Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018

Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and DHS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis, to locations with participating state, local, and regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset in order to enhance the security of such asset. A "surface transportation asset" includes facilities, equipment, or systems used to provide transportation services by: (1) a public transportation agency, (2) a railroad carrier, (3) an owner or operator of bus services or a bus terminal, or (4) other facilities as determined by DHS.

Officers and intelligence analysts assigned to locations with participating state, local, and regional fusion centers shall participate in the generation and dissemination of transportation security intelligence products, with an emphasis on terrorist and other threats to surface transportation assets that: (1) assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in deploying their resources; (2) promote more consistent and timely sharing of threat information among jurisdictions; and (3) enhance DHS's situational awareness of such terrorist and other threats.

(Sec. 4) The TSA shall: (1) make available to public and private sector stakeholders a framework for establishing an integrated and unified operations center responsible for overseeing daily operations of a transportation facility that promotes coordination for responses to terrorism, serious incidents, and other purposes; and (2) report to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on operations centers at transportation facilities at which the TSA has a presence.

(Sec. 5) DHS, may develop, through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, a training program to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of law enforcement agencies with respect to terrorism and other serious incidents at a surface transportation asset.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov