To improve security at State and local courthouses.

Summary: Local Courthouse Safety Act of 2012 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to permit the Director of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance to carry out a training and technical assistance program to teach employees of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies how to anticipate, survive, and respond to violent encounters during the course of their duties, including duties relating to security at state, county, and tribal courthouses.

Requires the Director to give preference for any courthouse security training program to employees of jurisdictions that have magnetometers available at their courthouses.

(Sec. 3) Amends the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 to require the State Justice Institute (a private nonprofit organization established to improve judicial administration in state courts) to include courthouse safety as a factor in the national assistance program under which it provides funding to state courts and related national and nonprofit organizations. Permits state and local courts and other organizations awarded funds pursuant to Institute grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to use such funds to improve safety and security in state and local courts.

Requires, if such a grant is awarded to state or local courts without magnetometers, that specified matching funds be used acquire a magnetometer.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to ensure that state or local courthouses having less security equipment than such courthouses require have an opportunity to request surplus security equipment (metal detectors, wands, baggage screening devices) before such equipment is made available to any other individual or entity. Requires that priority be given to courthouses that have no security equipment.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Local Courthouse Safety Act of 
2012''.

SEC. 2. SECURITY TRAINING.

    Part D of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 
of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3741 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 403. PREVENTING VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ENSURING 
              OFFICER RESILIENCE AND SURVIVABILITY.

    ``The Director may carry out a training and technical assistance 
program designed to teach employees of State, local, and tribal law 
enforcement agencies how to anticipate, survive, and respond to violent 
encounters during the course of their duties, including duties relating 
to security at State, county, and tribal courthouses. If the Director 
offers a training program specifically designed to train participants 
on courthouse security issues, preference for admission into such 
program shall be given to employees of jurisdictions that have 
magnetometers available for use at their courthouses.''.

SEC. 3. STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE.

    The State Justice Institute Act of 1984 is amended--
            (1) in section 203(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 10702(b)(1)), in the 
        matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, safe,'' 
        after ``a fair''; and
            (2) in section 206 (42 U.S.C. 10705)--
                    (A) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) in paragraph (14)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``to'' before 
                                ``conduct''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``and'' at the 
                                end;
                            (ii) by redesignating paragraph (15) as 
                        paragraph (16); and
                            (iii) by inserting after paragraph (14) the 
                        following:
            ``(15) to improve the safety and security of State and 
        local courts; and''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Magnetometers.--In the case of a grant awarded under this 
section to be used as described in subsection (c)(15), if the State or 
local court applying for the grant does not have magnetometers 
available for use, not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 of the 
matching fund required under subsection (d) of the State or local court 
shall be used to acquire a magnetometer.''.

SEC. 4. SECURITY EQUIPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 40, United 
States Code, is amended by adding after section 559 the following:
``Sec. 560. Surplus security equipment for State and local courts
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `surplus security equipment' means surplus 
        property that is used to detect weapons, including metal 
        detectors, wands, and baggage screening devices; and
            ``(2) the term `qualifying State or local courthouse' means 
        a courthouse of a State or local government that has less 
        security equipment than the security needs of the courthouse 
        require.
    ``(b) Disposal of Surplus Security Equipment.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this subchapter, the Administrator of General Services shall 
        ensure that a qualifying State or local courthouse has an 
        opportunity to request to receive surplus security equipment 
        for use at the qualifying State or local courthouse before the 
        surplus security equipment is made available to any other 
        individual or entity under this subchapter.
            ``(2) Disposal.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
                upon request by a qualifying State or local courthouse 
                for surplus security equipment for use at the 
                qualifying State or local courthouse, the surplus 
                security equipment shall be made available to the 
                qualifying State or local courthouse without cost, 
                except for any costs of shipping, handling, and 
                maintenance.
                    ``(B) Multiple requests.--If more than 1 qualifying 
                State or local courthouse requests a particular piece 
                of surplus security equipment, the surplus security 
                equipment shall be distributed based on need, as 
                determined by the Administrator of General Services, 
                with priority given to a qualifying State or local 
                courthouse that has no security equipment.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 559 the following:

``560. Surplus security equipment for State and local courts.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 11, 2012.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.