Domestic Explosives Detection Canine Capacity Building Act of 2017

Behavioral standards— The term “behavioral standards” means standards for the evaluation of explosives detection working canines for certain factors, including canine temperament, work drive, suitability for training, environmental factors used in evaluations, and canine familiarity with natural or man-made surfaces or working conditions relevant to the canine’s expected work area.

Medical standards— The term “medical standards” means standards for the evaluation of explosives detection working canines for certain factors, including canine health, management of heredity health conditions, breeding practices, genetics, pedigree, and long-term health tracking.

Technical standards— The term “technical standards” means standards for the evaluation of explosives detection working canines for certain factors, including canine search techniques, handler-canine communication, detection testing conditions and logistics, and learned explosive odor libraries.

In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall establish a working group to determine ways to develop a decentralized domestic canine breeding network to produce high quality explosives detection canines and modernize canine training standards.

Working group composition— The working group established under subsection (a) shall be comprised of representatives from the following:

Chairpersons— The Administrator for the Transportation Security Administration shall approve of two individuals from among the representatives of the working group specified in subsection (b) to serve as the Chairpersons of the working group. One such Chairperson shall be from the entities specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of such subsection, and the other such Chairperson shall be from the entities specified in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of such subsection.

Preliminary standards and recommendations— Not later than 180 days after the establishment of the working group under subsection (a), such working group shall submit to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration preliminary behavioral standards, medical standards, and technical standards for the domestic canine breeding network and canine training described in such subsection, including recommendations on how the Transportation Security Administration can engage stakeholders to further the development of such network and training.

Strategy— Not later than 180 days after submission of recommendations to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration under subsection (c), the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a strategy for expanding the domestic canine breeding network described in subsection (a), based on such recommendations.

Consultation— In developing the strategy required under subsection (e), the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall consult with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, the Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Director of the United States Secret Service, and the heads of other Department of Homeland Security components determined appropriate by the Administrator to incorporate, to the extent practicable, mission needs across the Department for an expanded domestic explosives detection canine breeding network that can be leveraged to help meet the Department’s operational needs.

Sunset— The working group established under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the submission of the strategy required under subsection (e).

In general— Not later than 270 days after the submission of recommendations to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration under section 3, the Administrator shall issue baseline behavioral standards, medical standards, and technical standards for explosives detection canines.

Standards— The baseline behavioral standards, medical standards, and technical standards referred to in subsection (a) shall be incorporated, as appropriate, into all statements of work for the Transportation Security Administration explosives detection canine contracts and reflect the detection capabilities required to effectively mitigate terrorist threats. Such standards may be revised by the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, as necessary.