House Passes Legislation Authorizing DHS Cybercrime Institute

On November 30, 2015, the House of Representatives agreed by voice vote to the Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act, which formally authorizes the National Computer Forensics Institute ("NCFI") as part of an amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The NCFI was established in 2008 and is operated by the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") to train and equip law enforcement and prosecutors to investigate and prevent fraud, intellectual property theft, and other cybercrime. The legislation also directs the Secret Service to expand its network of electronic crime task forces and requires the NCFI to formally coordinate with the DHS's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to help improve its training programs on cybercrime.