Secure Our Schools Act

Summary: Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) permissible uses of funds (including for locks, lighting, and security assessments and training), preferential consideration, matching funds (limits costs to 50 percent but authorizes the Attorney General to provide guidelines for waiving or altering such requirement in cases of financial need), equitable geographical distribution of funds, and limits on administrative costs; and (2) application and reporting requirements.
Requires that each grant application be accompanied by an assurance that it was prepared after consultation with individuals not limited to law enforcement officers (such as school violence researchers, child psychologists, social workers, teachers, principals, and other school personnel) to ensure that the improvements to be funded are consistent with a comprehensive approach to preventing school violence and are individualized to the needs of each school.
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Secure Our Schools Act''.

SEC. 2. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL
              SECURITY.

    Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 
is amended by inserting after part Z the following new part:

         ``PART AA--MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL SECURITY

``SEC. 2701. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--The Attorney General is authorized to make 
grants to States, units of local government, and Indian tribes to 
provide improved security, including the placement and use of metal 
detectors and other deterrent measures, at schools and on school 
grounds.
    ``(b) Uses of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be 
distributed directly to the State, unit of local government, or Indian 
tribe, and shall be used to improve security at schools and on school 
grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through one or more of the 
following:
            ``(1) Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, 
        lighting, and other deterrent measures.
            ``(2) Security assessments.
            ``(3) Security training of personnel and students.
            ``(4) Coordination with local law enforcement.
            ``(5) Any other measure that, in the determination of the 
        Attorney General, may provide a significant improvement in 
        security.
    ``(c) Preferential Consideration.--In awarding grants under this 
part, the Attorney General shall give preferential consideration, if 
feasible, to an application from a jurisdiction that has a demonstrated 
need for improved security, has a demonstrated need for financial 
assistance, and has evidenced the ability to make the improvements for 
which the grant amounts are sought.
    ``(d) Matching Funds.--
            ``(1) The portion of the costs of a program provided by a 
        grant under subsection (a) may not exceed 50 percent.
            ``(2) Any funds appropriated by Congress for the activities 
        of any agency of an Indian tribal government or the Bureau of 
        Indian Affairs performing law enforcement functions on any 
        Indian lands may be used to provide the non-Federal share of a 
        matching requirement funded under this subsection.
            ``(3) The Attorney General may provide, in the guidelines 
        implementing this section, for the requirement of paragraph (1) 
        to be waived or altered in the case of a recipient with a 
        financial need for such a waiver or alteration.
    ``(e) Equitable Distribution.--In awarding grants under this part, 
the Attorney General shall ensure, to the extent practicable, an 
equitable geographic distribution among the regions of the United 
States and among urban, suburban, and rural areas.
    ``(f) Administrative Costs.--The Attorney General may reserve not 
more than 2 percent from amounts appropriated to carry out this Act for 
administrative costs.

``SEC. 2702. APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--To request a grant under this part, the chief 
executive of a State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe shall 
submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such 
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may 
require. Each application shall--
            ``(1) include a detailed explanation of--
                    ``(A) the intended uses of funds provided under the 
                grant; and
                    ``(B) how the activities funded under the grant 
                will meet the purpose of this part; and
            ``(2) be accompanied by an assurance that the application 
        was prepared after consultation with individuals not limited to 
        law enforcement officers (such as school violence researchers, 
        child psychologists, social workers, teachers, principals, and 
        other school personnel) to ensure that the improvements to be 
        funded under the grant are--
                    ``(A) consistent with a comprehensive approach to 
                preventing school violence; and
                    ``(B) individualized to the needs of each school at 
                which those improvements are to be made.
    ``(b) Guidelines.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this part, the Attorney General shall promulgate 
guidelines to implement this section (including the information that 
must be included and the requirements that the States, units of local 
government, and Indian tribes must meet) in submitting the applications 
required under this section.

``SEC. 2703. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    ``Not later than November 30th of each year, the Attorney General 
shall submit a report to the Congress regarding the activities carried 
out under this part. Each such report shall include, for the preceding 
fiscal year, the number of grants funded under this part, the amount of 
funds provided under those grants, and the activities for which those 
funds were used.

``SEC. 2704. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this part--
            ``(1) the term `school' means a public elementary or 
        secondary school;
            ``(2) the term `unit of local government' means a county, 
        municipality, town, township, village, parish, borough, or 
        other unit of general government below the State level; and
            ``(3) the term `Indian tribe' has the same meaning as in 
        section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
        Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).

``SEC. 2705. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
the following amounts:
            ``(1) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
            ``(2) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
            ``(3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.''.