The term “Cybersecurity Plan” means a plan submitted by an eligible entity under subsection (e)(1).
The term “multi-entity group” means a group of 2 or more eligible entities desiring a grant under this section.
The term “online service” means any internet-facing service, including a website, email, virtual private network, or custom application.
The term “State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program” means the program established under subsection (b).
The term “Tribal government” means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, that is individually identified (including parenthetically) in the most recent list published pursuant to section 5131 of title 25.
There is established within the Department a program to award grants to eligible entities to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems owned or operated by, or on behalf of, State, local, or Tribal governments.
An eligible entity desiring a grant under the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program shall be administered in the same office of the Department that administers grants made under sections 604 and 605 of this title.
An eligible entity applying for a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a Cybersecurity Plan for review in accordance with subsection (i).
The Secretary may award grants under this section to a multi-entity group to support multi-entity efforts to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems within the jurisdictions of the eligible entities that comprise the multi-entity group.
A multi-entity group applying for a multi-entity grant under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
Not less than one-half of the representatives of a committee established under paragraph (1) shall have professional experience relating to cybersecurity or information technology.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit a cybersecurity planning committee of an eligible entity that meets the requirements of this subsection to make decisions relating to information systems owned or operated by, or on behalf of, the eligible entity.
With respect to any requirement under subsection (e) or (g), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and Tribal governments, may prescribe an alternative substantively similar requirement for Tribal governments if the Secretary finds that the alternative requirement is necessary for the effective delivery and administration of grants to Tribal governments under this section.
In the case of a determination under subparagraph (A)(ii) that a Cybersecurity Plan satisfies the requirements under paragraph (2), the determination shall be effective for the 2-year period beginning on the date of the determination.
In addition to any other remedy available, the Secretary may take such actions as are necessary to ensure that a recipient of a grant under this section uses the grant for the purposes for which the grant is awarded.
Nothing in paragraph (1)(A) shall be construed to prohibit the use of funds from a grant under this section awarded to a State, local, or Tribal government for otherwise permissible uses under this section on the basis that the State, local, or Tribal government has previously used State, local, or Tribal funds to support the same or similar uses.
In considering applications for grants under this section, the Secretary shall provide applicants with a reasonable opportunity to correct any defects in those applications before making final awards, including by allowing applicants to revise a submitted Cybersecurity Plan.
In determining how to apportion amounts to Tribal governments under paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior and Tribal governments.
An amount received from a multi-entity grant awarded under subsection (f)(1) by a State or Tribal government that is a member of the multi-entity group shall qualify as an apportionment for the purpose of this subsection.
The Secretary may waive or modify the requirements of paragraph (1) if an eligible entity or multi-entity group demonstrates economic hardship.
The Secretary shall establish and publish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship for the purposes of this subsection.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and Tribal governments, may waive or modify the requirements of paragraph (1) for 1 or more Tribal governments if the Secretary determines that the waiver is in the public interest.
An eligible entity or multi-entity group shall certify to the Secretary that the eligible entity or multi-entity group has made the distribution to local governments required under paragraph (2).
An eligible entity or multi-entity group may request in writing that the Secretary extend the period of time specified in paragraph (2) for an additional period of time.
The Secretary may approve a request for an extension under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines the extension is necessary to ensure that the obligation and expenditure of grant funds align with the purpose of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
If an eligible entity does not make a distribution to a local government required under paragraph (2) in a timely fashion, the local government may petition the Secretary to request the Secretary to provide funds directly to the local government.
A grant awarded under this section may not be used to acquire land or to construct, remodel, or perform alterations of buildings or other physical facilities.
An eligible entity applying for a grant under this section shall agree to consult the Chief Information Officer, the Chief Information Security Officer, or an equivalent official of the eligible entity in allocating funds from a grant awarded under this section.
Not later than 3 business days before the date on which the Department announces the award of a grant to an eligible entity under this section, including an announcement to the eligible entity, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees notice of the announcement.
In making each report publicly available under subparagraph (A), the Director may make redactions that the Director, in consultation with each eligible entity, determines necessary to protect classified or other information exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5 (commonly referred to as the “Freedom of Information Act”).
The requirements of chapter 35 of title 44 (commonly referred to as the “Paperwork Reduction Act”), shall not apply to any action taken to carry out this paragraph.
During a fiscal year, the Secretary or the head of any component of the Department that administers the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program may transfer not more than 5 percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) or other amounts appropriated to carry out the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program for that fiscal year to an account of the Department for salaries, expenses, and other administrative costs incurred for the management, administration, or evaluation of this section.
Any funds transferred under subparagraph (A) shall be in addition to any funds appropriated to the Department or the components described in subparagraph (A) for salaries, expenses, and other administrative costs.