PUBLIC LAW 106–367—OCT. 27, 2000

NATIONAL POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE

YOUTH ENRICHMENT ACT OF 2000

114 STAT. 1412 PUBLIC LAW 106–367—OCT. 27, 2000

Public Law 106–367

106th Congress

An Act

To improve academic and social outcomes for youth and reduce both juvenile crime

and the risk that youth will become victims of crime by providing productive

activities conducted by law enforcement personnel during nonschool hours.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Police Athletic League

Youth Enrichment Act of 2000’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The goals of the Police Athletic League are to—

(A) increase the academic success of youth participants

in PAL programs;

(B) promote a safe, healthy environment for youth

under the supervision of law enforcement personnel where

mutual trust and respect can be built;

(C) increase school attendance by providing alternatives to suspensions and expulsions;

(D) reduce the juvenile crime rate in participating designated communities and the number of police calls

involving juveniles during nonschool hours;

(E) provide youths with alternatives to drugs, alcohol,

tobacco, and gang activity;

(F) create positive communications and interaction

between youth and law enforcement personnel; and

(G) prepare youth for the workplace.

(2) The Police Athletic League, during its 55-year history

as a national organization, has proven to be a positive force

in the communities it serves.

(3) The Police Athletic League is a network of 1,700 facilities serving over 3,000 communities. There are 320 PAL chapters throughout the United States, the Virgin Islands, and

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, serving 1,500,000 youths,

ages 5 to 18, nationwide.

(4) Based on PAL chapter demographics, approximately

82 percent of the youths who benefit from PAL programs live

in inner cities and urban areas.

(5) PAL chapters are locally operated, volunteer-driven

organizations. Although most PAL chapters are sponsored by

a law enforcement agency, PAL chapters receive no direct

funding from law enforcement agencies and are dependent in

42 USC 13751

note.

42 USC 13751

note.

Natonal Police

Athletic League

Youth

Enrichment Act

of 2000.

Oct. 27, 2000

[H.R. 3235]

PUBLIC LAW 106–367—OCT. 27, 2000 114 STAT. 1413

large part on support from the private sector, such as individuals, business leaders, corporations, and foundations. PAL

chapters have been exceptionally successful in balancing public

funds with private sector donations and maximizing community

involvement.

(6) Today’s youth face far greater risks than did their

parents and grandparents. Law enforcement statistics demonstrate that youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are at

risk of committing violent acts and being victims of violent

acts between the hours of 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

(7) Greater numbers of students are dropping out of school

and failing in school, even though the consequences of academic

failure are more dire in 1999 than ever before.

(8) Many distressed areas in the United States are still

underserved by PAL chapters.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to provide adequate resources in

the form of—

(1) assistance for the 320 established PAL chapters to

increase of services to the communities they are serving; and

(2) seed money for the establishment of 250 (50 per year

over a 5-year period) additional local PAL chapters in public

housing projects and other distressed areas, including distressed areas with a majority population of Native Americans,

by not later than fiscal year 2006.

SEC. 4.DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The term ‘‘Assistant

Attorney General’’ means the Assistant Attorney General for

the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice.

(2) DISTRESSED AREA.—The term ‘‘distressed area’’ means

an urban, suburban, or rural area with a high percentage

of high-risk youth, as defined in section 509A of the Public

Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa–8(f )).

(3) PAL CHAPTER.—The term ‘‘PAL chapter’’ means a

chapter of a Police or Sheriff’s Athletic/Activities League.

(4) POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE.—The term ‘‘Police Athletic

League’’ means the private, nonprofit, national representative

organization for 320 Police or Sheriff’s Athletic/Activities

Leagues throughout the United States (including the Virgin

Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico).

(5) PUBLIC HOUSING; PROJECT.—The terms ‘‘public housing’’

and ‘‘project’’ have the meanings given those terms in section

3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.

1437a(b)).

SEC. 5. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to appropriations, for each of fiscal

years 2001 through 2005, the Assistant Attorney General shall

award a grant to the Police Athletic League for the purpose of

establishing PAL chapters to serve public housing projects and

other distressed areas, and expanding existing PAL chapters to

serve additional youths.

