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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to analyzing and mitigating transportation security |
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threats in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Public Safety Commission. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety |
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of the State of Texas. |
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(3) "Director" means the public safety director. |
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(4) "Division" means the Intelligence and |
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Counterterrorism division of the department. |
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SECTION 2. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY THREAT ANALYSIS. (a) |
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The division shall conduct an analysis of emerging and potential |
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future threats to transportation security in this state. The |
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analysis must include emerging and potential future threats posed |
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by the following: |
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(1) evolving tactics by terrorist organizations that |
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may pose a catastrophic risk to an aviation or surface |
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transportation entity; |
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(2) explosive devices or attacks involving the use of |
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explosives that may cause catastrophic damage to an aviation or |
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surface transportation system; |
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(3) the release of chemical or biological agents in |
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either aviation or surface transportation systems; |
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(4) cyberthreat actors seeking to undermine |
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confidence in transportation systems or cause service disruptions |
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that jeopardize transportation security; |
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(5) unmanned aerial systems with the capability of |
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inflicting harm on transportation targets; |
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(6) individuals or groups seeking to attack soft |
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targets, public areas, or crowded spaces of transportation systems, |
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including attacks against transportation security personnel; |
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(7) foreign actors seeking to exploit vulnerabilities |
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posed by inconsistent or inadequate security screening protocols at |
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last point of departure airports with direct flights to this state; |
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(8) information-sharing challenges within state |
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government and between state government and private and |
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governmental entities; and |
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(9) growth in passenger volume in both the aviation |
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and surface transportation sectors in this state. |
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(b) In conducting the analysis required under Subsection |
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(a) of this section, the division shall engage transportation |
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stakeholders and account for security concerns of transportation |
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operators by: |
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(1) convening at least three industry day events for |
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transportation stakeholders to hear from relevant public and |
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private sector security partners and provide feedback on emerging |
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threats identified by the transportation stakeholders; |
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(2) developing strategies to solicit feedback on a |
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consistent basis from transportation stakeholders across all modes |
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of transportation and providing consistent responses to |
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stakeholder concerns; |
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(3) improving the quality, timeliness, and relevancy |
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of information-sharing products disseminated by the division to |
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transportation stakeholders, including classified |
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information-sharing products; |
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(4) coordinating security incident response and |
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communications drills, including tabletop exercises, to improve |
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incident preparedness and response capabilities across |
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transportation modes and among transportation systems; |
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(5) encouraging regular communication between |
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governmental entities responsible for transportation security and |
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transportation stakeholders; and |
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(6) establishing regular opportunities for senior |
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department leadership to engage with transportation stakeholders |
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regarding changes in the threat environment and ways the department |
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can offer security support to address those changes. |
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(c) Not later than June 1, 2024, the division shall submit |
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the analysis required under Subsection (a) of this section to the |
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commission and director. |
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SECTION 3. MITIGATION. Not later than October 1, 2024, the |
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director shall: |
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(1) develop, as appropriate, a threat mitigation |
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strategy for each of the threats examined in the analysis; and |
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(2) assign appropriate department resources to |
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address those threats based on the calculated risk or provide |
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recommendations to the appropriate governmental entity responsible |
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for addressing those threats. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE. Not later than |
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December 1, 2024, the director shall provide a written report to |
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each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over |
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transportation on the results of the analysis required under |
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Section 2 of this Act and relevant mitigation strategies developed |
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in accordance with Section 3 of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31, 2024. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2023. |