Bill Text: TX HB2161 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to analyzing and mitigating transportation security threats in this state.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-15 - Referred to Homeland Security & Public Safety [HB2161 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB2161-Introduced.html

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87R7276 MTB-D
By: Raymond H.B. No. 2161

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to analyzing and mitigating transportation security
threats in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Commission" means the Public Safety Commission.
(2) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety
of the State of Texas.
(3) "Director" means the public safety director.
(4) "Division" means the Intelligence and
Counterterrorism division of the department.
SECTION 2. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY THREAT ANALYSIS. (a)
The division shall conduct an analysis of emerging and potential
future threats to transportation security in this state. The
analysis must include emerging and potential future threats posed
by the following:
(1) evolving tactics by terrorist organizations that
may pose a catastrophic risk to an aviation or surface
transportation entity;
(2) explosive devices or attacks involving the use of
explosives that may cause catastrophic damage to an aviation or
surface transportation system;
(3) the release of chemical or biological agents in
either aviation or surface transportation systems;
(4) cyberthreat actors seeking to undermine
confidence in transportation systems or cause service disruptions
that jeopardize transportation security;
(5) unmanned aerial systems with the capability of
inflicting harm on transportation targets;
(6) individuals or groups seeking to attack soft
targets, public areas, or crowded spaces of transportation systems,
including attacks against transportation security personnel;
(7) foreign actors seeking to exploit vulnerabilities
posed by inconsistent or inadequate security screening protocols at
last point of departure airports with direct flights to this state;
(8) information-sharing challenges within state
government and between state government and private and
governmental entities; and
(9) growth in passenger volume in both the aviation
and surface transportation sectors in this state.
(b) In conducting the analysis required under Subsection
(a) of this section, the division shall engage transportation
stakeholders and account for security concerns of transportation
operators by:
(1) convening at least three industry day events for
transportation stakeholders to hear from relevant public and
private sector security partners and provide feedback on emerging
threats identified by the transportation stakeholders;
(2) developing strategies to solicit feedback on a
consistent basis from transportation stakeholders across all modes
of transportation and providing consistent responses to
stakeholder concerns;
(3) improving the quality, timeliness, and relevancy
of information-sharing products disseminated by the division to
transportation stakeholders, including classified
information-sharing products;
(4) coordinating security incident response and
communications drills, including tabletop exercises, to improve
incident preparedness and response capabilities across
transportation modes and among transportation systems;
(5) encouraging regular communication between
governmental entities responsible for transportation security and
transportation stakeholders; and
(6) establishing regular opportunities for senior
department leadership to engage with transportation stakeholders
regarding changes in the threat environment and ways the department
can offer security support to address those changes.
(c) Not later than June 1, 2022, the division shall submit
the analysis required under Subsection (a) of this section to the
commission and director.
SECTION 3. MITIGATION. Not later than October 1, 2022, the
director shall:
(1) develop, as appropriate, a threat mitigation
strategy for each of the threats examined in the analysis; and
(2) assign appropriate department resources to
address those threats based on the calculated risk or provide
recommendations to the appropriate governmental entity responsible
for addressing those threats.
SECTION 4. REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE. Not later than
December 1, 2022, the director shall provide a written report to
each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over
transportation on the results of the analysis required under
Section 2 of this Act and relevant mitigation strategies developed
in accordance with Section 3 of this Act.
SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31, 2022.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2021.