,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hch ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #bi1 #bjai ,mr4 ,babin 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,demings7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to develop a national strategy to prevent targeted violence through behavioral threat assessment and management1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,threat ,assessment1 ,prevention1 and ,safety ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 incidents of targeted violence are impacting our ,nation frequently and indiscriminately2 7#b7 a collaborative1 multi-disciplinary1 and multi-jurisdictional behavioral threat assessment and management process on a ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal level complements the development of better methods for strategically preventing targeted violence in communities1 including schools2 7#c7 the ,united ,states has the capability to rapidly develop behavioral threat assessment and management guidelines and best practices2 7#d7 the ,united ,states should encourage the sharing of such guidelines and best practices for streamlined and cohesive use across the ,united ,states2 7#e7 establishing such guidelines and best practices is an important step toward preventing targeted violence2 7#f7 such guidelines and best practices should account for different needs of communities across the ,united ,states2 and 7#g7 it is in the national security interest of the ,united ,states to develop such guidelines and best practices4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means the ,committee on ,appropriations1 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,appropriations1 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs1 and the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,behavioral threat assessment and management ,the term behavioral threat assessment and management means the systematic and evidence-based process of-- 7,a7 identifying individuals who are exhibiting patterns of concerning behavior that indicate an interest1 motive1 intention1 or capability of carrying out an act of violence2 7,b7 investigating and gathering information from multiple sources to assess whether an individual described in subparagraph 7,a7 poses a threat1 based on articulable facts2 and 7,c7 the subsequent management of such a threat1 if necessary4 7#c7 ,definitions related to certain educational terms ,the terms early childhood education program1 elementary school1 local educational agency1 secondary school1 and ,state educational agency have the meanings given those terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#d7 ,educational entities ,the term educational entities means-- 7,a7 a ,state educational agency2 7,b7 a local educational agency2 7,c7 an institution of higher education2 7,d7 an elementary school or secondary school2 7,e7 an early childhood education program2 or 7,f7 a postsecondary vocational institution4 7#e7 ,fusion center ,the term fusion center has the meaning given the term in section #baj;,a7j77#a7 of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #abd;h7j77#a774 7#f7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#g7 ,mental health service professional ,the term mental health service professional has the meaning given the term in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep74 7#h7 ,nongovernmental organization ,the term nongovernmental organization means an organization that is not a ,federal1 ,state1 or local governmental agency4 7#i7 ,postsecondary vocational institution ,the term postsecondary vocational institution has the meaning given such term in section #ajb7;c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb7;c774 7#aj7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security4 7#aa7 ,state ,the term ,state means any ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 7#ab7 ,targeted violence ,the term targeted violence means any incident of predatory violence with respect to which an identifiable individual or group focuses an attack on a particular target4 #d4 ,establishment of a ,joint ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,task ,force 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish within the ,department of ,homeland ,security a ,joint ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,task ,force 7referred to in this ,act as the ,task ,force74 7b7 ,development of national strategy 7#a7 ,in general ,it shall be the duty of the ,task ,force to provide recommendations to the appropriate committees of ,congress and the ,secretary on the development and implementation of a national strategy for preventing targeted violence through behavioral threat assessment and management 7referred to in this ,act as the national strategy74 7#b7 ,requirement ,in developing the national strategy required under paragraph 7#a71 the ,task ,force shall take into account the different needs of communities across the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,rule of construction ,the national strategy developed under this subsection shall not be construed to be a national standard4 7c7 ,membership 7#a7 ,composition 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,task ,force shall be composed of not more than #bd members as follows3 7i7 ,the ,secretary or a designee with a position classified at ,,gs-#ae or above4 7ii7 ,not more than #b representatives of a nongovernmental organization that is determined by the ,secretary