OutlineofProposedColoradoSchoolSafetyandYouthinCrisisLegislation

Presentedtothe2015SB15214SchoolSafetyandYouthinCrisisCommittee
ByJohnSimmons,SchoolSafetyPartners(johnsimmons@schoolsafetypartners.org3033457926)
September9,2015

CounteringViolentExtremismAct

"Violentextremism"meansideologicallymotivatedterroristactivities.

ThereisherebycreatedanOfficeforCounteringViolentExtremismin[theColoradoDivisionof
HomelandSecurity]oftheDepartmentofPublicSafety.TheheadoftheOfficeshallbethe[Assistant
Director]ofCounteringViolentExtremism,appointedbytheDivisionDirector.TheDivisionmayassign
toorhirefortheOfficeanindividualwithabackgroundintechnicalmatters,onlinemedia,offline
media,ormarketing.

Eachappropriatestateagency,includingtheColoradoDepartmentofEducation,shallappointan
individualtoserveasliaisontotheOfficeforCounteringViolentExtremism.

TheOfficeshallberesponsiblefor:

CoordinatingtheDepartmentofPublicSafetyseffortstocounterviolentextremism.Such
effortsshallinclude:

o IdentifyingriskfactorsthatcontributetoviolentextremisminColoradocommunities
andschools,andidentifyingwarningsignalsandpotentialremedies.

o IdentifyingColoradopopulations,includingstudents,targetedbyviolentextremist
propaganda,messaging,orrecruitment.

o Managingtheoutreachandengagementeffortsdirectedtowardschools,students,and
communitiesatriskforradicalizationandrecruitmentforviolentextremistactivities.

o Ensuringrelevantinformation,research,andproductsinformeffortstocounterviolent
extremism.

o Developingandmaintainingastrategyguidingpoliciesandprogramsthataddress:

Acountermessagingprogram,includingaplantoleveragenewandexisting
Internetandothertechnologiesandsocialmediaplatformstocounterviolent
extremism,aswellasthebestpracticesandlessonslearnedfrompartners
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engagedinsimilarcountermessagingefforts.

Counteringviolentextremismrelatedengagementefforts.

TheuseofcooperativeagreementswithFederal,local,tribal,andother
departmentsandagenciesresponsibleforeffortsrelatingtocounteringviolent
extremism.

Ensuringallactivitiesrelatedtocounteringviolentextremismfullyrespectthe
privacy,civilrights,andcivillibertiesofallcitizensofColorado.

o Identifyingandrecommendingnewresearchandanalysisrequirementsincoordination
withthe[appropriateagencies],andensurethedisseminationofinformationand
methodsforcounteringviolentextremismpractitioners,officials,lawenforcement,and
nongovernmentalpartnerstoutilizesuchresearchandanalysis.

o Assessingthemethodsusedbyviolentextremiststodisseminatepropagandaand
messagingtoyouth,adults,andcommunitiesatriskforradicalizationandrecruitment.

o DevelopingincoordinationwiththeColoradoSchoolSafetyResourceCenterandother
appropriateagenciesanemergencyoperationsplan,includingastatewideemergency
communicationsplan,forstatelevelcoordinatedresponsewithinatriskcommunities,
includingschools,toviolentextremistattacks.

Establishingacountermessagingprogramtocraftstrategiccountermessagestoviolent
extremistpropagandaandmessaging,exploringwaystouserelevantInternetandother
technologiesandsocialmediaplatforms,andmaximizingotherresourcesavailabletothe
Department.

ServingastheprimaryrepresentativeoftheDepartmentincoordinatingcounteringviolent
extremismeffortswithFederalandStateagenciesandnongovernmentalorganizations.

ServingastheprimaryDepartmentlevelrepresentativeincoordinatingwiththeappropriate
agenciesonnationalandinternationalcounteringviolentextremismissues.

Incoordinationwiththe[appropriateagencies],providingguidanceregardingtheuseofgrants
madetoStateagencies,andtolocalandtribalgovernmentsrelatedtocounteringviolent
extremism.

TheOfficeforCounteringViolentExtremismshallenterintoamemorandumofunderstandingwith
appropriateagenciesoutliningtherolesoftheOfficeandtheagencieswithrespecttothe
administrationofgrantsrelatedtocounteringviolentextremism.

TheAssistantDirectorforCounteringViolentExtremismshallsubmittotheJointBudgetCommitteeand
tothemembersoftheGeneralAssemblyanannualreportforeachofthenextfivefiscalyearsonthe
OfficeforCounteringViolentExtremism.Eachsuchreportshallincludethefollowing:

AdescriptionofthestatusoftheprogramsandpoliciesoftheDepartmentforcountering
violentextremisminColorado,includingthebudgetoftheDepartmentforcounteringviolent
extremismandthenumberofemployeesdedicatedtoorsupportingcounteringviolent
extremismprograms.Eachsuchbudgetshallincludeanaccountingofallfundingamountsforall
departmentalprograms,initiatives,andpersonnelrelatedtocounteringviolentextremism.

AdescriptionoftheeffortsoftheOfficetocooperatewithandprovideassistancetoother
departmentsandagencies.

Qualitativeandquantitativemetricsforevaluatingthesuccessofsuchprogramsandpolicies
andthestepstakentoevaluatethesuccessofsuchprogramsandpolicies.

AdetailedsummaryoftheorganizationswithwhichtheDepartmentconductedoutreachto
discusscounteringviolentextremism,anaccountingofgrantsawardedbytheDepartmentto
counterviolentextremism,andanaccountingofalltrainingspecificallyaimedatcountering
violentextremismsponsoredbytheDepartment.

DetailsoftheoptimallevelofpersonnelandfundingfortheOffice.

OutoffundsmadeavailabletotheDepartmentofPublicSafety,$160,000isauthorizedfortheOffice
forCounteringViolentExtremismforeachofthenextfivefiscalyears.

TheGeneralAssemblyherebyfinds,determines,anddeclaresthatthisactisnecessaryforthe
immediatepreservationofthepublicpeace,health,andsafety.

Reference:H.R.2899,toamendtheHomelandSecurityActof2002toauthorizetheOfficeforCountering
ViolentExtremism.IntroducedintheU.S.HouseofRepresentativesbyRep.MichaelMcCaulonJune25,
2015,andreferredtotheCommitteeonHomelandSecurity.