On July 21, 2005 Governor Blunt signed Executive Order 05-20 authorizing the HSAC to review state and local security plans and grant funding requests and make recommendations for changes to better protect Missourians. Governor Blunt designed the HSAC to include the Director of the Department of Public Safety and relevant Public Safety Division Directors, and equally important directors of other state departments. This ensures a statewide focus for homeland security and an effective means for coordinating resources.
On February 10, 2006 Governor Blunt issued Executive Order 06-09 making the HSAC a permanent governing body. The Executive Order created the position of Homeland Security Coordinator, under the direction of the Director of the Department of Public Safety. The order also added the Director of the Department of Mental Health to the HSAC, and facilitated the formation of the RHSOCs to give local input from all areas of Missouri to the HSAC. Virtually all of the federal homeland security grant money allocated to Missouri has been committed, and most of it already spent on vital homeland security programs and initiatives. To date, Missouri has not turned any money awarded back to the federal government.
The HSAC has been tasked with ensuring that homeland security plans and coordination are in place at the state and local level and that homeland security grant expenditures are done in a coordinated and efficient way.
Directors of the following Departments Comprise the HSAC:
Public Safety
Office of Homeland Security
Health and Senior Services
Transportation
Agriculture
Natural Resources
Economic Development
Chief Information Officer
State Adjutant General
State Highway Patrol
State Fire Marshal
State Water Patrol
Public Service Commission
State Emergency Management Agency
Mental Health
Three Public Members Appointed by Governor:
Fire and Rescue
Law Enforcement
Health
Ex-Officio Members:
Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI):
Kansas City – Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)
St. Louis – St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS)
United States Attorney’s Office – Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council:
Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
Regional Homeland Security Oversight Committee Chairs/Vice Chairs
Business Executives for National Security (BENS)