to have expertise in behavioral threat assessment and management4 7iii7 ,not more than #b mental health service professionals with clinical experience who are determined by the ,secretary to have expertise in behavioral threat assessment and management4 7iv7 ,one ,state or local prosecutor who is determined by the ,secretary to have expertise in behavioral threat assessment and management4 7v7 ,not more than #b representatives from an educational entity who are determined by the ,secretary to have expertise in behavioral threat assessment and management4 7vi7 ,not more than #b representatives from local behavioral threat assessment and management units who are determined by the ,secretary to have expertise in behavioral threat assessment and management4 7vii7 ,not more than #b representatives from ,state behavioral threat assessment and management units who are determined by the ,secretary to have expertise in behavioral threat assessment and management4 7viii7 ,one expert in behavioral threat assessment and management appointed by the head of each of the following entities3 7,i7 ,the ,national ,threat ,assessment ,center of the ,united ,states ,secret ,service4 7,,ii7 ,the ,protective ,intelligence and ,assessment ,division of the ,united ,states ,secret ,service4 7,,iii7 ,the ,behavioral ,analysis ,unit-#a of the ,critical ,incident ,response ,group of the ,federal ,bureau of ,investigation4 7,,iv7 ,the ,joint ,terrorism ,task ,force of the ,federal ,bureau of ,investigation4 7,v7 ,the ,office of ,protective ,intelligence of the ,united ,states ,marshals ,service of the ,department of ,justice4 7,,vi7 ,the ,office on ,violence ,against ,women of the ,department of ,justice4 7,,vii7 ,the ,naval ,criminal ,investigative ,service of the ,department of the ,navy4 7,,viii7 ,the ,threat ,assessment ,section of the ,united ,states ,capitol ,police4 7,,ix7 ,the ,department of ,education4 7,x7 ,the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7,,xi7 ,the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7,,xii7 ,the ,office of ,protective ,intelligence ,investigations of the ,diplomatic ,security ,service of the ,department of ,state4 7,b7 ,representation ,if a member of the ,task ,force has expertise in more than #a of the subject matter areas described in subparagraph 7,a71 the member shall be considered a representative of only #a subject matter area4 7#b7 ,chairperson ,the ,secretary shall appoint a chairperson of the ,task ,force4 7#c7 ,consultation ,the ,task ,force may1 as the chairperson determines necessary1 consult with experts in behavioral threat assessment and management from ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal government agencies and private entities4 7#d7 ,term of membership 7,a7 ,term of members ,members of the ,task ,force shall serve until the head of the respective entity of the member appoints a new representative to the ,task ,force4 7,b7 ,term of chairperson ,the chairperson shall serve until the ,secretary appoints a new chairperson4 7#e7 ,member compensation ,members of the ,task ,force may not receive additional pay1 allowances1 or benefits by reason of their service on the ,task ,force4 7d7 ,operating rules and procedures 7#a7 ,rules and procedures ,any member of the ,task ,force may propose to develop or change existing operating rules and procedures of the ,task ,force consistent with the functions of the ,task ,force4 ,any change to such operating rules and procedures shall be adopted upon a majority vote of the ,task ,force4 7#b7 ,findings and solutions ,the ,task ,force shall adopt recommendations for the implementation of the national strategy only upon a majority vote of the ,task ,force4 7#c7 ,voting ,each member of the ,task ,force shall have one vote4 7#d7 ,quorum ,two-thirds of the members of the ,task ,force shall be present to constitute a quorum1 but a lesser number may hold meetings4 7e7 ,staff director and staff 7#a7 ,staff director ,the chairperson may appoint a staff director1 who shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,staff ,the staff director may appoint not more than #c additional staff personnel4 7#c7 ,applicability of certain civil service laws ,the staff of the ,task ,force shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 governing appointments in the competitive service1 and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of that title relating to classification and ,general ,schedule pay rates4 7#d7 ,experts and consultants ,the ,task ,force and the staff director1 acting with the approval of the ,task ,force1 may procure temporary and intermittent services pursuant to section #caji7;b7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#e7 ,staff of ,federal agencies ,upon the request of the ,secretary1 the head of any ,federal department or agency may detail1 on a reimbursable basis1 any of the personnel of such ,federal department or agency to the ,task ,force to assist it in carrying out the duties of the ,task ,force under this section4 7f7 ,powers of the ,task ,force ,any member of the ,task ,force may1 if authorized by the ,task ,force1 take any action which the ,task ,force is authorized to take by this section4 7g7 ,obtaining official data ,subject to applicable privacy laws and regulations1 the ,task ,force may secure directly from any ,federal department or agency information necessary to enable it to carry out the duties of the ,task ,force under this section4 ,upon request of the chairperson of the ,task ,force1 