I
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 720
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AN ACT
To improve intergovernmental planning for and communication during security incidents at domestic airports, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015
.
Definitions
In this Act:
Assistant Secretary
The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security) of the Department of Homeland Security.
Administration
The term Administration means the Transportation Security Administration.
Security incident response at airports
In general
The Assistant Secretary shall, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, conduct outreach to all airports in the United States at which the Administration performs, or oversees the implementation and performance of, security measures, and provide technical assistance as necessary, to verify such airports have in place individualized working plans for responding to security incidents inside the perimeter of the airport, including active shooters, acts of terrorism, and incidents that target passenger-screening checkpoints.
Types of plans
Such plans may include, but may not be limited to, the following:
A strategy for evacuating and providing care to persons inside the perimeter of the airport, with consideration given to the needs of persons with disabilities.
A plan for establishing a unified command, including identification of staging areas for non-airport-specific law enforcement and fire response.
A schedule for regular testing of communications equipment used to receive emergency calls.
An evaluation of how emergency calls placed by persons inside the perimeter of the airport will reach airport police in an expeditious manner.
A practiced method and plan to communicate with travelers and all other persons inside the perimeter of the airport.
To the extent practicable, a projected maximum timeframe for law enforcement response.
A schedule of joint exercises and training to be conducted by the airport, the Administration, other stakeholders such as airport and airline tenants, and any relevant law enforcement, airport police, fire, and medical personnel.
A schedule for producing after-action joint exercise reports to identify and determine how to improve security incident response capabilities.
Report to congress
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the findings from its outreach to airports under subsection (a), including an analysis of the level of preparedness such airports have to respond to security incidents, including active shooters, acts of terrorism, and incidents that target passenger-screening checkpoints.
Disseminating information on best practices
The Assistant Secretary shall—
identify best practices that exist across airports for security incident planning, management, and training; and
establish a mechanism through which to share such best practices with other airport operators nationwide.
Certification
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall certify in writing to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that all screening personnel have participated in practical training exercises for active shooter scenarios.
Reimbursable agreements
Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an analysis of how the Administration can use cost savings achieved through efficiencies to increase over the next 5 fiscal years the funding available for checkpoint screening law enforcement support reimbursable agreements.
No additional authorization of appropriations
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act, and this Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise available for such purpose.
Interoperability review
In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, conduct a review of the interoperable communications capabilities of the law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel responsible for responding to a security incident, including active shooter events, acts of terrorism, and incidents that target passenger-screening checkpoints, at all airports in the United States at which the Administration performs, or oversees the implementation and performance of, security measures.
Report
Not later than 30 days after the completion of the review, the Assistant Secretary shall report the findings of the review to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 2015.
Karen L. Haas,
Clerk.
