Amends TCA Title 4; Title 38; Title 39; Title 54; Title 58 and Title 65.

STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES<br /> <br /> This bill requires state departments and agencies to do the following:<br /> <br /> (1) Identify, prioritize, and coordinate the protection of critical infrastructure and key resources in order to prevent, deter, and mitigate the effects of deliberate efforts to destroy, incapacitate, or exploit them; <br /> <br /> (2) Ensure that homeland security programs do not diminish the overall economic security of this state; <br /> <br /> (3) Appropriately protect information associated with carrying out this bill; and <br /> <br /> (4) Implement this bill in a manner that protects the rights of this state’s residents. <br /> <br /> DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSIONER OF SAFETY<br /> <br /> This bill requires the commissioner of safety to coordinate, in consultation with the homeland security council, the overall state effort to enhance the protection of the critical infrastructure and key resources of this state. The commissioner must serve as the principal state official to lead, integrate, and coordinate implementation of efforts among state departments and agencies, the federal and local governments, and the private sector to protect critical infrastructure and key resources.<br /> <br /> This bill also requires the commissioner to identify, prioritize, and coordinate the protection of critical infrastructure and key resources with an emphasis on critical infrastructure and key resources that could be exploited to cause catastrophic health effects or mass casualties comparable to those from the use of a weapon of mass destruction. The commissioner must establish uniform policies, approaches, guidelines, and methodologies for integrating infrastructure protection and risk management activities within and across sectors along with metrics and criteria for related programs and activities. <br /> <br /> The department of safety, in consultation with the homeland security council, must coordinate protection activities for each of the following critical infrastructure sectors: information technology; telecommunications; and emergency services along with a duty to coordinate with appropriate departments and agencies to ensure the protection of other key resources including dams, government facilities, and commercial facilities.<br /> <br /> HOMELAND SECURITY COUNCIL AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES<br /> <br /> This bill requires the homeland security council within the department of safety to evaluate the need for and make recommendations to the commissioner regarding coverage of additional critical infrastructure and key resources categories over time, as appropriate.<br /> <br /> Recognizing that each infrastructure sector possesses its own unique characteristics and operating models, the following sector-specific agencies must identify, and make recommendations regarding, critical infrastructure and key resource protection needs to the council: <br /> <br /> (1) Department of agriculture; <br /> <br /> (2) Department of health; <br /> <br /> (3) Department of environment and conservation; <br /> <br /> (4) Department of transportation; <br /> <br /> (5) Department of finance and administration; <br /> <br /> (6) Department of military; <br /> <br /> (7) Tennessee emergency management agency; and <br /> <br /> (8) Tennessee public utilities commission. <br /> <br /> In identifying, and making recommendations regarding, critical infrastructure and key resource protection needs, the council and sector-specific agencies should collaborate with relevant federal departments and agencies, local governments, and the private sector, including with key persons and entities in their infrastructure sector; conduct or facilitate vulnerability assessments of the sector; and encourage risk management strategies to protect against and mitigate the effects of attacks against critical infrastructure and key resources. The sector-specific agencies referenced previously, includes a state department or agency responsible for infrastructure protection activities in a designated critical infrastructure sector or key resources category and that conducts its activities under this chapter in accordance with guidelines provided by the department and the homeland security council. <br /> <br /> CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEFINED<br /> <br /> This bill defines "critical infrastructure" as systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to this state, or a political subdivision, that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on physical security, economic security, public health or safety, or any combination of those matters. The term includes, but is not limited to, the infrastructure of the following services to the general public: telephone, television, internet, or other telecommunication services; electric, heat, natural gas, or other power or energy services; the distribution of crude or refined liquid petroleum product’s or natural gas, and the pipelines, pumping stations, terminals, and equipment necessary for operation of the facility; water, wastewater, or sewer services; and railroads and other transportation services.<br />