HR 659 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To improve the programs of the Department of Homeland Security relating to trained detection canines, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 24, 2007

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama (for himself, Mr. CARNEY, Mr. KING of New York, and Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland SecurityCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To improve the programs of the Department of Homeland Security relating to trained detection canines, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Canine Detection Team Improvement Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. CANINE DETECTION TEAM IMPROVEMENT.

(a) In General- The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating the second title XVIII as title XIX; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`TITLE XX--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

`Subtitle A--Canine Detection Teams

`SEC. 2001. COORDINATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF CANINE DETECTION TEAM TRAINING.

`The Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) fully coordinate the canine training programs of the Department, including the research and development of new canine training methods, including the optimum number and type of training aids and research on all measurements for efficiency and effectiveness; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) ensure that the Department is maximizing its use of existing training facilities and resources to train canines throughout the year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 2002. CANINE PROCUREMENT.

`The Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) make it a priority to increase the number of domestically bred canines used by the Department to assist in its counter-terrorism mission, including the protection of ports of entry and along the United States border;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) increase the utilization of domestically bred canines from universities and private and nonprofit sources in the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) consult with other Federal, State, and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, universities, and private entities that use detection canines, such as those participating in the Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal Detector Guidelines (popularly known as `SWGDOG'), as well as the Office of Management and Budget, to encourage domestic breeding of canines and consolidate canine procurement, where possible, across the Federal Government to reduce the cost of purchasing canines.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 2003. DOMESTIC CANINE BREEDING GRANT PROGRAM.

`(a) Establishment of Program- The Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program for domestic breeders of canines. The purpose of the grant program shall be to encourage the development and growth of targeted breeding programs that are best suited for breeding canines for detection purposes within the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 2004. HOMELAND SECURITY CANINE DETECTION ACCREDITATION BOARD.

`(a) Establishment of Accreditation Board-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after the date on which the national voluntary consensus standards referred to in subsection (b)(1) are issued, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General, shall establish a Homeland Security Canine Detection Accreditation Board to develop and implement a process for certifying compliance with such standards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) MEMBERSHIP- The membership of the Accreditation Board shall consist of experts in the fields of canine training and explosives detection from Federal and State agencies, universities, other research institutions, and the private sector, such as those represented on the Executive Board of SWGDOG.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Accreditation Process- The Accreditation Board shall establish and implement a voluntary accreditation process to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) certify that persons conducting certification of canine detection teams appropriately ensure that the canine detection teams meet the national voluntary consensus standards for canines, handlers, and trainers developed by SWGDOG;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) ensure that canine detection teams do not put public safety and the safety of law enforcement personnel at risk due to fraud or weaknesses in the initial or maintenance training curriculum; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) maintain and update a public list of entities accredited by the Department to certify canine detection teams.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Compliance With Standards- Beginning not later than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the standards referred to in subsection (b)(1) are issued, the Secretary shall require that grant funds administered by the Department may not be used to acquire a canine detection team unless--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) the canine detection team is certified under the process established under subsection (b); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) the Secretary determines that the applicant has shown special circumstances that justify the acquisition of canines that are not certified under the process established under subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 2005. DEFINITIONS.

`In this subtitle:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) CANINE DETECTION TEAM- The term `canine detection team' means a canine and a canine handler.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) CERTIFYING ENTITY- The term `certifying entity' means an entity that oversees the processes and procedures used to train and test canine detection teams.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) SWGDOG- The term `SWGDOG' means the Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal Detector Guidelines.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by striking the items relating to the second title XVIII and adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`TITLE XIX--DOMESTIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE

`Sec. 1901. Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 1902. Mission of Office.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 1903. Hiring authority.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 1904. Testing authority.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 1905. Relationship to other Department entities and Federal agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 1906. Contracting and grant making authorities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`TITLE XX--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

`Subtitle A--Canine Detection Teams

`Sec. 2001. Coordination and enhancement of canine detection team training.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 2002. Canine procurement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 2003. Domestic canine breeding grant program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 2004. Homeland Security Canine Detection Accreditation Board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 2005. Definitions.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Report- Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on the plan of the Secretary to coordinate and consolidate the canine training and related programs of the Department of Homeland Security in accordance with section 2001 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink