text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Integrated Public Alert and Warning 
  System Modernization Act of 2008''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds that--
              (1) numerous technologies exist to enable the Federal 
          Government to vastly enhance its public alert and warning 
          system;
              (2) the potential benefits of these enhancements include--
                      (A) greater security, survivability, and redundancy 
                  of the system;
                      (B) an improved ability to notify remote locations;
                      (C) the ability to geographically target and 
                  deliver alerts and warnings to multiple devices; and
                      (D) the ability to allow individuals to request 
                  specific alerts and warnings;
              (3) a modern, integrated public alert and warning system 
          will better enable government officials to provide civilian 
          populations with timely and effective warnings of disasters, 
          such as the devastating tornados and floods in the Midwest in 
          2008; and
              (4) the Federal Government should modernize its alert and 
          warning system to improve its ability to alert the residents of 
          the United States of all potential hazards under all 
          conditions.
  
  SEC. 3. INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM MODERNIZATION.
  
      (a) In General.--Section 202 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
  Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5132) is amended by 
  adding at the end the following:
      ``(e) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization.--
              ``(1) In general.--In order to provide timely and effective 
          disaster warnings under this section, the President, acting 
          through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
          Agency, shall--
                      ``(A) modernize the integrated public alert and 
                  warning system of the United States (in this section 
                  referred to as the `public alert and warning system') 
                  to ensure that the President under all conditions can 
                  alert and warn governmental authorities and the 
                  civilian population in areas endangered by disasters; 
                  and
                      ``(B) implement the public alert and warning 
                  system.
              ``(2) Implementation requirements.--In carrying out 
          paragraph (1), the Director shall--
                      ``(A) assign to the National Continuity Programs 
                  Directorate, or its successor, responsibility for 
                  advising the Director on the modernization and 
                  implementation of the public alert and warning system;
                      ``(B) establish or adopt, as appropriate, common 
                  alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, 
                  and operating procedures for the public alert and 
                  warning system;
                      ``(C) include in the public alert and warning 
                  system the capability to adapt the distribution and 
                  content of communications on the basis of geographic 
                  location, risks, or personal user preferences, as 
                  appropriate;
                      ``(D) include in the public alert and warning 
                  system the capability to alert and warn individuals 
                  with disabilities and individuals with limited English 
                  proficiency; and
                      ``(E) ensure the conduct of training, tests, and 
                  exercises for the public alert and warning system.
              ``(3) System requirements.--The public alert and warning 
          system shall--
                      ``(A) incorporate multiple communications 
                  technologies;
                      ``(B) be designed to adapt to, and incorporate, 
                  future technologies for communicating directly with the 
                  public;
                      ``(C) be designed to provide alerts to the largest 
                  portion of the affected population feasible and improve 
                  the ability of remote areas to receive alerts;
                      ``(D) promote local and regional public and private 
                  partnerships to enhance community preparedness and 
                  response; and
                      ``(E) provide redundant alert mechanisms where 
                  practicable so as to reach the greatest number of 
                  people regardless of whether they have access to, or 
                  utilize, any specific medium of communication or any 
                  particular device.
              ``(4) Pilot programs.--
                      ``(A) In general.--The Director shall conduct pilot 
                  programs for the purpose of demonstrating the 
                  feasibility of using a variety of methods for achieving 
                  the system requirements specified in paragraph (3).
                      ``(B) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the 
                  date of enactment of this subsection, and annually 
                  thereafter for the duration of the pilot programs, the 
                  Director shall submit to the Committee on 
                  Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
                  Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security 
                  and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 
                  containing--
                              ``(i) a description and assessment of the 
                          effectiveness of the pilot programs;
                              ``(ii) any recommendations of the Director 
                          for additional authority to continue the pilot 
                          programs or make any of the programs permanent; 
                          and
                              ``(iii) any other findings and conclusions 
                          of the Director with respect to the pilot 
                          programs.
              ``(5) Implementation plan.--Not later than 6 months after 
          the date of enactment of this subsection, the Director shall 
          submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
          the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
          Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a detailed plan 
          for implementing this subsection. The plan shall include a 
          timeline for implementation, a spending plan, and 
          recommendations for any additional authority that may be 
          necessary to fully implement this subsection.
              ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
          to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $37,000,000 for 
          fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for each 
          fiscal year thereafter.''.
      (b) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this Act 
  (including the amendment made by this Act) shall be construed to affect 
  the authority of the Department of Commerce or the Federal 
  Communications Commission.
target: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the President, acting through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to: (1) modernize and implement the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to ensure that the President can alert governmental authorities and the civilian population in areas endangered by disasters under all conditions; (2) assign to the National Continuity Programs Directorate responsibility for advising on system modernization and implementation; (3) establish or adopt common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures; (4) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, or personal user preferences and to alert individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency; and (5) ensure the conduct of training, tests, and exercises.
  
  Requires the system to: (1) incorporate multiple communications technologies; (2) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public; (3) be designed to provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (4) promote local and regional partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; and (5) provide redundant alert mechanisms.
  
  Requires the Director to conduct pilot programs to demonstrate the feasibility of using a variety of methods for achieving system requirements.
feat_title: To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the President to modernize the integrated public alert and warning system of the United States, and for other purposes.