HR5497-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Active Shooter Alert System Improvements Act of 2023.

2. Integrated public alert and warning system modernization and coordination Section 2006 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 607) is amended— in subsection (b)(4)— in subparagraph (E), by striking and after the semicolon; in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: shall serve as, or appoint an individual within the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement to serve as, the Active Shooter Alert Coordinator of the Department. by adding at the end the following new subsection: The Active Shooter Alert Coordinator of the Department shall— seek to eliminate gaps in the integrated public alert and warning system under section 526 relating to active shooters, including gaps relating to interstate travel of active shooters; work with law enforcement, States, and localities to encourage the development of additional elements, such as local active shooter plans, when utilizing such integrated public alert and warning systems; encourage States and localities to apply for grants under subtitle A of this title to obtain, improve, train users of, and implement integrated public alert and warning systems relating to active shooters; and work with States and localities to ensure appropriate regional and local coordination of various elements of the integrated public alert and warning systems relating to active shooters. The Active Shooter Alert Coordinator of the Department shall cooperate with appropriate authorities in carrying out activities under this subsection. Subparagraph (B) of section 526(e)(1) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321o(e)(1)) is amended— in clause (ii), by striking and after the semicolon; in clause (iii), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and by adding at the end the following new clauses: the recruitment and registration of alerting authorities of States and units of local government to use the public alert and warning system, whether an alerting authority was appointed, efforts to solicit local law enforcement participation in the public alert and warning system, and the number of alerts sent in a calendar year by altering authorities; and efforts to improve the geolocation capabilities of the public alert and warning system. (G)shall serve as, or appoint an individual within the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement to serve as, the Active Shooter Alert Coordinator of the Department.; and (c)Active shooter alert coordinator duties(1)In generalThe Active Shooter Alert Coordinator of the Department shall—(A)seek to eliminate gaps in the integrated public alert and warning system under section 526 relating to active shooters, including gaps relating to interstate travel of active shooters;(B)work with law enforcement, States, and localities to encourage the development of additional elements, such as local active shooter plans, when utilizing such integrated public alert and warning systems;(C)encourage States and localities to apply for grants under subtitle A of this title to obtain, improve, train users of, and implement integrated public alert and warning systems relating to active shooters; and(D)work with States and localities to ensure appropriate regional and local coordination of various elements of the integrated public alert and warning systems relating to active shooters.(2)Active shooter alert cooperationThe Active Shooter Alert Coordinator of the Department shall cooperate with appropriate authorities in carrying out activities under this subsection.. (iv)the recruitment and registration of alerting authorities of States and units of local government to use the public alert and warning system, whether an alerting authority was appointed, efforts to solicit local law enforcement participation in the public alert and warning system, and the number of alerts sent in a calendar year by altering authorities; and(v)efforts to improve the geolocation capabilities of the public alert and warning system..