WASHINGTON, Dec 18: The newly-enacted intelligence reform bill includes provisions that can help citizens and non-citizens living in America protect their civil rights and civil liberties.

The bill, signed by President George Bush on Friday, includes certain guarantees proposed by a group of advocates who worked for nearly two years to improve the functions of the US Department of Homeland Security.

They were seeking specific assurances as a safeguard against the types of abuse of authority that can lead to serious violations of civil rights and civil liberties.

The new bill provides specific statutory support for the work of the officer for civil rights and civil liberties, privacy officer, and Inspector-General at the DHS. Specifically:

*It instructs the officer for civil rights and civil liberties to oversee compliance with constitutional, statutory, regulatory, policy, and other requirements relating to the civil rights and civil liberties of individuals affected by the programmes and activities of the DHS.

*It instructs the officer to investigate complaints and information indicating possible abuses of civil rights and civil liberties not pursued by the Inspector-General's Office, and ensure effective coordination with the privacy officer.

*It directs the DHS Inspector-General to designate a senior official to focus expressly on civil rights and civil liberties matters, including the authority to initiate investigations of alleged abuses of civil rights and civil liberties by employees, officials, independent contractors, or grantees of the DHS.

*Finally, it makes improvements to the DHS mission statement by clarifying that civil rights and civil liberties will not be diminished as the department carries out its mission.