Purpose; criminal justice law enforcement agency.

A. The purpose of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department Act is to establish a department to: (1) consolidate and coordinate homeland security and emergency management functions to provide comprehensive and coordinated preparedness, mitigation, prevention, protection, response and recovery for emergencies and disasters, regardless of cause, and acts or threats of terrorism; (2) act as the central primary coordinating agency for the state and its political subdivisions in response to emergencies, disasters and acts or threats of terrorism; and (3) act as the conduit for federal assistance and cooperation in response to emergencies, disasters and acts or threats of terrorism. B. The department shall be considered a criminal justice law enforcement agency in order to accomplish the purposes provided in Subsection A of this section.