II 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2703 

To authorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 18, 2018 

Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. PETERS) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To authorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant 

Program, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Project Safe Neighbor5 hoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2018’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 For the purposes of this Act— 

8 (1) the term ‘‘firearms offenses’’ means an of9 fense under section 922 or 924 of title 18, United 

10 States Code; 


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1 (2) the term ‘‘Program’’ means the Project 

2 Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program estab3 lished under section 3; and 

4 (3) the term ‘‘transnational organized crime 

5 group’’ has the meaning given such term in section 

6 36(k)(6) of the State Department Basic Authorities 

7 Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708(k)(6)). 

8 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 

9 The Attorney General of the United States is author10 ized to establish and carry out a program, to be known 

11 as the ‘‘Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Pro12 gram’’ within the Office of Justice Programs at the De13 partment of Justice. 

14 SEC. 4. PURPOSE. 

15 (a) PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS BLOCK GRANT

16 PROGRAM.—The purpose of the Program is to foster and 

17 improve existing partnerships between Federal, State, and 

18 local agencies, including the United States Attorney in 

19 each Federal judicial district, entities representing mem20 bers of the community affected by increased violence, vic21 tims’ advocates, and researchers to create safer neighbor22 hoods through sustained reductions in violent crimes by— 

23 (1) developing and executing comprehensive 

24 strategic plans to reduce violent crimes, including 

25 the enforcement of gun laws, and prioritizing efforts 


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1 focused on identified subsets of individuals or orga2 nizations responsible for increasing violence in a par3 ticular geographic area; 

4 (2) developing evidence-based and data-driven 

5 intervention and prevention initiatives, including ju6 venile justice projects and activities which may in7 clude street-level outreach, conflict mediation, provi8 sion of treatment and social services, and the chang9 ing of community norms, in order to reduce violence; 

10 and 

11 (3) collecting data on outcomes achieved 

12 through the Program, including the effect on the 

13 violent crime rate, incarceration rate, and recidivism 

14 rate of the jurisdiction. 

15 (b) ADDITIONAL PURPOSE AREAS.—In addition to 

16 the purpose described in subsection (a), the Attorney Gen17 eral may use funds authorized under this Act for any of 

18 the following purposes— 

19 (1) competitive and evidence-based programs to 

20 reduce gun crime and gang violence; 

21 (2) the Edward Byrne criminal justice innova22 tion program; 

23 (3) community-based violence prevention initia24 tives; or 


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1 (4) gang and youth violence education, preven2 tion and intervention, and related activities. 

3 SEC. 5. RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 

5 date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall 

6 promulgate rules to create, carry out, and administer the 

7 Program in accordance with this section. 

8 (b) FUNDS TO BE DIRECTED TO LOCAL CONTROL.— 

9 Amounts made available as grants under the Program 

10 shall be, to the greatest extent practicable, locally con11 trolled to address problems that are identified locally. 

12 (c) REGIONAL GANG TASK FORCES.—Thirty percent 

13 of the amounts made available as grants under the Pro14 gram each fiscal year shall be granted to established Re15 gional Gang Task Forces in regions experiencing a signifi16 cant or increased presence of, or high levels of activity 

17 from, transnational organized crime groups posing threats 

18 to community safety in terms of violent crime, firearms 

19 offenses, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other 

20 crimes. 

21 (d) PRIORITY.—Amounts made available as grants 

22 under the Program shall be used to prioritize the inves23 tigation and prosecution of individuals who have an aggra24 vating or leadership role in a criminal organization. 


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1 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attor3 ney General to carry out the Program $50,000,000 for 

4 each of fiscal years 2019 through 2021. 

Æ 


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