the head of such ,federal department or agency shall furnish such information to the ,task ,force4 7h7 ,administrative support services ,upon the request of the ,task ,force1 the ,administrator of ,general ,services shall provide to the ,task ,force1 on a reimbursable basis1 the administrative support services necessary for the ,task ,force to carry out the duties of the ,task ,force under this section4 7i7 ,contract authority ,to the extent and in the amounts made available in advance in appropriations ,acts1 the ,task ,force may contract with and compensate ,state1 local1 and ,tribal government agencies and private entities or persons for services necessary to carry out the duties of the ,task ,force under this section4 7j7 ,report ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,task ,force shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress and the ,secretary a report on recommendations related to the national strategy1 including recommendations for the development and implementation of the national strategy4 7k7 ,dissolution of ,task ,force ,the ,task ,force shall terminate #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7l7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than #a1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj4 #e4 ,contents of national strategy recommendations ,the national strategy recommendations required to be provided by the ,task ,force under section #d7;j7 shall include each of the following3 7#a7 ,existing infrastructure plans ,recommendations relating to the most effective use of existing ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal infrastructure1 workforce1 and experience1 including-- 7,a7 the use of personnel1 communication channels1 and information sharing capabilities of fusion centers2 and 7,b7 a model behavioral threat assessment and management process4 7#b7 ,unit ,support ,program ,recommendations relating to a ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,unit ,support ,program1 which shall-- 7,a7 assist ,federal1 ,state1 local1 ,tribal government agencies and private entities in the implementation of community-based1 multi-disciplinary1 and multi-jurisdictional behavioral threat assessment and management units2 7,b7 consult on real-world complex behavioral threat assessment and management cases or programs2 7,c7 promote coordination and information sharing among ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal government agencies and private entities with protective or public safety responsibilities2 and 7,d7 support collaboration between ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal government agency behavioral threat assessment and management units4 7#c7 ,training ,program ,recommendations relating to a ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,training ,program1 which may train officers and employees of ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal government agencies and private entities in community-based1 multi-disciplinary1 and multi-jurisdictional behavioral threat assessment and management1 including-- 7,a7 integrated operations2 7,b7 information sharing among ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal government agencies and private entities with protective or public safety responsibilities2 and 7,c7 disseminating published evidence-based research materials on targeted violence prevention through behavioral threat assessment and management4 7#d7 ,school ,violence ,prevention ,program ,recommendations relating to a ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,school ,violence ,prevention ,program for educational entities1 which shall-- 7,a7 train and support a multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional behavioral threat assessment and management process1 including the coordination of information sharing2 7,b7 consult on real-world complex behavioral threat assessment and management cases or programs2 7,c7 support collaboration between educational entity behavioral threat assessment and management units2 and 7,d7 disseminate to educational entities published research materials on behavioral threat assessment and management and the prevention of targeted violence within educational entities4 7#e7 ,mental health service professional assessment ,recommendations relating to the involvement of mental health service professionals to collaborate1 advise1 and consult in a behavioral threat assessment process1 as permitted under applicable ,federal and ,state law4 #f4 ,development of national strategy 7a7 ,national strategy development 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall develop a national strategy relating to behavioral threat assessment and management and consider the recommendations made by the ,task ,force pursuant to section #e in the development of such strategy4 7#b7 ,requirement ,in developing the national strategy required under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall account for diverse needs and existing resources of different communities4 7b7 ,effective date ,the national strategy required under subsection 7a7 shall take effect #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 unless ,congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval of the national strategy during such #ahj-;day period4 #g4 ,implementation of the national strategy 7a7 ,in general ,beginning on the date that the national strategy takes effect under section #f7;b71 the ,secretary shall implement the national strategy and provide