42 U.S.C. § 2000ee: Privacy and civil liberties officers

assist the head of such department, agency, or element and other officials of such department, agency, or element in appropriately considering privacy and civil liberties concerns when such officials are proposing, developing, or implementing laws, regulations, policies, procedures, or guidelines related to efforts to protect the Nation against terrorism; periodically investigate and review department, agency, or element actions, policies, procedures, guidelines, and related laws and their implementation to ensure that such department, agency, or element is adequately considering privacy and civil liberties in its actions; ensure that such department, agency, or element has adequate procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and redress complaints from individuals who allege such department, agency, or element has violated their privacy or civil liberties; and that the need for the power is balanced with the need to protect privacy and civil liberties; that there is adequate supervision of the use by such department, agency, or element of the power to ensure protection of privacy and civil liberties; and that there are adequate guidelines and oversight to properly confine its use. In any department, agency, or element referred to in subsection (a) or designated by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which has a statutorily created privacy officer, such officer shall perform the functions specified in subsection (a) with respect to privacy. In any department, agency, or element referred to in subsection (a) or designated by the Board, which has a statutorily created civil liberties officer, such officer shall perform the functions specified in subsection (a) with respect to civil liberties. report directly to the head of the department, agency, or element concerned; and coordinate their activities with the Inspector General of such department, agency, or element to avoid duplication of effort. has the information, material, and resources necessary to fulfill the functions of such officer; is advised of proposed policy changes; is consulted by decision makers; and is given access to material and personnel the officer determines to be necessary to carry out the functions of such officer. No action constituting a reprisal, or threat of reprisal, for making a complaint or for disclosing information to a privacy officer or civil liberties officer described in subsection (a) or (b), or to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, that indicates a possible violation of privacy protections or civil liberties in the administration of the programs and operations of the Federal Government relating to efforts to protect the Nation from terrorism shall be taken by any Federal employee in a position to take such action, unless the complaint was made or the information was disclosed with the knowledge that it was false or with willful disregard for its truth or falsity. to the appropriate committees of Congress, including the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; to the head of such department, agency, or element; and to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board; and which shall be in unclassified form to the greatest extent possible, with a classified annex where necessary. information on the number and types of reviews undertaken; the type of advice provided and the response given to such advice; the number and nature of the complaints received by the department, agency, or element concerned for alleged violations; and a summary of the disposition of such complaints, the reviews and inquiries conducted, and the impact of the activities of such officer. make the reports of such officer, including reports to Congress, available to the public to the greatest extent that is consistent with the protection of classified information and applicable law; and otherwise inform the public of the activities of such officer, as appropriate and in a manner consistent with the protection of classified information and applicable law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise supplant any other authorities or responsibilities provided by law to privacy officers or civil liberties officers.