Combat Heroin Epidemic and Backlog Act of 2015

Summary: Combat Heroin Epidemic and Backlog Act of 2015 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance to award grants to state and tribal governments to address the distribution, sale, and use of heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs.   Grants may be used to:  reimburse forensic science laboratories for efforts to address and prevent testing backlogs; reimburse law enforcement agencies for equipment to identify or detect heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs; investigate, arrest, and prosecute distributors or sellers; and support health department services for users.  

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Combat Heroin Epidemic and Backlog 
Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. CONFRONTING THE USE OF HEROIN AND ASSOCIATED DRUGS.

    Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 
(42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``PART LL--CONFRONTING THE USE OF HEROIN AND ASSOCIATED DRUGS

``SEC. 3021. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY AND 
              HEROIN DISTRIBUTION, SALE, AND USE.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to assist States and 
Indian tribes to--
            ``(1) carry out programs to address the distribution, sale, 
        and use of heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs; 
        and
            ``(2) improve the ability of State, tribal, and local 
        government institutions to carry out such programs.
    ``(b) Grant Authorization.--The Attorney General, through the 
Bureau of Justice Assistance, may make grants to States and Indian 
tribes to address the distribution, sale, and use of heroin, fentanyl, 
and associated synthetic drugs to enhance public safety.
    ``(c) Grant Projects To Address Distribution, Sale, and Use of 
Heroin, Fentanyl, and Associated Synthetic Drugs.--Grants made under 
subsection (b) may be used for programs, projects, and other activities 
to--
            ``(1) reimburse State, local, or other forensic science 
        laboratories to help address backlogs of untested samples of 
        heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs;
            ``(2) reimburse State, local, or other forensic science 
        laboratories for procuring equipment, technology, or other 
        support systems if the applicant for the grant demonstrates to 
        the satisfaction of the Attorney General that expenditures for 
        such purposes would result in improved efficiency of laboratory 
        testing and help prevent future backlogs;
            ``(3) reimburse State, tribal, and local law enforcement 
        agencies for procuring field-testing equipment for use in the 
        identification or detection of heroin, fentanyl, and associated 
        synthetic drugs;
            ``(4) investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals 
        violating laws related to the distribution or sale of heroin, 
        fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs; and
            ``(5) support State, tribal, and local health department 
        services deployed to address the use of heroin, fentanyl, and 
        associated synthetic drugs.
    ``(d) Limitation.--Not less than 60 percent of the amounts made 
available to carry out this section shall be awarded for the purposes 
under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (c).
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2017, 2018, and 2019.
    ``(f) Allocation.--
            ``(1) Population allocation.--Seventy-five percent of the 
        amount made available to carry out this section in a fiscal 
        year shall be allocated to each State that meets the 
        requirements of section 2802 so that each State shall receive 
        an amount that bears the same ratio to the 75 percent of the 
        total amount made available to carry out this section for that 
        fiscal year as the population of the State bears to the 
        population of all States.
            ``(2) Discretionary allocation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Twenty-five percent of the 
                amount made available to carry out this section in a 
                fiscal year shall be allocated pursuant to the Attorney 
                General's discretion for competitive awards to States 
                and Indian tribes.
                    ``(B) Considerations.--In making awards under 
                subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall consider--
                            ``(i) the average annual number of part 1 
                        violent crimes reported by each State to the 
                        Federal Bureau of Investigation for the 3 most 
                        recent calendar years for which data is 
                        available; and
                            ``(ii) the existing resources and current 
                        needs of the potential grant recipient.
            ``(3) Minimum requirement.--Each State shall receive not 
        less than 0.6 percent of the amount made available to carry out 
        this section in each fiscal year.
            ``(4) Certain territories.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of the allocation 
                under this section, American Samoa and the Commonwealth 
                of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be considered as 
                1 State.
                    ``(B) Allocation amongst certain territories.--For 
                purposes of subparagraph (A), 67 percent of the amount 
                allocated shall be allocated to American Samoa and 33 
                percent shall be allocated to the Commonwealth of the 
                Northern Mariana Islands.''.