This bill updates the Homeland Security Act to strengthen and clarify the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (the Office) within the Department. It names the head the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, requires the Officer to report directly to the Secretary, and lists specific duties and authorities. The bill requires that the Officer have timely access to materials and staff, be consulted on changes that affect civil rights or civil liberties, and be able to investigate complaints about possible abuses by Department employees. It also requires coordination with the Department Privacy Officer, leadership of equal employment opportunity work, public summaries of certain investigations and reviews, engagement with affected communities, language access work, and hiring or designation rules for component-level civil rights officers. The bill sets notification rules for complainants, procedures for referring matters to the Inspector General, deadlines for component responses to Officer recommendations, annual public reporting by the Officer to congressional committees, and a Comptroller General review two years after enactment.
No publicly available information on costs or specific funding in the bill text. The bill does require the Comptroller General to report to Congress on implementation of certain community engagement requirements not later than two years after enactment.
Supporters emphasize that the bill clarifies the Officer's authority, access, and duties; strengthens investigation, notification, and reporting rules; promotes coordination across the Department and with the Privacy Officer; and requires public summaries and annual reports to Congress. These changes are framed in the text as measures to better protect civil rights and civil liberties and to improve oversight and transparency.
No publicly available information.