Friday, Feb. 10, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Makes Homeland Security Advisory Council Permanent
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today signed Executive Order 06-09 to establish the Homeland Security Advisory Council as a continuing board and update the structure of Homeland Security within the Department of Public Safety.
“Working to protect Missourians’ safety and security is an ongoing and significant obligation of state government. We must continue to be proactive and innovative as we prepare to plan for and respond to the effects of both natural and man-made disasters,” Blunt said. “Today’s order makes permanent the advisory council that furthers this mission and clarifies the command structure relating to homeland security.”
Blunt formed the Homeland Security Council last July to ensure proper homeland security plans are in place at both the local and state level and to examine how homeland security grant funds can best be coordinated and expedited.
Missouri Director of Public Safety Mark James will continue to serve as chair for the council. Today’s order adds the Director of Mental Health as a member of the council and requires the group to produce an annual report due December 31 of each year highlighting the year’s accomplishments and summarizing the homeland security grant funding activities. The order also tasks the Homeland Security Council to continue to create, develop and provide oversight to specific homeland security working groups and provide direction to regional homeland security oversight committees to establish strategies and priorities for homeland security grant funding and other local and regional initiatives.
Today’s order also formalizes the state’s Homeland Security Structure, identifying the director of the Department of Public Safety as the Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor. It further, establishes the Office of Homeland Security in the Department of Public Safety and instructs the director to appoint a Homeland Security Coordinator to interact with and promote unity between federal, state and local agencies in implementing homeland security initiatives. In November of last year, James appointed Paul Fennewald to serve in that capacity.
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