§ 5506. — Department of State responsibilities and procedures at international disaster site.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC5506]
TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
CHAPTER 64--UNITED STATES RESPONSE TO TERRORISM AFFECTING AMERICANS
ABROAD
Sec. 5506. Department of State responsibilities and procedures
at international disaster site
(a) Dispatch of senior State Department official to site
Not later than 60 days after November 16, 1990, the Secretary of
State shall issue such rules and guidelines as are necessary to provide
that in the event of an international disaster, particularly an aviation
tragedy, directly involving significant numbers of United States
citizens abroad not less than one senior officer from the Bureau of
Consular Affairs of the Department of State shall be dispatched to the
site of such disaster.
(b) Criteria for Department of State staffing at disaster site
Not later than 60 days after November 16, 1990, the Secretary of
State shall promulgate criteria for Department of State staffing of
disaster sites abroad. Such criteria shall define responsibility for
staffing decisions and shall consider the deployment of crisis teams
under subsection (d) of this section. The Secretary of State shall
promptly issue such rules and guidelines as are necessary to implement
criteria developed pursuant to this subsection.
(c) State Department ombudsman
Not later than 60 days after November 16, 1990, the Secretary of
State shall issue such rules and guidelines as are necessary to provide
that in the event of an international aviation disaster involving
significant numbers of United States citizens abroad not less than one
officer or employee of the Department of State shall be dispatched to
the disaster site to provide on-site assistance to families who may
visit the site and to act as an ombudsman in matters involving the
foreign local government authorities and social service agencies.
(d) Crisis teams
Not later than 60 days after November 16, 1990, the Secretary of
State shall promulgate procedures for the deployment of a ``crisis
team'', which may include public affairs, forensic, and bereavement
experts, to the site of any international disaster involving United
States citizens abroad to augment in-country Embassy and consulate
staff. The Secretary of State shall promptly issue such rules and
guidelines as are necessary to implement procedures developed pursuant
to this subsection.
(Pub. L. 101-604, title II, Sec. 207, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3084.)
Authority of Secretary of State
Except as otherwise provided, Secretary of State to have and
exercise any authority vested by law in any official or office of
Department of State and references to such officials or offices deemed
to refer to Secretary of State or Department of State, as appropriate,
see section 2651a of this title and section 161(d) of Pub. L. 103-236,
set out as a note under section 2651a of this title.
