Avonte's Law Act of 2015

To establish a grant program to help State and local law enforcement agencies reduce the risk of injury and death relating to the wandering characteristics of some children with autism and other disabilities. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Avonte’s Law Act of 2015 2. Grant program to reduce injury and death relating to the wandering and safety of individuals with disabilities Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq. LL Grant program to reduce injury and death relating to the wandering and safety of individuals with disabilities 3021. Program authorized (a) In general The Attorney General may make grants to law enforcement agencies to— (1) reduce the risk of injury and death relating to the wandering characteristics of some individuals with autism and other disabilities; and (2) safeguard the well-being of individuals with disabilities during interactions with law enforcement. (b) Uses of funds A grant awarded under this section shall be— (1) distributed directly to a law enforcement agency; and (2) used to— (A) provide education and resources to law enforcement agencies, first responders, schools, clinicians, and the public in order to— (i) reduce the risk of wandering by individuals with autism or other disabilities; (ii) help to identify signs of abuse in individuals with autism or other disabilities; (iii) increase personal safety and survival skills for individuals with autism or other disabilities; and (iv) facilitate effective communication with individuals who have communication-related disabilities, including the use of assistive communication techniques and technology; (B) provide training and emergency protocols for school administrators, staff, and families; (C) provide response tools and training for law enforcement and search-and-rescue agencies, including— (i) tracking technology; (ii) reverse 911 technology; (iii) assistive communication technology; (iv) Endangered Missing Advisories; and (v) Federal search-and-rescue guidelines for special needs children; or (D) provide response tools and training to law enforcement agencies in order to recognize and respond to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (c) Standards and best practices for use of tracking devices (1) Establishment (A) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this part, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and leading research, advocacy, self-advocacy, and service organizations, shall establish standards and best practices relating to the use of tracking technology to monitor children with autism and other disabilities. (B) Requirements In establishing the standards and best practices required under subparagraph (A), the Attorney General— (i) shall determine— (I) the criteria used to determine which individuals would benefit from the use of a tracking device; and (II) who should have direct access to the tracking system; and (ii) may establish standards and best practices the Attorney General determines are necessary to the administration of a tracking system, including procedures in order to— (I) safeguard the privacy of the data used by the tracking device such that— (aa) access to the data is restricted to agencies determined necessary by the Attorney General; and (bb) use of the data is solely for the purpose of preventing injury or death; (II) develop criteria to determine whether use of the tracking device is the least restrictive alternative in order to prevent risk of injury or death prior to issuing the tracking device, including the previous consideration of less restrictive alternatives; (III) provide training for law enforcement agencies to recognize signs of abuse in their interactions with applicants; (IV) protect the civil rights and liberties of children with disabilities who use tracking devices, including their rights under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States; (V) establish a complaint and investigation process to address— (aa) incidents of noncompliance by grant recipients with the best practices established by the Attorney General or other applicable law; and (bb) use of a tracking device over the objection of a child with a disability; and (VI) the role which State agencies responsible for providing services to children with developmental disabilities and State agencies responsible for child protective services should have in the administration of a tracking system. (2) Required compliance (A) In general Each law enforcement agency that receives a grant under this section shall comply with any standards and best practices relating to the use of tracking devices as established by the Attorney General under paragraph (1), in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and leading research, advocacy, self-advocacy, and service organizations. (B) Determination of compliance The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall determine whether a law enforcement agency that receives a grant under this section acts in compliance with the requirement described in paragraph (1). (3) Applicability of standards and best practices The standards and best practices established by the Attorney General under paragraph (1) shall apply only to the grant program authorized under this part. 3022. Applications To request a grant under section 3021, the head of a law enforcement agency shall submit an application to the Attorney General in such form and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require. 3023. Definitions In this part— (1) the term child (2) the term Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 450b(e) (3) the term law enforcement agency (4) the term State (5) the term unit of local government 3024. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. .

Summary: Avonte's Law Act of 2015 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to law enforcement agencies to: (1) reduce the risk of injury and death relating to the wandering characteristics of some individuals with autism and other disabilities, and (2) safeguard the well-being of individuals with disabilities during interactions with law enforcement. It requires grant awards to be used to: (1) provide education and resources to law enforcement agencies, first responders, schools, clinicians, and the public in order to reduce the risk of wandering by such individuals, help to identify signs of abuse in such individuals, increase their personal safety and survival skills, and facilitate effective communication with individuals who have communication-related disabilities; (2) provide training and emergency protocols for school administrators, staff, and families; (3) provide response tools and training for law enforcement and search-and-rescue agencies, including tracking technology; or (4) provide response tools and training to law enforcement agencies in order to recognize and respond to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. DOJ must establish standards and best practices relating to the use of tracking technology to monitor children with autism and other disabilities. It requires each law enforcement agency that receives a grant to comply with any such standards and best practices.