Definitions
Cybersecurity Plan
The term “Cybersecurity Plan” means a plan submitted by an eligible entity under subsection (e)(1).
Eligible entity
Multi-entity group
The term “multi-entity group” means a group of 2 or more eligible entities desiring a grant under this section.
Online service
The term “online service” means any internet-facing service, including a website, email, virtual private network, or custom application.
Rural area
section 5302 of title 49The term “rural area” has the meaning given the term in .
State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program
The term “State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program” means the program established under subsection (b).
Tribal government
section 5131 of title 25The term “Tribal government” means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, that is individually identified (including parenthetically) in the most recent list published pursuant to .
Establishment
In general
There is established within the Department a program to award grants to eligible entities to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems owned or operated by, or on behalf of, State, local, or Tribal governments.
Application
An eligible entity desiring a grant under the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
Administration
The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program shall be administered in the same office of the Department that administers grants made under sections 604 and 605 of this title.
Use of funds
Cybersecurity plans
In general
An eligible entity applying for a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a Cybersecurity Plan for review in accordance with subsection (i).
Required elements
Discretionary elements
Multi-entity grants
In general
The Secretary may award grants under this section to a multi-entity group to support multi-entity efforts to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems within the jurisdictions of the eligible entities that comprise the multi-entity group.
Satisfaction of other requirements
Application
In general
A multi-entity group applying for a multi-entity grant under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
Multi-entity project plan
Planning committees
In general
Composition
Cybersecurity expertise
Not less than one-half of the representatives of a committee established under paragraph (1) shall have professional experience relating to cybersecurity or information technology.
Rule of construction regarding existing planning committees
Rule of construction regarding control of information systems of eligible entities
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit a cybersecurity planning committee of an eligible entity that meets the requirements of this subsection to make decisions relating to information systems owned or operated by, or on behalf of, the eligible entity.
Special rule for Tribal governments
With respect to any requirement under subsection (e) or (g), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and Tribal governments, may prescribe an alternative substantively similar requirement for Tribal governments if the Secretary finds that the alternative requirement is necessary for the effective delivery and administration of grants to Tribal governments under this section.
Review of plans
Review as condition of grant
In general
Duration of determination
In the case of a determination under subparagraph (A)(ii) that a Cybersecurity Plan satisfies the requirements under paragraph (2), the determination shall be effective for the 2-year period beginning on the date of the determination.
Annual renewal
Plan requirements
Exception
Rule of construction
Limitations on uses of funds
In general
Compliance oversight
In addition to any other remedy available, the Secretary may take such actions as are necessary to ensure that a recipient of a grant under this section uses the grant for the purposes for which the grant is awarded.
Rule of construction
Nothing in paragraph (1)(A) shall be construed to prohibit the use of funds from a grant under this section awarded to a State, local, or Tribal government for otherwise permissible uses under this section on the basis that the State, local, or Tribal government has previously used State, local, or Tribal funds to support the same or similar uses.
Opportunity to amend applications
In considering applications for grants under this section, the Secretary shall provide applicants with a reasonable opportunity to correct any defects in those applications before making final awards, including by allowing applicants to revise a submitted Cybersecurity Plan.
Apportionment
Baseline amount
Remainder
Apportionment among Tribal governments
In determining how to apportion amounts to Tribal governments under paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior and Tribal governments.
Multi-entity grants
An amount received from a multi-entity grant awarded under subsection (f)(1) by a State or Tribal government that is a member of the multi-entity group shall qualify as an apportionment for the purpose of this subsection.
Federal share
In general
Waiver
In general
The Secretary may waive or modify the requirements of paragraph (1) if an eligible entity or multi-entity group demonstrates economic hardship.
Guidelines
The Secretary shall establish and publish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship for the purposes of this subsection.
Considerations
Waiver for Tribal governments
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and Tribal governments, may waive or modify the requirements of paragraph (1) for 1 or more Tribal governments if the Secretary determines that the waiver is in the public interest.
Responsibilities of grantees
Certification
Availability of funds to local governments and rural areas
In general
Availability to rural areas
Exceptions
Certifications regarding distribution of grant funds to local governments
An eligible entity or multi-entity group shall certify to the Secretary that the eligible entity or multi-entity group has made the distribution to local governments required under paragraph (2).
