§ 604. Urban Area Security Initiative
(a)
Establishment
There is established an Urban Area Security Initiative to provide grants to assist high-risk urban areas in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of terrorism.
(b)
Assessment and designation of high-risk urban areas
(1)
In general
The Administrator shall designate high-risk urban areas to receive grants under this section based on procedures under this subsection.
(2)
Initial assessment
(A)
In general
For each fiscal year, the Administrator shall conduct an initial assessment of the relative threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of terrorism faced by each eligible metropolitan area, including consideration of—
(B)
Submission of information by eligible metropolitan areas
Prior to conducting each initial assessment under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall provide each eligible metropolitan area with, and shall notify each eligible metropolitan area of, the opportunity to—
(i)
submit information that the eligible metropolitan area believes to be relevant to the determination of the threat, vulnerability, and consequences it faces from acts of terrorism; and
(ii)
review the risk assessment conducted by the Department of that eligible metropolitan area, including the bases for the assessment by the Department of the threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of terrorism faced by that eligible metropolitan area, and remedy erroneous or incomplete information.
(3)
Designation of high-risk urban areas
(A)
Designation
(i)
In general
For each fiscal year, after conducting the initial assessment under paragraph (2), and based on that assessment, the Administrator shall designate high-risk urban areas that may submit applications for grants under this section.
(ii)
Additional areas
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the Administrator may—
(c)
Application
(1)
In general
An area designated as a high-risk urban area under subsection (b) may apply for a grant under this section.
(2)
Minimum contents of application
In an application for a grant under this section, a high-risk urban area shall submit—
(A)
a plan describing the proposed division of responsibilities and distribution of funding among the local and tribal governments in the high-risk urban area;
(3)
Annual applications
Applicants for grants under this section shall apply or reapply on an annual basis.
(4)
State review and transmission
(A)
In general
To ensure consistency with State homeland security plans, a high-risk urban area applying for a grant under this section shall submit its application to each State within which any part of that high-risk urban area is located for review before submission of such application to the Department.
(B)
Deadline
Not later than 30 days after receiving an application from a high-risk urban area under subparagraph (A), a State shall transmit the application to the Department.
(d)
Distribution of awards
(1)
In general
If the Administrator approves the application of a high-risk urban area for a grant under this section, the Administrator shall distribute the grant funds to the State or States in which that high-risk urban area is located.
(2)
State distribution of funds
(A)
In general
Not later than 45 days after the date that a State receives grant funds under paragraph (1), that State shall provide the high-risk urban area awarded that grant not less than 80 percent of the grant funds. Any funds retained by a State shall be expended on items, services, or activities that benefit the high-risk urban area.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section—