S 368 ISRSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to enhance the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 23, 2007

Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. BAUCUS, Mrs. BOXER, Ms. CANTWELL, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. DODD, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. KERRY, Mr. KOHL, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. OBAMA, Mr. REED, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. SMITH, Ms. STABENOW, and Mr. REIDMr. REID, Mr. BYRD, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. BROWN, Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Ms. LANDRIEU, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. SANDERS, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. COLEMAN, Mr. CASEY, and Mr. BINGAMAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to enhance the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `COPS Improvements Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. COPS GRANT IMPROVEMENTS.

(a) In General- Section 1701 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(a) Grant Authorization- The Attorney General shall carry out grant programs under which the Attorney General makes grants to States, units of local government, Indian tribal governments, other public and private entities, multi-jurisdictional or regional consortia, and individuals for the purposes described in subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e).';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking the subsection heading text and inserting `Community Policing and Crime Prevention Grants';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (3), by striking `, to increase the number of officers deployed in community-oriented policing';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (4), by inserting `or train' after `pay for';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) award grants to hire school resource officers and to establish school-based partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and local school systems to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and other problems in and around elementary and secondary schools;';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) by striking paragraph (9);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (12) as paragraphs (9) through (11), respectively;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) by striking paragraph (13);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) by redesignating paragraphs (14) through (17) as paragraphs (12) through (15), respectively;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) in paragraph (14), as so redesignated, by striking `and' at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(J) in paragraph (15), as so redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(K) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(16) establish and implement innovative programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug manufacturing, distribution, and use, including the manufacturing, distribution, and use of methamphetamine; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(17) award enhancing community policing and crime prevention grants that meet emerging law enforcement needs, as warranted.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking subsection (c);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by striking subsections (h) and (i);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as subsections (f) through (i), respectively;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Troops-to-Cops Programs-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Grants made under subsection (a) may be used to hire former members of the Armed Forces to serve as career law enforcement officers for deployment in community-oriented policing, particularly in communities that are adversely affected by a recent military base closing.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) DEFINITION- In this subsection, `former member of the Armed Forces' means a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is involuntarily separated from the Armed Forces within the meaning of section 1141 of title 10, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Community Prosecutors Program- The Attorney General may make grants under subsection (a) to pay for additional community prosecuting programs, including programs that assign prosecutors to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) handle cases from specific geographic areas; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) address counter-terrorism problems, specific violent crime problems (including intensive illegal gang, gun, and drug enforcement and quality of life initiatives), and localized violent and other crime problems based on needs identified by local law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and others.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Technology Grants- The Attorney General may make grants under subsection (a) to develop and use new technologies (including interoperable communications technologies, modernized criminal record technology, and forensic technology) to assist State and local law enforcement agencies in reorienting the emphasis of their activities from reacting to crime to preventing crime and to train law enforcement officers to use such technologies.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) in subsection (f), as so redesignated--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (1), by striking `to States, units of local government, Indian tribal governments, and to other public and private entities,';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (2), by striking `define for State and local governments, and other public and private entities,' and inserting `establish';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in the first sentence of paragraph (3), by inserting `(including regional community policing institutes)' after `training centers or facilities'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) EXCLUSIVITY- The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services shall be the exclusive component of the Department of Justice to perform the functions and activities specified in this paragraph.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) in subsection (g), as so redesignated, by striking `may utilize any component', and all that follows and inserting `shall use the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services of the Department of Justice in carrying out this part.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) in subsection (h), as so redesignated--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking `subsection (a)' the first place that term appears and inserting `paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b)'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking `in each fiscal year pursuant to subsection (a)' and inserting `in each fiscal year for purposes described in paragraph (1) and (2) of subsection (b)';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) in subsection (i), as so redesignated, by striking the second sentence; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(j) Retention of Additional Officer Positions- For any grant under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) for hiring or rehiring career law enforcement officers, a grant recipient shall retain each additional law enforcement officer position created under that grant for not less than 12 months after the end of the period of that grant, unless the Attorney General waives, wholly or in part, the retention requirement of a program, project, or activity.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Applications- Section 1702 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd-1) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (c)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting `, unless waived by the Attorney General' after `under this part shall';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking paragraph (8); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (11) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Renewal of Grants- Section 1703 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd-2) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 1703. RENEWAL OF GRANTS.

`(a) In General- A grant made under this part may be renewed, without limitations on the duration of such renewal, to provide additional funds, if the Attorney General determines that the funds made available to the recipient were used in a manner required under an approved application and if the recipient can demonstrate significant progress in achieving the objectives of the initial application.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) No Cost Extensions- Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Attorney General may extend a grant period, without limitations as to the duration of such extension, to provide additional time to complete the objectives of the initial grant award.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Limitation on Use of Funds- Section 1704 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd-3) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a), by striking `that would, in the absence of Federal funds received under this part, be made available from State or local sources' and inserting `that the Attorney General determines would, in the absence of Federal funds received under this part, be made available for the purpose of the grant under this part from State or local sources'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking subsection (c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Enforcement Actions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1706 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd-5) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the section heading, by striking `revocation or suspension of funding' and inserting `enforcement actions'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking `revoke or suspend' and all that follows and inserting `take any enforcement action available to the Department of Justice.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of contents of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711) is amended by striking the item relating to section 1706 and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Sec. 1706. Enforcement actions.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Definitions- Section 1709(1) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd-8(1)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by inserting `who is a sworn law enforcement officer' after `permanent basis'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting `, including officers for the Amtrak Police Department' before the period at the end.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Authorization of Appropriations- Section 1001(11) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793(11)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking `1,047,119,000' and inserting `1,150,000,000'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subparagraph (B)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the first sentence, by striking `3 percent' and inserting `5 percent'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking the second sentence and inserting the following: `Of the funds available for grants under part Q, not less than $600,000,000 shall be used for grants for the purposes specified in section 1701(b), not more than $200,000,000 shall be used for grants under section 1701(d), and not more than $350,000,000 shall be used for grants under section 1701(e).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Purposes- Section 10002 of the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd note) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (4), by striking `development' and inserting `use'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in the matter following paragraph (4), by striking `for a period of 6 years'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) COPS Program Improvements-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 109(b) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3712h(b)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking paragraph (1);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by inserting `, except for the program under part Q of this title' before the period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPUTER SYSTEMS- Section 107 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3712f) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Exception- This section shall not apply to any grant made under part Q of this title.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink