Pray Safe Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-7296
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47]
Introduced: 2024-02-07
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Department of Homeland Security

Emergency planning and evacuation

Executive agency funding and structure

Government information and archives

Internet, web applications, social media

Natural disasters

Religion

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Terrorism
Latest action: action_date: 2024-02-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7296 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 7, 2024 Ms. Porter (for herself, Ms. Salazar , and Mr. Carter of Louisiana ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure , and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security , 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 establish a Federal Clearinghouse on Safety and Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations, Faith-based Organizations, and Houses of Worship within the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pray Safe Act of 2024 . 2. Federal Clearinghouse on Safety and Security Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations, Faith-based Organizations, and Houses of Worship (Pray Safe) (a) Federal Clearinghouse (1) Establishment (A) In general Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and the head of any other agency the Secretary determines appropriate, shall establish within the Department a Federal Clearinghouse on Safety and Security Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations, Faith-based Organizations, and Houses of Worship. (B) Purpose The Clearinghouse shall be the primary resource of the Federal Government to— (i) educate and publish online best practices and recommendations for safety and security for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship; and (ii) provide information relating to Federal grant programs available to nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship. (C) Personnel (i) Assignments The Clearinghouse shall be assigned such personnel and resources as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out this subsection. (ii) Detailees The Secretary may coordinate detailees on a reimbursable or a nonreimbursable basis as required for the Clearinghouse. (iii) Designated point of contact (I) In general There shall be not fewer than one employee assigned or detailed to the Clearinghouse who shall be the designated point of contact to provide information and assistance to nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship, including assistance relating to the grant program established under subsection (c). (II) Contact information The contact information of the designated point of contact under subclause (I) shall be made available on the website of the Clearinghouse. (iv) Qualification To the maximum extent possible, any personnel assigned or detailed to the Clearinghouse under this subparagraph should be familiar with— (I) nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship; and (II) physical and online security measures to identify and prevent safety and security risks. (2) Clearinghouse contents (A) Evidence-based tiers (i) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and the head of any other agency the Secretary determines appropriate, shall develop tiers for determining evidence-based best practices and recommendations that demonstrate a significant effect on improving safety and security of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship. (ii) Requirements The tiers required to be developed under clause (i) shall— (I) prioritize— (aa) strong evidence from not fewer than one well-designed and well-implemented experimental study; and (bb) moderate evidence from not fewer than one well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study; and (II) consider promising evidence that demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluations that an activity, strategy, or intervention implemented by the Department or a state or local agency is likely to improve and promote safety and security of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship. (B) Criteria for best practices and recommendations The best practices and recommendations referred to in paragraph (1)(B)(i) of the Clearinghouse shall, at a minimum— (i) identify areas of concern for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship, including event planning recommendations, checklists, facility hardening, tabletop exercise resources, and other resilience measures; (ii) involve comprehensive safety and security measures, including threat prevention, preparedness, protection, mitigation, incident response, and recovery to improve the safety and security posture of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship upon implementation; (iii) involve comprehensive safety and security measures, including preparedness, protection, mitigation, incident response, and recovery to improve the resiliency of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship from threats and incidents, including natural disasters, manmade disasters, or terrorist attacks or other threats; (iv) include any evidence or research rationale supporting the determination of the Clearinghouse that the comprehensive safety and security measures under clauses (ii) and (iii) have been shown to have a significant effect on improving the safety and security of individuals who, at the time of any such threat or incident, are physically located in the place or building of a nonprofit organization, including a faith-based organization, or house of worship, including— (I) findings and data from previous Federal, State, local, Tribal, territorial, private sector, and nongovernmental organization research centers relating to the safety and security of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship, including from targeted violence; and (II) other supportive evidence or findings relied upon by the Clearinghouse in determining best practices and recommendations to improve the safety and security posture of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship upon implementation; and (v) include an overview of the available resources the Clearinghouse can provide to nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship. (C) Additional information The Clearinghouse shall maintain and make available a comprehensive index of all Federal grant programs for which nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship are eligible, which shall include the performance metrics for each grant the recipient will be required to provide. (D) Past recommendations To the greatest extent practicable, the Clearinghouse shall identify and present, as appropriate, best practices and recommendations issued by Federal, State, local, Tribal, territorial, private sector, and nongovernmental organizations relevant to the safety and security of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship. (E) Existing platform The Secretary may establish and maintain the Clearinghouse on an online platform or a website that is in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Assistance and training The Secretary may produce and publish materials on the Clearinghouse to assist and train nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship regarding the implementation of the best practices and recommendations under this subsection. (4) Continuous improvement (A) In general The Secretary shall— (i) collect for the purpose of continuous improvement of the Clearinghouse— (I) Clearinghouse data analytics; (II) user feedback on the implementation of resources, best practices, and recommendations identified by the Clearinghouse; and (III) any evaluations conducted regarding implementation of such best practices and recommendations; (ii) in