The Homeland Security Preparedness Technical Assistance Program (HSPTAP) is a capabilities-based program that is structured to build and sustain State and local capacity in preparedness activities.

Under this vision, HSPTAP supports the efforts of State and local homeland security personnel to

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address the full spectrum of mission areas, national priorities, and target capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Guidelines.

As capability gaps are identified, the HSPTAP addresses those needs and builds priority capabilities in the most critical areas.

The HSPTAP is designed to be an agile program that addresses present day areas of greatest State and local need; is committed to transferring and institutionalizing knowledge at the State and local level; provides a dynamic program that is responsive to national priorities; is performance based; and that effectively leverages limited resources.

HSPTAP provides direct assistance to State, regional, local, and Tribal jurisdictions, as well as other homeland security organizations, to improve their ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from major events, including threats or acts of terrorism.

HSPTAP is driven by several core tenets:• Grantee assistance must support the National Preparedness Guidelines, National Priorities, and national strategies and doctrine related to homeland security;• Grantee assistance must be flexible and adaptable to fully address current national trends or risks and the present day needs of homeland security personnel; • Grantee must provide for or incorporate involvement of States, regions, Urban Areas, local and Tribal jurisdictions, as well as private interests with a role in homeland security.A.

GovernorÂ’s Homeland Security Advisory Council (GHSAC),In July of 2006, The National GovernorÂ’s Association (NGA) , in consult with DHS, formally organized The GovernorÂ’s Homeland Security Advisory Council (GHSAC) from one of its existing work groups, The Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), as the Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council to provide a forum for homeland security officials from each state and territory to analyze and discuss federal policies, share best practices, and provide expert advice and counsel to the nationÂ’s governors and the NGA on the impact of federal policy on the states.

Thereby, in performing such functions, GHSAC is performing a highly unique and important function for DHS.

NGA CenterÂ’s Homeland Security and Technology Division directly supports the activities of the Council and, during the past several years, also has on behalf of the GHSAC conducted research and published issue briefs, governors guides, fact sheets and other documents on a number of salient policy issues, including:
intelligence sharing; state homeland security organization, structures and governance; communications interoperability; regional planning and coordination; critical infrastructure protection; the integration of public health into homeland security plans and procedures; pandemic influenza preparedness, and the interpretation and implementation of homeland security grant funding initiatives.

Also on behalf of GHSAC, NGA Center provides direct technical assistance in a variety of policy areas to individual Governors offices and serve on a number of national policy committees, including the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative Federal Advisory Committee, the FEMA AdministratorÂ’s Task Force on NIMS Credentialing, and the Emergency Management Accreditation Program Commission.

As such, all of functions served by GHSAC and its administrative and facilitative body, NGS Center, are unique and vital to DHS preparedness efforts.