LGC 9.13 - Active Shooter Alert Act - Passed

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Active Shooter Alert Act

SEC. 1. DEFINITIONS

In this Act:
(1) ACTIVE SHOOTER.—The term ‘‘active shooter’’ means an individual who is engaged in killing or attempting to kill persons with a firearm in a populated area and who is determined to pose an active, imminent threat to people in that populated area.
(2) COORDINATOR.—The term ‘‘Coordinator’’ means the Active Shooter Alert Coordinator of the Lincoln Region designated below.
(3) POPULATED AREA.—The term ‘‘populated area’’ means a location where one or more persons other than the active shooter are present.

SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF ACTIVE SHOOTER ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.

The office of the Governor shall assign an official, which may be an NPC, to act as the national coordinator of the Active Shooter Alert Communications Network regarding an emergency involving an active shooter. The official so designated shall be known as the Active Shooter Alert Coordinator.

The Coordinator shall—
(1) encourage Federal, State, Tribal, and local government agencies to establish procedures to respond to an active shooter.
(2) work with State, Tribal, and local governments to encourage appropriate regional and interjurisdictional coordination.

GOALS.—The Coordinator shall encourage the adoption of best practices established under this legislation in State, Tribal, and local governments for—
(1) the development of policies and procedures to guide the use of mass alert systems, changeable message signs, or other information systems to notify local residents, motorists, travelers, and individuals in the vicinity of an active shooter;
(2) the development of guidance or policies on the content and format of alert messages to be conveyed on mass alert systems, changeable message signs, or other information systems relating to an active shooter;
(3) the coordination of State, Tribal, and local Active Shooter Alert communications plans within a region for the use of mass alert systems relating to an active shooter;
(4) the planning and designing of mass alert systems for multilingual communication with local residents, motorists, travelers, and individuals in the vicinity of an active shooter, which system may include the capability for issuing wide area alerts to local residents, motorists, travelers, and individuals in the vicinity of an active shooter;
(5) the planning of systems and protocols to facilitate the efficient issuance of active shooter alerts
(6) the provision of training and guidance to 13 transportation authorities to facilitate the appropriate use of mass alert systems and other information systems for the notification of local residents, motorists, travelers, and individuals in the vicinity of an active shooter; and
(7) the development of appropriate mass alert systems to ensure that alerts sent to individuals in the immediate vicinity of an active shooter do not alert the active shooter to the location of individuals sheltering in place near the active shooter.

SEC. 3. STANDARDS FOR ISSUANCE AND DISSEMINATION OF ALERTS

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF BEST PRACTICES.—
 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (c), the Coordinator, using the recommendations of the Advisory Panel established under subsection (b) and in coordination with local broadcasters and Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies, shall establish best practices for—
(A) the issuance of alerts through the Network;
(B) the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued through the Network; and
(C) the achievement of the goals described above.
(2) UPDATING BEST PRACTICES.—The Coordinator shall review the best practices established under paragraph (1) no less frequently than every 5 years to ensure the best practices are consistent with updated data and recommendations on active shooter situations and technological advancements in the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System or other technologies. The Coordinator shall convene the Advisory Panel as necessary to provide updated recommendations if the best practices are to be updated.
(b) ADVISORY PANEL.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Coordinator shall establish an Advisory Panel to make recommendations with respect to the establishment of best practices under subsection (a).
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Panel shall be comprised of at least 9 members, including— at least 5 law enforcement officers, including at least one nonsupervisory law enforcement officer, who have responded to active shooter incidents and who represent rural, suburban, and urban communities; at least 2 public safety experts who are not law enforcement officers and who have responded to an active shooter incident; at least 1 emergency response official who is not a law enforcement officer; and at least 1 city planning expert.
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Advisory Panel shall submit to Coordinator recommendations with respect to the establishment of best practices under subsection (a).
(c) LIMITATIONS.—
 (1) IN GENERAL.—The best practices established
 under subsection (a) shall (A) be adoptable on a voluntary basis only;
and
 (B) to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator, in consultation with State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies), provide that—
(i) appropriate information relating to an active shooter response is disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement, public health, communications, and other public officials; and
(ii) the dissemination of an alert through the Network be limited to the geographic areas most likely to be affected by, or able to respond to, an active shooter situation.

(2) NO INTERFERENCE.—In establishing best practices under subsection (a), the Coordinator may not interfere with systems of voluntary coordination between local broadcasters and State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $4,000,000 each year.
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act may be construed to provide that a participating agency, or an officer, official, employee, or agent thereof, shall be liable for any act or omission pertaining to an Alert System.
(b) STATE, FEDERAL, OR OTHER REGIONAL LAW.— Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the application of any State, Federal or other Regional law providing for liability for any act or omission pertaining to an Alert System.

Sponsor: Speaker Dwarven Dragon
Occupying: Slot 3 of 8

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Derived from H.R. 6538 of the 117th US Congress, which passed the House with support from all but one Democrat and 43 Republicans, this bill will establish a regional coordination office to create best practices for state, tribal and local governments to follow in alerting residents to the presence of an active shooter.

