S. 2319 (112th): Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2012

Introduced:
Apr 19, 2012 (112th Congress, 2011–2013)
Sponsor:
Sen. Susan Collins [R-ME]
Status:
Died (Referred to Committee)

The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. S. stands for Senate bill.

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Status

This bill was introduced on April 19, 2012, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted.

Progress
Introduced Apr 19, 2012
Referred to Committee Apr 19, 2012
Cosponsors
5 cosponsors (3D, 1I, 1R) (show)
Committees

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.

Full Title

A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to modernize the integrated public alert and warning system of the United States, and for other purposes.

Summary

No summaries available.

Text

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Last updated Apr 19, 2012.
14 pages

Primary Source

View on THOMAS (The Library of Congress)

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GovTrack’s Bill Summary

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Library of Congress Summary

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.

4/19/2012--Introduced.
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2012 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to modernize and implement the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to ensure that under all conditions the President, federal agencies, and state, tribal, and local governments can alert and warn the civilian population in areas endangered by a natural disaster, war, act of terrorism, other man-made disaster, or other hazard to public safety.
Directs the Administrator to:
(1) establish common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the system;
(2) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, and multiple communication systems and technologies and to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information to individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency;
(3) ensure that specified training, tests, and exercises for such system are conducted;
(4) conduct public education efforts and a general market awareness campaign about the system; and
(5) ensure system coordination with the National Terrorism Advisory System. Requires the system to:
(1) incorporate multiple communications technologies;
(2) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public, to provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible, and to improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; and
(3) provide redundant alert mechanisms.
Authorizes the Administrator to conduct pilot programs for the purpose of demonstrating the feasibility of using a variety of methods for achieving system requirements.
Directs the Administrator to establish a subcommittee to the National Advisory Council to be known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee to develop and submit recommendations for the continuation and improvement of the system.

House Republican Conference Summary

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No summary available.

House Democratic Caucus Summary

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The bill contains the following citations to other parts of U.S. law:

United States Code

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