Library / Laws / 113th / hr / H.R. 4263 / Introduced in House
I
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4263
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 14, 2014
Mrs. Brooks of Indiana (for herself, Mr. Payne, Mr. Palazzo, and Mr. Swalwell of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Department of Homeland Security to
establish a social media working group, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Social Media Working Group Act of 2014.
2.
Social media working group
(a)
In general
Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following new section:
318.
Social media working group
(a)
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish within the Department a social media working group (in this section
referred to as the Group).
(b)
Purpose
In order to enhance information sharing between the Department and appropriate stakeholders, the
Group shall provide guidance and best practices to the emergency
preparedness and response community on the use of social media
technologies before, during, and after a terrorist attack.
(c)
Membership
(1)
In general
The Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall serve as the permanent chairperson of the
Group, and shall designate, on a rotating basis, a representative from a
State or local government who is a member of the Group to serve as
co-chairperson. Membership of the Group shall be composed of a cross
section of subject matter experts from Federal, State, local, tribal, and
nongovernmental organization practitioners, including representatives from
the following entities:
(A) The Office of Public Affairs of the Department.
(B) The Office of the Chief Information Officer of the Department.
(C) The Privacy Office of the Department.
(D) The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(E) The American Red Cross.
(F) The United States Forest Service.
(G) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(H) The United States Geological Survey.
(I) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2)
Additional members
The Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall appoint, on a rotating basis, qualified
individuals to the Group. The total number of such additional members
shall—
(A) be equal to or greater than the total number of regular members under paragraph (1); and
(B) include—
(i) not fewer than three representatives from the private sector; and
(ii) representatives from—
(I) State, local, and tribal entities, including from—
(aa) law enforcement;
(bb) fire services;
(cc) emergency management services; and
(dd) public health entities;
(II) universities and academia; and
(III) non-profit disaster relief organizations.
(d)
Consultation with non-Members
To the extent practicable, the Group shall work with existing bodies in the public and private
sectors to carry out subsection (b).
(e)
Meetings
(1)
Initial meeting
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Group shall hold its
initial meeting. Such initial meeting may be held virtually.
(2)
Subsequent meetings
After the initial meeting under paragraph (1), the Group shall meet at least twice each year, or at
the call of the Chairperson. Such subsequent meetings may be held
virtually.
(f)
Nonapplicability of FACA
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Group.
(g)
Reports
Not later than March 30 of each year, the Group shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report that includes the following:
(1) A review of current and emerging social media technologies being used to support preparedness and
response activities related to terrorist attacks.
(2) A review of best practices and lessons learned on the use of social media during the response to
terrorist attacks that occurred during the period covered by the report at
issue.
(3) Recommendations to improve the Department’s use of social media.
(4) Recommendations to improve information sharing among the Department and its components.
(5) Recommendations to improve information sharing among State and local governments.
(6) A review of available training for Federal, State, local, and tribal officials on the use of social
media in response to a terrorist attack.
(7) A summary of coordination efforts with the private sector to discuss and resolve legal,
operational, technical, privacy, and security concerns.
.
(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 317 the following new item:
Sec. 318. Social media working group.
.