PREPARE Act
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to add provisions entitled the Preparing America to Respond Effectively Act of 2003 (PREPARE Act), which direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a Task Force on Standards for Terrorism Preparedness and authorize the Secretary to make terrorism preparedness and response grants to State governments.
Designates the Office for Domestic Preparedness as being responsible for administering all terrorism preparedness and response grant programs of the Department of Homeland Security.
Requires the Secretary to revise the Homeland Security Advisory System to include a process for activating the System on a regional or critical infrastructure sector basis.
Includes among executive branch responsibilities the making of grants to compensate States and local governments for additional personnel costs incurred as a result of elevated threat level designations.
Requires: (1) the President to specify the lead Federal agency for sharing terrorism threat information with State and local governments; and (2) the Secretary to make grants to State and local governments to provide the equipment and facilities necessary to handle and store classified information. Makes the Under Secretary for Science and Technology responsible for first responder equipment and training standards.
Requires the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response to conduct studies regarding: (1) electromagnetic spectrum and frequency bands for emergency communications; and (2) the establishment of a nationwide emergency notification system.
Requires the Secretary to: (1) procure and deploy equipment to facilitate interoperability between emergency communications systems; (2) award grants for programs at public schools to instruct students in preparing for and responding to a man-made emergency or natural disaster; and (3) establish and maintain a clearinghouse of best practices and curricula for instructing students regarding emergency preparedness and response.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
- Aviation Subcommittee
- Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee
- Communications and Technology Subcommittee
- Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
- Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Subcommittee
- Energy and Commerce Committee
- Highways and Transit Subcommittee
- Homeland Security Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee