§114. Sensitive Security Information

Using funds made available in this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide that each office within the Department that handles documents marked as Sensitive Security Information (SSI) shall have at least one employee in that office with authority to coordinate and make determinations on behalf of the agency that such documents meet the criteria for marking as SSI: Provided, That not later than December 31, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives: (1) Department-wide policies for designating, coordinating and marking documents as SSI; (2) Department-wide auditing and accountability procedures for documents designated and marked as SSI; (3) the total number of SSI Coordinators within the Department; and (4) the total number of staff authorized to designate SSI documents within the Department: Provided further, That not later than January 31, 2006, the Secretary shall provide to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives the title of all DHS documents that are designated as SSI in their entirety during the period October 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005: Provided further, That not later than January 31 of each succeeding year, starting on January 31, 2007, the Secretary shall provide annually a similar report to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the titles of all DHS documents that are designated as SSI in their entirety during the period of January 1 through December 31 for the preceding year: Provided further, That the Secretary shall promulgate guidance that includes common but extensive examples of SSI that further define the individual categories of information cited under 49 CFR 1520(b)(1) through (16) and eliminates judgment by covered persons in the application of the SSI marking: Provided further, That such guidance shall serve as the primary basis and authority for the marking of DHS information as SSI by covered persons.

( Pub. L. 109–90, title V, §537, Oct. 18, 2005, 119 Stat. 2088 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 109–90, Oct. 18, 2005, 119 Stat. 2064 , known as the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2006. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2006, and not as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Applicability of Third Proviso

Pub. L. 114–113, div. F, title V, §510(b), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2514 , provided that: "The third proviso of section 537 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2006 (6 U.S.C. 114), shall hereafter not apply with respect to funds made available in this or any other Act."

TSA Sensitive Security Information

Pub. L. 117–81, div. F, title LXIV, §6423(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2419 , provided that:

"(1) In general.-Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2021], the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shall-

"(A) ensure clear and consistent designation of 'Sensitive Security Information', including reasonable security justifications for such designation;

"(B) develop and implement a schedule to regularly review and update, as necessary, TSA Sensitive Security Information identification guidelines;

"(C) develop a tracking mechanism for all Sensitive Security Information redaction and designation challenges;

"(D) document justifications for changes in position regarding Sensitive Security Information redactions and designations, and make such changes accessible to TSA personnel for use with relevant stakeholders, including air carriers, airport operators, surface transportation operators, and State and local law enforcement, as necessary; and

"(E) ensure that TSA personnel are adequately trained on appropriate designation policies.

"(2) Stakeholder outreach.-Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shall conduct outreach to relevant stakeholders described in paragraph (1)(D) that regularly are granted access to Sensitive Security Information to raise awareness of the TSA's policies and guidelines governing the designation and use of Sensitive Security Information."