Urban Recreation and At-Risk Youth Act of 1994

Summary: Urban Recreation and At-Risk Youth Act of 1994 - Amends the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide, through the urban park and recreation recovery program, at-risk youth recreation grants in neighborhoods and communities with a high prevalence of crime, particularly violent crime or crime committed by youth, for purposes including the provision of lighting, emergency phones, or other capital improvements for the security  of urban parks.  Directs the Secretary to give grant priority to local government programs meeting specified criteria, including:  (1) targeting youth at the greatest risk of becoming involved in violence and crime; (2) teaching important values and life skills; (3) offering education and counseling in addition to recreation opportunities; and (4) showing the greatest potential of being continued with non-Federal funds or serving as models. Requires local governments, to be eligible for such grants, to include strategies to reduce crime and juvenile delinquency in their five-year action programs for park and recreation recovery. Requires no more than 25 percent of Federal grant funds made available under such Act to be used for program support. Repeals provisions limiting the duration of the urban park and recreation recovery program to five years.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Urban Recreation and At-Risk Youth 
Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Section 1002 of the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 
is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of subsection (d), by 
striking the period at the end of subsection (e) and inserting ``;'' 
and by adding the following at the end thereof:
            ``(f) the quality of life in urban areas has suffered 
        because of decline in the availability of park and recreation 
        and systems, including land, facilities, and services;
            ``(g) the deterioration of urban park and recreation 
        facilities is due in part to the underfunding of Federal grant 
        programs intended to assist in the revitalization of urban 
        recreation facilities and allow us to take back our parks from 
        crime, vandalism, and dilapidation;
            ``(h) the urban neighborhoods eligible for assistance under 
        this title have deteriorated, in part, due to the rapid 
        increase in violent crime among youth;
            ``(i) accessible, well-maintained recreational facilities 
        and services have been shown to significantly decrease the 
        incidence of violent crime among youth and can be an effective 
        tool in efforts to prevent crime, increase public safety and 
        improve the quality of life of urban residents; and
            ``(j) urban sport and recreation programs teach important 
        values and life skills including teamwork, individual 
        responsibility, respect, leadership, and self-esteem which help 
        prevent young people from engaging in criminal behavior.''.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE OF ASSISTANCE.

    Section 1003 of the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 
is amended by adding the following at the end thereof: ``It is further 
the purpose of this title to improve recreation facilities and expand 
recreation services in urban areas with a high incidence of crime and 
to help deter crime through the expansion of recreation opportunities 
for at-risk youth. It is the further purpose of this section to 
increase the security of urban parks and to promote collaboration 
between local agencies involved in parks and recreation, law 
enforcement, youth social services, and the juvenile justice system.''.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 1004 of the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 
is amended by inserting the following new subsection after subsection 
(c) and by redesignating subsections (d) through (j) as (e) through (k) 
respectively:
            ``(d) `at-risk youth recreation grants' means--
                    ``(1) rehabilitation grants,
                    ``(2) innovation grants, or
                    ``(3) matching grants for continuing program 
                support for programs of demonstrated value or success 
                in providing constructive alternatives to youth at risk 
                for engaging in criminal behavior, including grants for 
                operating, or coordinating recreation programs and 
                services;
        in neighborhoods and communities with a high prevalence of 
        crime, particularly violent crime or crime committed by 
        youthful offenders; in addition to the purposes specified in 
        subsection (b), rehabilitation grants referred to in paragraph 
        (1) of this subsection may be used for the provision of 
        lighting, emergency phones or other capital improvements which 
        will improve the security of urban parks;''.

SEC. 5. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.

    Section 1005(c) of the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 
1978 is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (6), by 
striking the period at the end of paragraph (7) and inserting ``; and'' 
and by adding the following at the end thereof:
             ``(8) in the case of at-risk youth recreation grants, the 
        Secretary shall give a priority to each of the following 
        criteria:
                    ``(A) Programs which are targeted to youth who are 
                at the greatest risk of becoming involved in violence 
                and crime.
                    ``(B) Programs which teach important values and 
                life skills, including teamwork, respect, leadership, 
                and self-esteem.
                    ``(C) Programs which offer tutoring, remedial 
                education, mentoring, and counseling in addition to 
                recreation opportunities.
                    ``(D) Programs which offer services during late 
                night or other nonschool hours.
                    ``(E) Programs which demonstrate collaboration 
                between local park and recreation, juvenile justice, 
                law enforcement, and youth social service agencies and 
                nongovernmental entities, including the private sector 
                and community and nonprofit organizations.
                    ``(F) Programs which leverage public or private 
                recreation investments in the form of services, 
                materials, or cash.
                    ``(G) Programs which show the greatest potential of 
                being continued with non-Federal funds or which can 
                serve as models for other communities.''.

SEC. 6. PARK AND RECREATION ACTION RECOVERY PROGRAMS.

    Section 1007(b) of the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 
1978 is amended by adding the following at the end thereof: ``In order 
to be eligible to receive `at-risk youth recreation grants' a local 
government shall amend its 5-year action program to incorporate the 
goal of reducing crime and juvenile delinquency and to provide a 
description of the implementation strategies to achieve this goal. The 
plan shall also address how the local government is coordinating its 
recreation programs with crime prevention efforts of law enforcement, 
juvenile corrections, and youth social service agencies.''.

SEC. 7. MISCELLANEOUS AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Program Support.--Section 1013 of the Urban Park and Recreation 
Recovery Act of 1978 is amended by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' 
after ``1013.'' and by adding the following new subsection at the end 
thereof:
    ``(b) Program Support.--Not more than 25 percent of the amounts 
made available under this title to any local government may be used for 
program support.''.
    (b) Extension.--Section 1003 of the Urban Park and Recreation 
Recovery Act of 1978 is amended by striking ``for a period of five 
years'' and by striking ``short-term''.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 22, 1994.

            Attest:

                                           DONNALD K. ANDERSON,

                                                                 Clerk.