(b) APPLICATION.—

(1) SUBMISSION.—In order to be eligible to receive a grant

under this section, the Police Athletic League shall submit

42 USC 13751

note.

42 USC 13751

note.

42 USC 13751

note.

114 STAT. 1414 PUBLIC LAW 106–367—OCT. 27, 2000

to the Assistant Attorney General an application, which shall

include—

(A) a long-term strategy to establish 250 additional

PAL chapters and detailed summary of those areas in

which new PAL chapters will be established, or in which

existing chapters will be expanded to serve additional

youths, during the next fiscal year;

(B) a plan to ensure that there are a total of not

less than 570 PAL chapters in operation before January

1, 2004;

(C) a certification that there will be appropriate

coordination with those communities where new PAL chapters will be located; and

(D) an explanation of the manner in which new PAL

chapters will operate without additional, direct Federal

financial assistance once assistance under this Act is discontinued.

(2) REVIEW.—The Assistant Attorney General shall review

and take action on an application submitted under paragraph

(1) not later than 120 days after the date of such submission.

SEC. 6. USE OF FUNDS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—

(1) ASSISTANCE FOR NEW AND EXPANDED CHAPTERS.—

Amounts made available under a grant awarded under this

Act shall be used by the Police Athletic League to provide

funding for the establishment of PAL chapters serving public

housing projects and other distressed areas, or the expansion

of existing PAL chapters.

(2) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Each new or expanded PAL

chapter assisted under paragraph (1) shall carry out not less

than four programs during nonschool hours, of which—

(A) not less than two programs shall provide—

(i) mentoring assistance;

(ii) academic assistance;

(iii) recreational and athletic activities; or

(iv) technology training; and

(B) any remaining programs shall provide—

(i) drug, alcohol, and gang prevention activities;

(ii) health and nutrition counseling;

(iii) cultural and social programs;

(iv) conflict resolution training, anger management, and peer pressure training;

(v) job skill preparation activities; or

(vi) Youth Police Athletic League Conferences or

Youth Forums.

(b) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the programs

under subsection (a), a PAL chapter shall, to the maximum extent

practicable—

(1) use volunteers from businesses, academic communities,

social organizations, and law enforcement organizations to serve

as mentors or to assist in other ways;

(2) ensure that youth in the local community participate

in designing the after-school activities;

(3) develop creative methods of conducting outreach to

youth in the community;

42 USC 13751

note.

Deadline.

Deadline.

PUBLIC LAW 106–367—OCT. 27, 2000 114 STAT. 1415

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3235:

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106–859 (Comm. on the Judiciary).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000):

Oct. 2, considered and passed House.

Oct. 13, considered and passed Senate.

Æ

(4) request donations of computer equipment and other

materials and equipment; and

(5) work with State and local park and recreation agencies

so that activities funded with amounts made available under

a grant under this Act will not duplicate activities funded

from other sources in the community served.

SEC. 7. REPORTS.

(a) REPORT TO ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL.—For each fiscal

year for which a grant is awarded under this Act, the Police Athletic

League shall submit to the Assistant Attorney General a report

on the use of amounts made available under the grant.

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than May 1 of each fiscal

year for which amounts are made available to carry out this Act,

the Assistant Attorney General shall submit to the Committees

on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives

a report that details the progress made under this Act in establishing and expanding PAL chapters in public housing projects

and other distressed areas, and the effectiveness of the PAL programs in reducing drug abuse, school dropouts, and juvenile crime.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through

2005.

(b) FUNDING FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—Of the amount

made available to carry out this Act in each fiscal year—

(1) not less than 2 percent shall be used for research

and evaluation of the grant program under this Act;

(2) not less than 1 percent shall be used for technical

assistance related to the use of amounts made available under

grants awarded under this Act; and

(3) not less than 1 percent shall be used for the management and administration of the grant program under this Act,

except that the total amount made available under this paragraph for administration of that program shall not exceed 6

percent.

Approved October 27, 2000.

42 USC 13751

note.

Deadline.

42 USC 13751

note.