coordination with the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council of the Department, the Department of Justice, the Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and any other agency the Secretary determines appropriate— (I) assess and identify Clearinghouse best practices and recommendations for which there are no resources available through Federal Government programs for implementation; (II) provide feedback on the implementation of such best practices and recommendations; and (III) propose additional recommendations for best practices for inclusion in the Clearinghouse; and (iii) not less frequently than annually, examine and update the Clearinghouse in accordance with— (I) the data analytics, feedback, and evaluations collected under clause (i); and (II) the recommendations proposed under clause (ii)(III). (B) Annual report to Congress The Secretary shall submit to Congress, on an annual basis, a report on the updates under subparagraph (A)(iii) made to the Clearinghouse during the preceding 1-year period, which shall include a description of any changes made pursuant thereto to the Clearinghouse. (b) Notification of the Clearinghouse (1) In general The Secretary shall provide to the individuals, Federal agencies, and committees specified in paragraph (2) written notification of the establishment of the Clearinghouse, including updates pertaining to grant programs identified under subsection (a)(2)(C). (2) Individuals, Federal agencies, and committees specified The individuals and entities specified in this paragraph are the following: (A) Every State homeland security advisor. (B) Every State department of homeland security. (C) Other Federal agencies with grant programs or initiatives that aid in the safety and security of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (D) Every Cyber Security Advisor. (E) Every Protective Security Advisor. (F) Every Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force. (G) Every Homeland Security Fusion Center. (H) Every State or territorial Governor or other Chief Executive. (I) The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. (J) The Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. (c) Federal grants and resources overview (1) In general To the extent practicable, the Secretary, when carrying out subsection (a)(2)(C), shall include a grants program overview on the website of the Clearinghouse that shall— (A) be the location for all information regarding Federal grant programs that are open to nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship for the purposes of safety and security; (B) directly link to each grant application and any applicable user guides; (C) identify all safety and security homeland security assistance programs managed by the Department that may be used to implement best practices and recommendations of the Clearinghouse; (D) concurrent with the application period for any grant identified under subsection (a)(2)(C), provide information related to the required elements of grant applications to aid nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship in meeting the eligibility criteria for Federal grants; and (E) provide answers to frequently asked questions regarding the implementation of best practices and recommendations of the Clearinghouse and best practices for applying for a grant identified under subsection (a)(2)(C). (2) Provision of information relating to Federal grants and resources Each Federal agency notified under subsection (b) shall provide to the Secretary or other appropriate point of contact for the Clearinghouse for inclusion in the Clearinghouse necessary information regarding any Federal grant programs or resources of the Federal agency that are available for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship for the purposes of safety and security. (3) State grants and resources (A) In general Any State notified under subsection (b) may provide to the Secretary or other appropriate point of contact for the Clearinghouse for inclusion in the Clearinghouse necessary information regarding any grant programs or resources of the State available for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship for the purposes of safety and security. (B) Identification of resources The Clearinghouse shall, to the extent practicable, identify for each State the following: (i) Each State agency responsible for safety and security of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship in the State, or any State that does not have such an agency designated. (ii) Any grant program that may be used for the purposes of implementing best practices and recommendations of the Clearinghouse. (iii) Any resources or programs, including community prevention or intervention efforts, that may be used to assist in targeted violence and terrorism prevention. (d) Other resources The Secretary shall, on the website of the Clearinghouse, include a separate section for other resources that shall provide a centralized list of all available points of contact from which a nonprofit organization, including a faith-based organization, or a house of worship may seek assistance in grant applications and in carrying out the best practices and recommendations of the Clearinghouse, including the following: (1) A list of contact information to reach Department personnel to assist with grant-related questions. (2) The applicable agency contact information to connect nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship with Protective Security Advisors. (3) Contact information for all Department Fusion Centers, listed by State. (4) Information on the If you See Something Say Something Campaign of the Department. (5) Any other appropriate contacts. (e) GAO report The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the state of Federal grants devoted to safety and security for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship, and an evaluation of the relevant programs and resources devoted to the safety and security of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, and houses of worship as of the date of the report. (f) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to create, satisfy, or waive any requirement under Federal civil rights laws, including— (1) title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq. ); or (2) title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq. ). (g) Sunset This Act shall cease to be effective on the date that is four years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Clearinghouse The term Clearinghouse means the Federal Clearinghouse on Safety and Security Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations, Faith-based Organizations, and Houses of Worship established under subsection (a). (2) Department The term Department means the Department of Homeland Security. (3) Faith-based organization The term faith-based organization means a group, center, or nongovernmental organization with a religious, ideological, or spiritual motivation, character, affiliation, or purpose that meets the definition of nonprofit organization. (4) House of worship The term house of worship means a place or building, including a synagogue, mosque, temple, and church, in which congregants practice their religious or spiritual beliefs. (5) Nonprofit organization The term nonprofit organization means an organization— (A) of the type described in subsection (c)(3) of section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under subsection (a) of such section; and (B) determined to be at risk of a terrorist attack or other threat by the Secretary. (6) Safety and security The term safety and security means prevention of, protection against, or recovery from threats and incidents, including natural disasters, manmade disasters, or terrorist attacks. (7) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security.