article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) numerous technologies exist to enable the Federal Government to vastly enhance its public alert and warning system; (2) the potential benefits of these enhancements include-- (A) greater security, survivability, and redundancy of the system; (B) an improved ability to notify remote locations; (C) the ability to geographically target and deliver alerts and warnings to multiple devices; and (D) the ability to allow individuals to request specific alerts and warnings; (3) a modern, integrated public alert and warning system will better enable government officials to provide civilian populations with timely and effective warnings of disasters, such as the devastating tornados and floods in the Midwest in 2008; and (4) the Federal Government should modernize its alert and warning system to improve its ability to alert the residents of the United States of all potential hazards under all conditions. SEC. 3. INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM MODERNIZATION. (a) In General.--Section 202 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5132) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(e) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization.-- ``(1) In general.--In order to provide timely and effective disaster warnings under this section, the President, acting through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall-- ``(A) modernize the integrated public alert and warning system of the United States (in this section referred to as the `public alert and warning system') to ensure that the President under all conditions can alert and warn governmental authorities and the civilian population in areas endangered by disasters; and ``(B) implement the public alert and warning system. ``(2) Implementation requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Director shall-- ``(A) assign to the National Continuity Programs Directorate, or its successor, responsibility for advising the Director on the modernization and implementation of the public alert and warning system; ``(B) establish or adopt, as appropriate, common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the public alert and warning system; ``(C) include in the public alert and warning system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, or personal user preferences, as appropriate; ``(D) include in the public alert and warning system the capability to alert and warn individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency; and ``(E) ensure the conduct of training, tests, and exercises for the public alert and warning system. ``(3) System requirements.--The public alert and warning system shall-- ``(A) incorporate multiple communications technologies; ``(B) be designed to adapt to, and incorporate, future technologies for communicating directly with the public; ``(C) be designed to provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; ``(D) promote local and regional public and private partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; and ``(E) provide redundant alert mechanisms where practicable so as to reach the greatest number of people regardless of whether they have access to, or utilize, any specific medium of communication or any particular device. ``(4) Pilot programs.-- ``(A) In general.--The Director shall conduct pilot programs for the purpose of demonstrating the feasibility of using a variety of methods for achieving the system requirements specified in paragraph (3). ``(B) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter for the duration of the pilot programs, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report containing-- ``(i) a description and assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot programs; ``(ii) any recommendations of the Director for additional authority to continue the pilot programs or make any of the programs permanent; and ``(iii) any other findings and conclusions of the Director with respect to the pilot programs. ``(5) Implementation plan.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a detailed plan for implementing this subsection. The plan shall include a timeline for implementation, a spending plan, and recommendations for any additional authority that may be necessary to fully implement this subsection. ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.''. (b) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this Act (including the amendment made by this Act) shall be construed to affect the authority of the Department of Commerce or the Federal Communications Commission.
summary: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the President, acting through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to: (1) modernize and implement the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to ensure that the President can alert governmental authorities and the civilian population in areas endangered by disasters under all conditions; (2) assign to the National Continuity Programs Directorate responsibility for advising on system modernization and implementation; (3) establish or adopt common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures; (4) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, or personal user preferences and to alert individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency; and (5) ensure the conduct of training, tests, and exercises. Requires the system to: (1) incorporate multiple communications technologies; (2) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public; (3) be designed to provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (4) promote local and regional partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; and (5) provide redundant alert mechanisms. Requires the Director to conduct pilot programs to demonstrate the feasibility of using a variety of methods for achieving system requirements.