6 U.S.C. § 321m Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 6 U.S.C. § 321m

(a) Establishment

(1) In general

The Secretary, acting through the officer designated under paragraph (2), shall establish and implement the voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and certification program in accordance with this section.

(2) Designation of officer

The Secretary shall designate an officer responsible for the accreditation and certification program under this section. Such officer (hereinafter referred to in this section as the "designated officer") shall be one of the following:

(A) The Administrator, based on consideration of-

(i) the expertise of the Administrator in emergency management and preparedness in the United States; and

(ii) the responsibilities of the Administrator as the principal advisor to the President for all matters relating to emergency management in the United States.

(B) The Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection,¹ based on consideration of the expertise of the Assistant Secretary in, and responsibilities for-

(i) protection of critical infrastructure;

(ii) risk assessment methodologies; and

(iii) interacting with the private sector on the issues described in clauses (i) and (ii).

(C) The Under Secretary for Science and Technology, based on consideration of the expertise of the Under Secretary in, and responsibilities associated with, standards.

(3) Coordination

In carrying out the accreditation and certification program under this section, the designated officer shall coordinate with-

(A) the other officers of the Department referred to in paragraph (2), using the expertise and responsibilities of such officers; and

(B) the Special Assistant to the Secretary for the Private Sector, based on consideration of the expertise of the Special Assistant in, and responsibilities for, interacting with the private sector.

(b) Voluntary private sector preparedness standards; voluntary accreditation and certification program for the private sector

(1) Accreditation and certification program

Not later than 210 days after August 3, 2007, the designated officer shall-

(A) begin supporting the development and updating, as necessary, of voluntary preparedness standards through appropriate organizations that coordinate or facilitate the development and use of voluntary consensus standards and voluntary consensus standards development organizations; and

(B) in consultation with representatives of appropriate organizations that coordinate or facilitate the development and use of voluntary consensus standards, appropriate voluntary consensus standards development organizations, each private sector advisory council created under section 112(f)(4) of this title, appropriate representatives of State and local governments, including emergency management officials, and appropriate private sector advisory groups, such as sector coordinating councils and information sharing and analysis centers-

(i) develop and promote a program to certify the preparedness of private sector entities that voluntarily choose to seek certification under the program; and