text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``First Responders Support Act of 
  2002''.
  
  SEC. 2. HOMELAND SECURITY LIAISON OFFICERS.
  
      (a) Chief Homeland Security Liaison Officer.--
              (1) Appointment.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
          appoint a Chief Homeland Security Liaison Officer to coordinate 
          the activities of the Homeland Security Liaison Officers, 
          designated under subsection (b).
              (2) Annual report.--The Chief Homeland Security Liaison 
          Officer shall prepare an annual report, that contains--
                      (A) a description of the State and local priorities 
                  in each of the 50 States based on discovered needs of 
                  first responder organizations, including law 
                  enforcement agencies, fire and rescue agencies, medical 
                  providers, emergency service providers, and relief 
                  agencies;
                      (B) a needs assessment that identifies homeland 
                  security functions in which the Federal role is 
                  duplicative of the State or local role, and 
                  recommendations to decrease or eliminate inefficiencies 
                  between the Federal Government and State and local 
                  entities;
                      (C) recommendations to Congress regarding the 
                  creation, expansion, or elimination of any program to 
                  assist State and local entities to carry out their 
                  respective functions under the Department of Homeland 
                  Security; and
                      (D) proposals to increase the coordination of 
                  Department of Homeland Security priorities within each 
                  State and between the States.
      (b) Homeland Security Liaison Officers.--
              (1) Designation.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
          designate in each State not less than 1 employee of the 
          Department of Homeland Security to--
                      (A) serve as the Homeland Security Liaison Officer 
                  in that State; and
                      (B) provide coordination between the Department of 
                  Homeland Security and State and local first responders, 
                  including--
                              (i) law enforcement agencies;
                              (ii) fire and rescue agencies;
                              (iii) medical providers;
                              (iv) emergency service providers; and
                              (v) relief agencies.
              (2) Duties.--Each Homeland Security Liaison Officer 
          designated under paragraph (1) shall--
                      (A) ensure coordination between the Department of 
                  Homeland Security and--
                              (i) State, local, and community-based law 
                          enforcement;
                              (ii) fire and rescue agencies; and
                              (iii) medical and emergency relief 
                          organizations;
                      (B) identify State and local areas requiring 
                  additional information, training, resources, and 
                  security;
                      (C) provide training, information, and education 
                  regarding homeland security for State and local 
                  entities;
                      (D) identify homeland security functions in which 
                  the Federal role is duplicative of the State or local 
                  role, and recommend ways to decrease or eliminate 
                  inefficiencies;
                      (E) assist State and local entities in priority 
                  setting based on discovered needs of first responder 
                  organizations, including law enforcement agencies, fire 
                  and rescue agencies, medical providers, emergency 
                  service providers, and relief agencies;
                      (F) assist the Department of Homeland Security to 
                  identify and implement State and local homeland 
                  security objectives in an efficient and productive 
                  manner; and
                      (G) serve as a liaison to the Department of 
                  Homeland Security in representing State and local 
                  priorities and concerns regarding homeland security.
  
  SEC. 3. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON FIRST RESPONDERS.
  
      (a) In General.--There is established an Interagency Committee on 
  First Responders, that shall--
              (1) ensure coordination among the Federal agencies involved 
          with--
                      (A) State, local, and community-based law 
                  enforcement;
                      (B) fire and rescue operations; and
                      (C) medical and emergency relief services;
              (2) identify community-based law enforcement, fire and 
          rescue, and medical and emergency relief services needs;
              (3) recommend new or expanded grant programs to improve 
          community-based law enforcement, fire and rescue, and medical 
          and emergency relief services;
              (4) identify ways to streamline the process through which 
          Federal agencies support community-based law enforcement, fire 
          and rescue, and medical and emergency relief services; and
              (5) assist in priority setting based on discovered needs.
      (b) Membership.--The Interagency Committee on First Responders 
  shall be composed of--
              (1) the Chief Homeland Security Liaison Officer of the 
          Department of Homeland Security;
              (2) a representative of the Health Resources and Services 
          Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services;
              (3) a representative of the Centers for Disease Control and 
          Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services;
              (4) a representative of the Federal Emergency Management 
          Agency of the Department of Homeland Security;
              (5) a representative of the United States Coast Guard of 
          the Department of Homeland Security;
              (6) a representative of the Department of Defense;
              (7) a representative of the Office of Domestic Preparedness 
          of the Department of Homeland Security;
              (8) a representative of the Immigration and Naturalization 
          Service of the Department of Homeland Security;
              (9) a representative of the Transportation Security Agency 
          of the Department of Homeland Security;
              (10) a representative of the Federal Bureau of 
          Investigation of the Department of Justice; and
              (11) representatives of any other Federal agency identified 
          by the President as having a significant role in the purposes 
          of the Interagency Committee on First Responders.
      (c) Administration.--The Department of Homeland Security shall 
  provide administrative support to the Interagency Committee on First 
  Responders and the Advisory Council, which shall include--
              (1) scheduling meetings;
              (2) preparing agenda;
              (3) maintaining minutes and records;
              (4) producing reports; and
              (5) reimbursing Advisory Council members.
      (d) Leadership.--The members of the Interagency Committee on First 
  Responders shall select annually a chairperson.
      (e) Meetings.--The Interagency Committee on First Responders shall 
  meet--
              (1) at the call of the Chief Homeland Security Liaison 
          Officer of the Department of Homeland Security; or
              (2) not less frequently than once every 3 months.
  
  SEC. 4. ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON FIRST 
                RESPONDERS.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established an Advisory Council for 
  the Federal Interagency Committee on First Responders (in this Act 
  referred to as the ``Advisory Council'').
      (b) Membership.--
              (1) In general.--The Advisory Council shall be composed of 
          not more than 13 members, selected by the Interagency Committee 
          on First Responders.
              (2) Representation.--The Interagency Committee on First 
          Responders shall ensure that the membership of the Advisory 
          Council represents--
                      (A) the law enforcement community;
                      (B) fire and rescue organizations;
                      (C) medical and emergency relief services; and
                      (D) both urban and rural communities.
      (c) Chairperson.--The Advisory Council shall select annually a 
  chairperson from among its members.
      (d) Compensation of Members.--The members of the Advisory Council 
  shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for 
  reimbursement of necessary expenses connected with their service to the 
  Advisory Council.
      (e) Meetings.--The Advisory Council shall meet with the Interagency 
  Committee on First Responders not less frequently than once every 3 
  months.
  
  SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be 
  necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
target: First Responders Support Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate in each State at least one employee of the Department of Homeland Security to serve as that State's Homeland Security Liaison Officer and to provide coordination between the Department and State and local first responders. Requires such an Officer to: (1) provide training, information, and education on homeland security for State and local entities; (2) identify homeland security functions in which the Federal role is duplicative of the State or local role and recommend ways to decrease or eliminate inefficiencies; and (3) assist the Department in identifying and implementing State and local homeland security objectives.Requires the Secretary to appoint a Chief Homeland Security Liaison Officer who shall: (1) coordinate the activities of such State Officers; and (2) prepare annual reports on State and local priorities, a needs assessment that identifies duplicative homeland security functions, recommendations regarding program creation, expansion, or elimination to assist State and local entities in carrying out functions under the Department, and proposals to increase the coordination of Department priorities within and between States.Establishes: (1) an Interagency Committee on First Responders that shall ensure coordination among the Federal agencies involved with State, local and community-based law enforcement, fire and rescue operations, and medical and emergency relief services.; and (2) an Advisory Council for such Committee.
feat_title: A bill to establish a Federal Liaison on Homeland Security in each State, to provide coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and State and local first responders, and for other purposes.