30
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7677-7678)
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Introduced in Senate