PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Creates an Emergency Communications Division inside the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The Division is led by an Executive Assistant Director who reports to the CISA Director. Big decisions by that Director must be approved by the CISA Director. The Director runs the Department’s SAFECOM work (except research, testing, and standards), handles Integrated Wireless Network duties, makes and updates a national emergency communications plan, does nationwide outreach and technical help so first responders and government officials can keep talking during disasters, helps build interoperable systems for State, local, regional, and tribal governments, promotes standard procedures and best practices, coordinates regional working groups and a national deployable communications capability, sets nonproprietary equipment requirements for homeland-security-funded purchases when standards exist (except alert and warning systems), reviews interoperability plans (but not radio frequency allocation), helps federal leaders keep telecommunications working (not radio frequency management), and takes other actions needed to support and improve emergency communications. The Secretary must move certain programs into this office: SAFECOM (except research, testing, and standards), the Chief Information Officer’s Integrated Wireless Network duties, and the Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program. The Secretary had to send Congress a report on needed staff and resources within 120 days after October 4, 2006. The Comptroller General must review that report and send Congress its findings within 60 days after the report is given. Any old references to the “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications” now mean the Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications.

Title 6, §571

Domestic Security, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

There is established in the Department an Emergency Communications Division. The Division shall be located in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

(b)Executive Assistant Director (c) Responsibilities

The head of the Division shall be the Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications (in this section referred to as the “Executive Assistant Director”). The Executive Assistant Director shall report to the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. All decisions of the Executive Assistant Director that entail the exercise of significant authority shall be subject to the approval of the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

(d)Performance of previously transferred functions

The Secretary shall transfer to, and administer through, the Executive Assistant Director the following programs and responsibilities:

(1)The SAFECOM Program, excluding elements related to research, development, testing, and evaluation and standards.

(2)The responsibilities of the Chief Information Officer related to the implementation of the Integrated Wireless Network.

(3)The Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program.

(e)Coordination

The Executive Assistant Director shall coordinate—

(1)as appropriate, with the Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility with respect to the responsibilities described in section 195 of this title; and

(2)with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency with respect to the responsibilities described in this subchapter.

(f)Sufficiency of resources plan

(1)Report

Not later than 120 days after October 4, 2006, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the resources and staff necessary to carry out fully the responsibilities under this subchapter.

(2)Comptroller General review

The Comptroller General shall review the validity of the report submitted by the Secretary under paragraph (1). Not later than 60 days after the date on which such report is submitted, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the findings of such review.

(g)Reference

Any reference to the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Another section 1801 of Pub. L. 107–296 was renumbered section 1901 and is classified to section 591 of this title.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency” for “Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security” in two places. 2021—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(A), in heading, substituted “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director” and, in text, substituted “Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications (in this section referred to as the ‘Executive Assistant Director’).” for “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications.” and “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director” in two places. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(B), substituted “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(C), substituted “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(D), substituted “Executive Assistant Director” for “Assistant Director for Emergency Communications” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 116–283, § 9001(e)(1)(E), added subsec. (g). 2018—Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(i), substituted “Emergency Communications Division” for “Office of Emergency Communications” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(ii), substituted “Emergency Communications Division” for “Office of Emergency Communications” and inserted at end “The Division shall be located in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(iii), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The head of the office shall be the Director for Emergency Communications. The Director shall report to the Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications.” Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(iv)(I), inserted “Assistant” before “Director” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c)(16). Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(iv)(II)–(IV), added par. (16). Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(6)(A)(v), (vi), inserted “Assistant” before “Director” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(c), Nov. 16, 2018, 132 Stat. 4175, provided that: “Any reference to— “(1) the Office of Emergency Communications in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the Emergency Communications Division; and “(2) the Director for Emergency Communications in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications.” Any reference to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in title VI of Pub. L. 109–295 or an amendment by title VI to be considered to refer and apply to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until Mar. 31, 2007, see section 612(f)(2) of Pub. L. 109–295, set out as a note under section 313 of this title. Savings Clause Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 675, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1444, provided that: “Nothing in this subtitle [subtitle D (§§ 671–675) of title VI of Pub. L. 109–295, enacting this subchapter and section 195 and 195a of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 101 of this title] shall be construed to transfer to the Office of Emergency Communications any function, personnel, asset, component, authority, grant program, or liability of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as constituted on June 1, 2006.” Rule of

Construction

Nothing in amendment made by Pub. L. 117–263 to be construed to alter the authorities, responsibilities, functions, or activities of any agency (as such term is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502) or officer or employee of the United States on or before Dec. 23, 2022, see section 7143(f)(1) of Pub. L. 117–263, set out as a note under section 650 of this title. Continuation in Office Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title XC, § 9001(e)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4768, provided that: “The individual serving as the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications of the Department of Homeland Security on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 1, 2021] may serve as the Executive Assistant Director for Emergency Communications on and after that date.” Director for Emergency Communications Authorized To Serve as Assistant Director of Emergency Communications Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(b)(2), Nov. 16, 2018, 132 Stat. 4175, provided that: “The individual serving as the Director for Emergency Communications of the Department of Homeland Security on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 16, 2018] may continue to serve as the Assistant Director for Emergency Communications of the Department on and after such date.”

§571 Emergency Communications Division