Bill Text: TX HB560 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed


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

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-04-18 - Referred to Transportation [HB560 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB560-Engrossed.html
  88R2729 SCP-D
 
  By: Raymond H.B. No. 560
 
 
 
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, 2024, 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, 2024, 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, 2024, 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, 2024.
         SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
  1, 2023.
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