[ZMUN M441]

Amendment:

Active Shooter Alert Act

SEC. 1. DEFINITIONS

In this Act:
(1) ACTIVE SHOOTER.—The term ‘‘active shooter’’ means an individual who is engaged in killing or attempting to kill persons with a firearm in a populated area and who is determined to pose an active, imminent threat to people in that populated area.
(2) COORDINATOR.—The term ‘‘Coordinator’’ means the Active Shooter Alert Coordinator of the Lincoln Region designated below.
(3) POPULATED AREA.—The term ‘‘populated area’’ means a location where one or more persons other than the active shooter are present.

SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF ACTIVE SHOOTER ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.

The office of the Governor shall assign an official, which may be an NPC, to act as the national coordinator of the Active Shooter Alert Communications Network regarding an emergency involving an active shooter. The official so designated shall be known as the Active Shooter Alert Coordinator.

The Coordinator shall—
(1) encourage Federal, State, Tribal, and local government agencies to establish procedures to respond to an active shooter.
(2) work with State, Tribal, and local governments to encourage appropriate regional and interjurisdictional coordination.

GOALS.—The Coordinator shall encourage the adoption of best practices established under this legislation in State, Tribal, and local governments for—
(1) the development of policies and procedures to guide the use of mass alert systems, changeable message signs, or other information systems to notify local residents, motorists, travelers, and individuals in the vicinity of an active shooter;
(2) the development of guidance or policies on the content and format of alert messages to be conveyed on mass alert systems, changeable message signs, or other information systems relating to an active shooter;
(3) the coordination of State, Tribal, and local Active Shooter Alert communications plans within a region for the use of mass alert systems relating to an active shooter;
(4) the planning and designing of mass alert systems for multilingual communication with local residents, motorists, travelers, and individuals in the vicinity of an active shooter, which system may include the capability for issuing wide area alerts to local residents, motorists, travelers, and individuals in the vicinity of an active shooter;
(5) the planning of systems and protocols to facilitate the efficient issuance of active shooter alerts
(6) the provision of training and guidance to 13 transportation authorities to facilitate the appropriate use of mass alert systems and other information systems for the notification of local residents, motorists, travelers, and individuals in the vicinity of an active shooter; and
(7) the development of appropriate mass alert systems to ensure that alerts sent to individuals in the immediate vicinity of an active shooter do not alert the active shooter to the location of individuals sheltering in place near the active shooter.

SEC. 3. STANDARDS FOR ISSUANCE AND DISSEMINATION OF ALERTS

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF BEST PRACTICES.—
 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (c), the Coordinator, using the recommendations of the Advisory Panel established under subsection (b) and in coordination with local broadcasters and Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies, shall establish best practices for—
(A) the issuance of alerts through the Network;
(B) the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued through the Network; and
(C) the achievement of the goals described above.
(2) UPDATING BEST PRACTICES.—The Coordinator shall review the best practices established under paragraph (1) no less frequently than every 5 years to ensure the best practices are consistent with updated data and recommendations on active shooter situations and technological advancements in the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System or other technologies. The Coordinator shall convene the Advisory Panel as necessary to provide updated recommendations if the best practices are to be updated.
(b) ADVISORY PANEL.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Coordinator shall establish an Advisory Panel to make recommendations with respect to the establishment of best practices under subsection (a).
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Panel shall be comprised of at least 9 members, including— at least 5 law enforcement officers, including at least one nonsupervisory law enforcement officer, who have responded to active shooter incidents and who represent rural, suburban, and urban communities; at least 1 2 public safety experts who is are not a law enforcement officers and who hasve responded to an active shooter incidents; at least 1 emergency response official who is not a law enforcement officer; and at least 1 city planning expert; and at least 1 mental and behavioral health expert.
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Advisory Panel shall submit to Coordinator recommendations with respect to the establishment of best practices under subsection (a).
(c) LIMITATIONS.—
 (1) IN GENERAL.—The best practices established
 under subsection (a) shall (A) be adoptable on a voluntary basis only;
and
 (B) to the maximum extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator, in consultation with State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies), provide that—
(i) appropriate information relating to an active shooter response is disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement, public health, communications, and other public officials; and
(ii) the dissemination of an alert through the Network be limited to the geographic areas most likely to be affected by, or able to respond to, an active shooter situation.

(2) NO INTERFERENCE.—In establishing best practices under subsection (a), the Coordinator may not interfere with systems of voluntary coordination between local broadcasters and State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $4,000,000 each year.
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act may be construed to provide that a participating agency, or an officer, official, employee, or agent thereof, shall be liable for any act or omission pertaining to an Alert System.
(b) STATE, FEDERAL, OR OTHER REGIONAL LAW.— Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the application of any State, Federal or other Regional law providing for liability for any act or omission pertaining to an Alert System.

The amendment slightly changes the membership of the proposed Advisory Panel.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

No objection

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

hearing no objection the amendment is adopted

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

motion for a final vote

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A vote on this is beginning.

Aye

[GregTheGreat657]

Aye

[ZMUN M441]

Aye

[nerd73]

Nay

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Passes 3-1

[Former President tack50]

X tack50