information and training services related to the national strategy at the request of any ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government agency or private entity with protective or public safety responsibilities4 7b7 ,consultation ,in implementing the national strategy1 the ,secretary may consult with ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal government agencies and private entities4 7c7 ,appointment of high-,level official 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall designate a senior official within the ,department of ,homeland ,security to be responsible for coordinating the implementation of the national strategy4 7#b7 ,duties ,the duties of the official designated pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,acting as a liaison between each ,federal agency1 as well as any ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government agency or private entity with protective or public safety responsibilities regarding the implementation and coordination of the strategy4 7,b7 ,being knowledgeable about budget priorities and familiar with all efforts within the ,department of ,homeland ,security and the ,federal ,government related to the strategy4 7d7 ,contracting services ,the ,secretary shall enter into contracts with public agencies or private entities with expertise in behavioral threat assessment and management to assist with the implementation of the national strategy4 7e7 ,website ,the ,secretary shall develop and publish an interactive public website to publicize information and data on evidence-based best practices in behavioral threat assessment and management1 except that such website may not include law enforcement sensitive or classified data or processes and sources4 7f7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act and each year thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report on any action taken to implement the national strategy1 which shall include the following3 7#a7 ,information relating to the number of detailees hired 7on a full-time equivalent basis74 7#b7 ,information relating to the number of1 and use of1 contracts entered into with public agencies or private entities1 as required under subsection 7d74 7#c7 ,information relating to the number of entities participating in the ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,training ,program under section #e7c74 7#d7 ,information relating to the number of educational entities participating in the ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,school ,violence ,prevention ,program under section #e7d74 7#e7 ,information relating to the number of ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal law enforcement entities participating in the ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,unit ,support ,program under section #e7b74 7#f7 ,information relating to the number of ,states participating in the ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,grant ,program under section #h4 7#g7 ,a formal evaluation conducted by the ,homeland ,security ,studies and ,analysis ,institute of the ,department of ,homeland ,security studying the implementation and effectiveness of the national strategy4 7#h7 ,information relating to the level of cooperation between ,federal ,government agencies in the implementation of the strategy4 7#i7 ,an assessment of future trends1 challenges1 and opportunities1 including new technologies1 that will impact ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal government agency efforts to combat targeted violence through behavioral threat assessment and management4 7#aj7 ,a detailed accounting of the use of the waiver authority described in section #h7;d74 7g7 ,annual briefing ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act and each year thereafter1 the ,secretary shall brief the appropriate committees of ,congress on the progress1 changes1 and other developments with respect to implementing the national strategy4 #h4 ,behavioral ,threat ,assessment and ,management ,grant ,program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to establish community-based behavioral threat assessment and management units that implement the national strategy4 7b7 ,application ,to receive a grant under this subsection1 an eligible entity shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,matching funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall provide a cash contribution in an amount that is not less than #aj percent of the amount of the grant4 7d7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may waive or reduce the cash contribution required under subsection 7c7 for eligible entities that demonstrate a need for such a waiver or reduction4 7e7 ,eligible entity defined ,in this section1 the term eligible entity means-- 7#a7 a ,state2 7#b7 a ,tribal organization2 7#c7 an educational entity2 7#d7 a unit of local government2 or 7#e7 a nongovernmental organization4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out sections #g and #h #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 7b7 ,limitation ,no funds authorized to be appropriated under this section may be used to-- 7#a7 train any individual in the use of a firearm2 or 7#b7 encourage or discourage the otherwise legal ownership and use of firearms4 7c7 ,no effect on other laws ,nothing in this ,act may be construed to preclude or contradict any other provision of law authorizing the provision of firearms or training in the use of firearms4