Section 15A-12-2 - Operation of center(a) The West Virginia Department of Homeland Security shall operate the West Virginia Fusion Center under the direction of the Governor, with oversight auditing and accountability to the select committee of the Legislature as set forth herein, and shall cooperate with the United States Department of Homeland Security, local, county, state, or federal government agencies, and private organizations: Provided, That the Fusion Center shall not knowingly participate in activity, or knowingly cooperate, with any federal agency, or a contractor for any federal agency, when that participation or cooperation involves illegal or improper actions. Further, the Fusion Center shall not allow a federal agency or contractor for a federal agency to work inside the Fusion Center when it knows or has reason to know that such federal agency or federal contractor is presently engaged or intends to engage in unlawful intelligence-gathering activity against a citizen of West Virginia: Provided, however, That all Fusion Center operations shall be subject to applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, 28 CFR Part 23, and shall at all times strictly abide by all restrictions and prohibitions against conducting non-law enforcement intelligence operations against U.S. citizens as set forth in any federal or state law or in contravention of the Constitution of the United States, including, but not limited to, 50 U.S.C. § 3036(d) .(b) The West Virginia Fusion Center shall: (1) Be the primary clearinghouse for the State of West Virginia for the collection, analysis, and proper distribution of information and actionable intelligence as defined in this section; (2) generate intelligence analyses critical for homeland security policy and relevant threat warning in order to protect life, liberty, and property in West Virginia; (3) promote and improve intelligence sharing among public safety and public service agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, and with critical infrastructure and key resource entities within the private sector subject to all restrictions and prohibitions recited in this article; (4) receive and integrate intelligence and information related to terrorism and other homeland security threats; (5) collect, analyze, produce, disseminate, and maintain such intelligence and information, as allowed by law, to support local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, other governmental agencies, and private organizations in: preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from any possible or actual terrorist attack or other homeland security threat; and (6) maximize intelligence and information sharing in strict accordance with all applicable state and federal laws, restrictions, and prohibitions: Provided, That the Fusion Center shall not knowingly participate in activity, or knowingly cooperate, with any federal agency, or a contractor for any federal agency, when that participation or cooperation involves illegal or improper actions. Further, the Fusion Center shall not allow a federal agency or contractor for a federal agency to work inside the Fusion Center when it knows or has reason to know that such federal agency or federal contractor is presently engaged or intends to engage in unlawful intelligence-gathering activity against a citizen of West Virginia.(c) The Governor shall provide facilities, budget, and administrative support for the West Virginia Fusion Center and its employees and participants. The cabinet secretary shall serve as security manager for the West Virginia Fusion Center.(d) Private sector persons, organizations, entities, or agencies participating in the West Virginia Fusion Center shall not be considered governmental entities, nor shall employees or agents of private sector persons, organizations, entities, or agencies assigned to the West Virginia Fusion Center be considered state employees; however, private sector entities and their employees or agents are subject to the same confidentiality requirements and held to the same standards as an employee of the West Virginia Fusion Center, including, but not limited to, any and all restrictions and prohibitions against conducting non-law enforcement intelligence operations against U.S. citizens as set forth in federal or state law or in contravention of the Constitution of the United States, including, but not limited to, 50 U.S.C. § 3036(d) : Provided, That the Fusion Center shall not knowingly participate in any activity, or knowingly cooperate, with any federal agency, or a contractor for or any person or entity utilizing or collaborating with any federal agency, when that participation or cooperation involves illegal or improper actions: Provided, however, that the Fusion Center shall not allow a federal agency or contractor for a federal agency to work inside the Fusion Center when it knows or has reason to know that such federal agency or federal contractor is presently engaged or intends to engage in unlawful intelligence-gathering activity against a citizen of West Virginia.(e) The operations of the West Virginia Fusion Center shall be overseen by the cabinet secretary and deputy cabinet secretary of the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, with oversight auditing and accountability to the select committee of the Legislature as set forth herein.(f) The cabinet secretary and deputy cabinet secretary shall either have a current, valid federal security clearance at the appropriate level, and training and certifications commensurate with the position, or be eligible for that clearance, and be in the process of obtaining the appropriate clearance.(g) The cabinet secretary and deputy cabinet secretary may adopt policies and procedures for the operation of the West Virginia Fusion Center. The cabinet secretary and deputy cabinet secretary may adopt rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, including rules and regulations concerning the operations of the West Virginia Fusion Center: Provided, That all policies, procedures, rules, and regulations shall be subject to any and all restrictions and prohibitions against conducting non-law enforcement intelligence operations against U.S. citizens as set forth in federal or state law or in contravention of the Constitution of the United States, including but not limited to, 50 U.S.C. § 3036(d) .(h) Subject to appropriations, the West Virginia Fusion Center shall have the following employees, all in the unclassified service of the civil service act: (1) A director, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the cabinet secretary. The director shall either have a current, valid federal security clearance at the appropriate level, and training and certifications commensurate with the position, or be eligible for that clearance, and be in the process of obtaining the appropriate clearance, and shall: (A) Be responsible for all operations of the West Virginia Fusion Center and shall report to the cabinet secretary or deputy cabinet secretary;(B) Be responsible for:(i) Facilitating and implementing applicable federal standards and programs by the West Virginia Fusion Center;(ii) Ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and federal requirements, including, but not limited to, any and all restrictions and prohibitions against conducting non-law enforcement intelligence operations against U.S. citizens as set forth in federal or state law or in contravention of the Constitution of the United States, including, but not limited to, 50 U.S.C. § 3036(d) ;(iii) Maintaining proper separation between military and civilian capacities;(iv) Providing support, as needed, to the cabinet secretary and deputy cabinet secretary; and(v) Other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the cabinet secretary and deputy cabinet secretary, subject to all restrictions and prohibitions described in this article.(5) A deputy director, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the director. The deputy director shall either have a current, valid federal security clearance at the appropriate level, and training and certifications commensurate with the position, or be eligible for that clearance, and be in the process of obtaining the appropriate clearance, and shall be responsible for assisting the director in: (A) facilitating and implementing applicable federal standards and programs by the West Virginia Fusion Center; (B) ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and federal requirements; (C) maintaining proper separation between military and civilian capacities; (D) providing support, as needed, to the cabinet secretary and deputy cabinet secretary; and (E) other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Fusion Center director.Added by 2020 Acts, ch. 296 (HB 4176), eff. 6/5/2020.