Senior Safe Corridors Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Senior Safe Corridors Act''.

SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to fund programs that establish 
corridors of safety for senior citizens in crime-troubled areas.

SEC. 3. GRANTS PROGRAMS TO ESTABLISH CORRIDORS OF SAFETY FOR SENIOR 
              CITIZENS.

    Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 
(42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating part Q as part R;
            (2) by redesignating section 1701 as section 1801; and
            (3) by inserting after part P the following new part:

   ``PART Q--PROGRAMS TO ESTABLISH SAFE CORRIDORS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

``SEC. 1701. GRANT AUTHORIZATION.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance 
may make grants under this part to States, and to units of local 
government with populations of more than 100,000 individuals, to fund 
programs that create corridors of safety for senior citizens in high-
density senior citizen areas.
    ``(b) Uses of Funds.--Funds distributed under this part shall be 
used to fund programs that seek to decrease violent crimes against 
senior citizens by increasing the numbers, protective presence, and 
watchfulness of police, community group members, and others, and the 
watchfulness of business owners and employees, in high-density senior 
citizen areas. Programs may include escorting senior citizens.

``SEC. 1702. APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--To request a grant under this part, a State, or 
a unit of local government with a population of more than 100,000 
individuals, shall submit an application to the Director in the form 
and containing the information that the Director reasonably requires.
    ``(b) Approval.--The Director shall approve or disapprove each 
application made under subsection (a) within 60 days after the date 
that the application is received by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

``SEC. 1703. CRITERIA.

    ``(a) Criteria.--In order to receive a grant under this part, an 
applicant shall--
            ``(1) demonstrate that there is significant violent crime 
        against senior citizens in the high-density senior citizen 
        areas that will be affected by the applicant's program;
            ``(2) state the number of senior citizens who will be 
        served by the applicant's program, and define which individuals 
        will be considered senior citizens for purposes of the program;
            ``(3) describe the manner in which the applicant, including 
        the applicant's local governments and police, will involve 
        other sectors of the community, including local businesses, 
        community groups, religious institutions, and law enforcement 
        personnel such as transit and public housing officers, in the 
        applicant's program; and
            ``(4) comply with any other requirement established by the 
        Director for purposes of this section.
    ``(b) Application of Criteria.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall determine which 
        applicants receive funding under this part based on the 
        criteria referred to in subsection (a).
            ``(2) Priority.--If 2 applicants demonstrate equal need 
        under the criteria referred to in paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) 
        of subsection (a), the applicant whose proposed program shows 
        the greatest amount and diversity of community involvement, as 
        described in paragraph (3) of such subsection, shall be given 
        priority in receiving a grant under this part.

``SEC. 1704. LIMIT ON AMOUNT OF GRANT.

    ``(a) In General.--The amount of a grant made under this part may 
not exceed 75 percent of the total costs, for the period for which the 
grant is received, of the program funded by the grant.
    ``(b) Waiver of Requirement.--The Director may waive the 
requirement of subsection (a) for a grant made to an applicant that is 
a unit of local government, if the Director finds that--
            ``(1) the applicant has a compelling need for the program 
        for which it is applying for funding under this part; and
            ``(2) the applicant has severe financial problems.

``SEC. 1705. REPORTS BY GRANT RECIPIENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--A State or unit of local government that 
receives funding for a program under this part shall submit, by a 
deadline established by the Director, an annual report for each fiscal 
year for which the funding is received, containing any information the 
Director may require regarding the program.
    ``(b) Evaluation of Effect on Crime.--The report required by 
subsection (a) with respect to any program shall include an evaluation 
of the effect of the program on violent crime against senior citizens 
in the high-density senior citizen areas in which the program operates.
    ``(c) Use of Grant Funds for Report.--A State or unit of local 
government may spend not more than 2 percent of the funds received 
under this part to compile the report required by subsection (a), or to 
otherwise comply with subsections (a) and (b).

``SEC. 1706. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this part:
            ``(1) The term `applicant' means a State, or a unit of 
        local government with a population of over 100,000 individuals, 
        that applies for a grant under this part.
            ``(2) The term `Director' means the Director of the Bureau 
        of Justice Assistance.
            ``(3) The term `high-density senior citizen area' means an 
        area inside, surrounding, or adjacent to facilities or services 
        that specialize in availability to senior citizens, such as a 
        senior citizen program at a community center, a public housing 
        authority or private senior citizen apartment complex, or a 
        medical practice providing care to senior citizens.
            ``(4) The term `program' means a program described in 
        section 1701(b).''.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1001(a) of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(11) There are authorized to be appropriated, to carry 
        out part Q, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and such sums as 
        may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1996 through 
        1998.''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 1001(a)(3) of the Omnibus Crime 
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793) is amended by 
striking ``and O'' and inserting ``O, and Q''.

SEC. 5. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Evaluation of Programs.--Section 801(b) of the Omnibus Crime 
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3782(b)) is amended by 
striking ``and O'' and inserting ``O, and Q''.
    (b) Process for Denied Applications.--Section 802(b) of the Omnibus 
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3783(b)) is 
amended in the 1st sentence by striking ``or O'' and inserting ``O, or 
Q''.
    (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of title I of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 
prec.) is amended by striking the items relating to part Q and 
inserting the following new items:

   ``Part Q--Programs To Establish Safe Corridors for Senior Citizens

        ``Sec. 1701. Grant authorization.
        ``Sec. 1702. Applications.
        ``Sec. 1703. Criteria.
        ``Sec. 1704. Limit on amount of grant.
        ``Sec. 1705. Reports by grant recipients.
        ``Sec. 1706. Definitions.
             ``Part R--Transition--Effective Date--Repealer

        ``Sec. 1801. Continuation of rules, authorities, and 
                            proceedings.''.

Summary: Senior Safe Corridors Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make grants to States, and to units of local government with populations exceeding 100,000, to fund programs that create corridors of safety for senior citizens in high-density senior citizen areas. Directs that such grants be used to fund programs that seek to decrease violent crime against senior citizens by increasing the numbers, protective presence, and watchfulness of police, community group members, and others, and the watchfulness of business owners and employees, in high-density senior citizen areas. Specifies that such programs may include escorting senior citizens. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) application requirements, (2) criteria for application approval and priorities, (3) limits on grant amounts, and (4) reports by grant recipients. Authorizes appropriations.