Rural Law Enforcement Assistance Act of 1999

Summary: Rural Law Enforcement Assistance Act of 1999 - Directs the Attorney General to provide funds to the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement if the Center's Executive Director certifies in writing that the Center: (1) is incorporated in accordance with applicable State laws; (2) is in compliance with its by-laws; (3) shall use amounts made available in accordance with requirements of this Act; and (4) shall not support any political party or candidate for elected or appointed office. 
Requires the Center to use such funds to develop an educational program for employees of law enforcement agencies serving rural areas for specified purposes, including: (1) the development and delivery of management education and training for employees of law enforcement agencies serving rural areas; and (2) the delivery of assistance (in a consulting capacity) to criminal justice agencies in the development and coordination of programs, training, and research relating to crime in rural areas. 
Permits the Center to use such funds to enhance that educational program through specified means, including: (1) educational opportunities for rural law enforcement agencies; and (2) coordination with institutions of higher education to encourage programs of study for law enforcement in rural areas at such institutions. 
Sets forth reporting requirements.  Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Law Enforcement Assistance Act 
of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FUNDING TO NATIONAL CENTER FOR RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) Funding Authority.--The Attorney General shall provide funds, 
subject to appropriations, to the National Center for Rural Law 
Enforcement if the Executive Director of the Center certifies, in 
writing, to the Attorney General that the Center--
            (1) is incorporated in accordance with applicable State 
        laws;
            (2) is in compliance with the by-laws of the Center;
            (3) shall use amounts made available under this section in 
        accordance with subsection (b); and
            (4) shall not support any political party or candidate for 
        elected or appointed office.
    (b) Uses of Funds.--
            (1) Required uses of funds.--The Center shall use funds 
        made available under this section to develop an educational 
        program for employees of law enforcement agencies serving rural 
        areas which shall include--
                    (A) the development and delivery of management 
                education and training, technical assistance, practical 
                research and evaluation, and computer and forensic 
                education and training for employees of law enforcement 
                agencies serving rural areas, tribal law enforcement 
                employees and railroad law enforcement employees, 
                including supervisory and executive managers of those 
                agencies;
                    (B) conducting research into the causes and 
                prevention of criminal activity in rural areas, 
                including the causes, assessment, evaluation, analysis, 
                and prevention of criminal activity;
                    (C) the development and dissemination of 
                information designed to assist States and units of 
                local government in rural areas throughout the United 
                States;
                    (D) the establishment and maintenance of a resource 
                and information center for the collection, preparation, 
                and dissemination of information regarding criminal 
                justice and law enforcement in rural areas, including 
                programs for the prevention of crime and recidivism; 
                and
                    (E) the delivery of assistance, in a consulting 
                capacity, to criminal justice agencies in the 
                development, establishment, maintenance, and 
                coordination of programs, facilities and services, 
                training, and research relating to crime in rural 
                areas.
            (2) Permissive uses of funds.--The Center may use funds 
        made available under this section to enhance the educational 
        program developed under paragraph (1), through--
                    (A) educational opportunities for rural law 
                enforcement agencies;
                    (B) the development, promotion, and voluntary 
                adoption of educational and training standards and 
                accreditation certification programs for law 
                enforcement agencies serving rural areas and the 
                employees of those agencies;
                    (C) grants to, and contracts with, State, and local 
                governments, law enforcement agencies, public and 
                private agencies, educational institutions, and other 
                organizations and individuals to carry out this 
                paragraph;
                    (D) the formulation and recommendation of law 
                enforcement policy, goals, and standards in rural areas 
                applicable to criminal justice agencies, organizations, 
                institutions, and personnel; and
                    (E) coordination with institutions of higher 
                education for the purpose of encouraging programs of 
                study for law enforcement in rural areas at such 
                institutions.
    (c) Powers.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Executive Director 
may--
            (1) request the head of any Federal department or agency to 
        detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that 
        department or agency to the Center to assist it in carrying out 
        its duties under this Act;
            (2) request the Administrator of the General Services 
        Administration to provide the Center, on a reimbursable basis, 
        the administrative support services necessary for the Center to 
        carry out its responsibilities under this Act; and
            (3) procure temporary and intermittent services under 
        section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates of 
        compensation established by the Board, but not to exceed the 
        daily equivalent of the maximum rate of pay payable for a 
        position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 
        5315 of title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Travel Expenses.--For purposes of official travel, expenses 
shall be reimbursed, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
same manner as such expenses are permitted under sections 5702 and 5703 
of title 5, United States Code.
    (e) Reporting Requirements.--The Center shall submit an annual 
report to the Attorney General that includes--
            (1) a description of the education and training program 
        conducted by the Center;
            (2) the number and demographic representation of 
        individuals who attended programs sponsored by the Center;
            (3) a description of the extent resources of other 
        governmental agencies or private entities were used; and
            (5) a description of the extent contracts with other public 
        and private resources were used.
    (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``Board'' means the members of the Board of 
        the Center as elected according to its bylaws.
            (2) The term ``Center'' means the National Center for Rural 
        Law Enforcement, a nonprofit corporation located in Little 
        Rock, Arkansas.
            (3) The term ``Executive Director'' means the Executive 
        Director of the Center as appointed according to the bylaws of 
        the Center.
            (4) The term ``metropolitan statistical area'' has the same 
        meaning given such term by the Bureau of the Census.
            (5) The term ``rural law enforcement agency'' means a law 
        enforcement agency that serves a city, town, township, borough, 
        or village outside a metropolitan statistical area.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            (1) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and
            (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
        2001 through 2005.