EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 13

WHEREAS, the unprecedented and devastating terrorist attacks on September 11^th, 2001 upon the people and vital infrastructure of the United States of America highlight the criticality of protecting our nation and specifically, the citizens of the State of Alabama, against future attacks of this nature;

WHEREAS, there is a real and continuing possibility that such attacks may be perpetrated in the future by those persons identified as terrorists and other enemies of this country;

WHEREAS, it is essential to ensure that preparations of this State will be adequate to prevent and respond to such actions in the future; and,

WHEREAS, this administration is committed to taking all actions deemed necessary to protect and preserve the life, health, welfare, and property of the citizens of Alabama.

NOW, THEREFORE, based on these considerations, and for other good and valid reasons which relate thereto, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the authority vested in me and by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama, do hereby order and direct as follows:

1.  Establishment of the Alabama Fusion Center, and its governing body, the Alabama Fusion Center Executive Steering Committee effective this date.  The FusionCenter will be organizationally located within the Department of Homeland Security.  The FusionCenter will serve as the primary entity within this state with the functional responsibility for the fusion and dissemination of terrorism-related, law enforcement, public safety, and all hazards information.  The mission of the FusionCenter is to promote the collection, integration, and evaluation of information that has an effect on detecting and preventing criminal or terrorist related activity.  Additionally, it will serve as an intergovernmental bridge between federal, state, local and private entities to promote collaboration and information sharing.  In this regard, the AlabamaFusionCenter will assist in enabling law enforcement, public safety, emergency management, private sector and other partners to mutually aggregate, analyze and disseminate criminal and terrorist related information.

2.  The objectives of the AlabamaFusionCenter are:

A.  To support the Alabama Department of Homeland Security (DHS) strategy of providing protection to citizens and maintaining the economic stability of Alabama by emphasizing applicable capability-specific priorities in order to prevent potential terrorist attacks.

B.  To significantly increase awareness and the state’s capability to deal with threats, and to communicate pertinent information to appropriate state, local, and private authorities throughout Alabama and as appropriate, to other federal and state authorities throughout the nation.

C.  To fulfill the all crimes intelligence and analysis mission of the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

D.  To assist in eliminating interagency barriers by both obtaining and sharing appropriate information with federal, state, local, tribal, and private partners.

E.  To provide the participating agencies with uniform information sharing capability related to terrorism, law enforcement, public safety, and all hazards.

F.  To strengthen our human infrastructure and expand the reach of all of the state’s criminal justice information-sharing capabilities.

3.  Full time manning for the Alabama Fusion Center will be provided as appropriate by the Director of the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of the Department of Public Safety.  Subject to the merit system, the directors may employ professional personnel, technical analysts, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out this executive order.  The salaries of these personnel shall be determined by the Governor and the State Personnel Board in accordance with Section 36-26-12 of the Code of Alabama 1975.  Subject to contracting laws and the Code of Alabama, the directors may employ contract analysts as necessary to carry out this executive order.  Additional fulltime and part-time manning will be provided as appropriate by other federal, state, and local partners.

4.  The AlabamaFusionCenter will be managed by a Director appointed by the Director of the Department of Homeland Security.

5.  Records and information utilized or developed by the FusionCenter are protected as defined in Section 31-9A-14, Code of Alabama 1975.

6.  The Alabama Fusion Center Executive Steering Committee will provide the governance and oversight for the AlabamaFusionCenter.  The Executive Steering Committee will be chaired by the Director of the Department of Homeland Security and the Vice-Chair shall be the Director of the Department of Public Safety.  The Steering Committee shall meet at the call of the Chair.  Committee membership will be coordinated by the Chair and representatives will be designated by the parent organization or agency.  Other representation by state and local law enforcement personnel, public safety, emergency management, and the private sector will be requested by the Chair on a case-by-case basis.  Membership may include but is not limited to representatives of the following federal, state, and local organizations:

•  The Adjutant General of Alabama

•  Alabama Emergency Management Agency

•  Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board

•  Alabama Department of Corrections

•  Alabama State Fire Marshall

BE IT ORDERED that this Executive Order shall become effective thirty days after its execution and shall remain in effect until amended or modified by the Governor.

DONE AND ORDERED this  10th day of April, 2011.

Robert Bentley

Governor

Attested

Beth Chapman

Secretary of State