H.R. 6507 — DHS Grants Accountability Act

This section amends administrative provisions for multiple DHS homeland security grant programs, including those for state and local preparedness (6 U.S.C. §§ 603, 608, 611, 612, 609a), public transportation security (6 U.S.C. 1135), railroad security (6 U.S.C. 1163), and over-the-road bus security (6 U.S.C. 1182), to do the following: (a) With respect to preparedness grants under the Homeland Security Act of 2002— (1) requires the Administrator to take certain actions not less frequently than annually (replacing prior discretionary "may"); (2) revises grant allocation procedures to base funds on specified priorities rather than consideration of them; (3) establishes uniform requirements for notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs)—public availability within 60 days of an appropriations act's enactment (if no deadline specified therein) and minimum 30-day application periods—and a minimum 54-month period of performance for grants under §§ 2003, 2004, and 2009; (4) requires risk assessment information 30 days before any NOFO or program guidance; and (5) makes conforming amendments. (b) With respect to transit security grants— (1) establishes a minimum 54-month period of performance and uniform NOFO and application period requirements (as described in (a)(3) above) for public transportation grants; (2) establishes uniform NOFO and application period requirements for railroad security grants; and (3) establishes uniform NOFO and application period requirements for over-the-road bus security grants. (Thus, these changes standardize grant administration timelines across programs to support state, local, and transit entity planning for security and preparedness enhancements.)