Extension of period
In general
An eligible entity or multi-entity group may request in writing that the Secretary extend the period of time specified in paragraph (2) for an additional period of time.
Approval
The Secretary may approve a request for an extension under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines the extension is necessary to ensure that the obligation and expenditure of grant funds align with the purpose of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
Direct funding
If an eligible entity does not make a distribution to a local government required under paragraph (2) in a timely fashion, the local government may petition the Secretary to request the Secretary to provide funds directly to the local government.
Limitation on construction
A grant awarded under this section may not be used to acquire land or to construct, remodel, or perform alterations of buildings or other physical facilities.
Consultation in allocating funds
An eligible entity applying for a grant under this section shall agree to consult the Chief Information Officer, the Chief Information Security Officer, or an equivalent official of the eligible entity in allocating funds from a grant awarded under this section.
Penalties
Consultation with State, local, and Tribal representatives
Notification to Congress
Not later than 3 business days before the date on which the Department announces the award of a grant to an eligible entity under this section, including an announcement to the eligible entity, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees notice of the announcement.
Reports, study, and review
Annual reports by grant recipients
In general
Absence of plan
Annual reports to Congress
Public availability
In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall make each report submitted under paragraph (2) publicly available, including by making each report available on the website of the Agency.
Redactions
section 552 of title 5In making each report publicly available under subparagraph (A), the Director may make redactions that the Director, in consultation with each eligible entity, determines necessary to protect classified or other information exempt from disclosure under (commonly referred to as the “Freedom of Information Act”).
Study of risk-based formulas
In general
Inapplicability of Paperwork Reduction Act
The requirements of chapter 35 of title 44 (commonly referred to as the “Paperwork Reduction Act”), shall not apply to any action taken to carry out this paragraph.
Tribal cybersecurity needs report
GAO review
Authorization of appropriations
In general
Transfers authorized
In general
During a fiscal year, the Secretary or the head of any component of the Department that administers the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program may transfer not more than 5 percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) or other amounts appropriated to carry out the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program for that fiscal year to an account of the Department for salaries, expenses, and other administrative costs incurred for the management, administration, or evaluation of this section.
Additional appropriations
Any funds transferred under subparagraph (A) shall be in addition to any funds appropriated to the Department or the components described in subparagraph (A) for salaries, expenses, and other administrative costs.
Termination
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the requirements of this section shall terminate on .
Exception
The reporting requirements under subsection (q) shall terminate on the date that is 1 year after the date on which the final funds from a grant under this section are expended or returned.
Pub. L. 107–296, title XXII, § 2220APub. L. 117–58, div. G, title VI, § 70612(a)135 Stat. 1272 Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XV, § 1547(b)(1)(A)(viii)135 Stat. 2061 Pub. L. 117–263, div. G, title LXXI, § 7143(b)(2)(K)136 Stat. 3660 Pub. L. 119–75, div. I, § 5009140 Stat. 630 (, formerly § 2218, as added , , ; renumbered § 2220A and amended , , ; , , ; , , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Pub. L. 88–52578 Stat. 703 section 2011 of Title 7The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (m)(2)(C)(ii), is , , , which is classified generally to chapter 51 (§ 2011 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
Amendments
Pub. L. 119–752026—Subsec. (s)(1). substituted “” for “”.
Pub. L. 117–263, § 7143(b)(2)(K)(i)2022—Subsec. (a). , redesignated pars. (3), (4), and (8) to (12) as (1) to (7), respectively, and struck out former pars. (1), (2), and (5) to (7) which defined appropriate committees of Congress, cyber threat indicator, incident, information sharing and analysis organization, and information system, respectively.
Pub. L. 117–263, § 7143(b)(2)(K)(ii)Subsec. (e)(2)(B)(xiv)(II)(aa). , substituted “Information Sharing and Analysis Organization” for “information sharing and analysis organization”.
Pub. L. 117–263, § 7143(b)(2)(K)(iii)Subsec. (p). , substituted “appropriate congressional committees” for “appropriate committees of Congress”.
Pub. L. 117–263, § 7143(b)(2)(K)(iv)Subsec. (q)(4)(A). , which directed amendment of subsec. (q)(4) by substituting “appropriate congressional committees” for “appropriate committees of Congress” “in the matter preceding clause (i)”, was executed by making the substitution in the introductory provisions of subsec. (q)(4)(A), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 117–812021— reenacted section catchline.