110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 659
To improve the programs of the Department of Homeland Security
relating to trained detection canines, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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 Security
A BILL
To improve the programs of the Department of Homeland Security
relating to trained detection canines, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Canine Detection Team Improvement Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. CANINE DETECTION TEAM IMPROVEMENT.
(a) In General- The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
(1) by redesignating the second title XVIII as title XIX; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`TITLE XX--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
`Subtitle A--Canine Detection Teams
`SEC. 2001. COORDINATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF CANINE DETECTION TEAM TRAINING.
`(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; and
`(2) ensure that the Department is maximizing its use of existing training
facilities and resources to train canines throughout the year.
`SEC. 2002. CANINE PROCUREMENT.
`(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;
`(2) increase the utilization of domestically bred canines from universities
and private and nonprofit sources in the United States; and
`(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.
`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.
`(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.
`SEC. 2004. HOMELAND SECURITY CANINE DETECTION ACCREDITATION BOARD.
`(a) Establishment of Accreditation Board-
`(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.
`(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.
`(b) Accreditation Process- The Accreditation Board shall establish and
implement a voluntary accreditation process to--
`(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;
`(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; and
`(3) maintain and update a public list of entities accredited by the Department
to certify canine detection teams.
`(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--
`(1) the canine detection team is certified under the process established
under subsection (b); or
`(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).
`SEC. 2005. DEFINITIONS.
`(1) CANINE DETECTION TEAM- The term `canine detection team' means a canine
and a canine handler.
`(2) CERTIFYING ENTITY- The term `certifying entity' means an entity that
oversees the processes and procedures used to train and test canine detection
teams.
`(3) SWGDOG- The term `SWGDOG' means the Scientific Working Group on Dog
and Orthogonal Detector Guidelines.'.
(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:
`TITLE XIX--DOMESTIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE
`Sec. 1901. Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.
`Sec. 1902. Mission of Office.
`Sec. 1903. Hiring authority.
`Sec. 1904. Testing authority.
`Sec. 1905. Relationship to other Department entities and Federal agencies.
`Sec. 1906. Contracting and grant making authorities.
`TITLE XX--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
`Subtitle A--Canine Detection Teams
`Sec. 2001. Coordination and enhancement of canine detection team training.
`Sec. 2002. Canine procurement.
`Sec. 2003. Domestic canine breeding grant program.
`Sec. 2004. Homeland Security Canine Detection Accreditation Board.
`Sec. 2005. Definitions.'.
(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).
END
