Bill > HR4291

This bill, titled the FISA Transparency and Modernization Act, aims to reform aspects of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978. Key provisions include prohibiting the bulk collection of call detail records, which are defined as communications routing information like phone numbers and call times, and also banning the bulk collection of other electronic communication records and certain business records, such as library patron lists or firearm sales records, without specific identifiers or selection terms. The bill also introduces the appointment of an *amicus curiae*, or "friend of the court," who can be an expert on privacy, civil liberties, or other relevant fields, to assist courts in reviewing complex FISA applications. Furthermore, it mandates increased transparency by requiring the declassification and public release of significant decisions, orders, and opinions from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, with provisions for redaction to protect national security, and requires annual public reporting on instances where communications of U.S. persons are incidentally collected. The bill also establishes requirements for periodic reviews of intelligence community procedures for acquiring, retaining, and disseminating intelligence, and outlines new procedures for targeted acquisitions of communications records related to terrorists and foreign agents, emphasizing limitations to protect U.S. persons' privacy and civil liberties. Finally, it enhances oversight by requiring continuous monitoring of individuals with access to classified information and strengthening security requirements for intelligence community contractors.