Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2018

To authorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2017 2. Definitions For the purposes of this Act— (1) the term criminal street gangs (2) the term gang crime (3) the term transnational organized crime group 22 U.S.C. 2708(k)(6) (4) the term transnational organized crime 22 U.S.C. 2708(k)(5) (5) the term firearms offenses 3. Establishment The Attorney General of the United States is authorized to establish and carry out a program, to be known as the Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program Program 4. Purpose The purpose of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program is to foster and improve existing partnerships between Federal, State, and local agencies, including the United States Attorney in each Federal judicial district, to create safer neighborhoods through sustained reductions in violent crimes by— (1) developing and executing strategic plans to assist law enforcement agencies in combating gang crimes, including the enforcement of gun laws and drug interdiction; and (2) developing intervention and prevention initiatives, including juvenile justice projects and activities which may include street-level outreach, conflict mediation, and the changing of community norms, in order to reduce violence. 5. Rules and regulations (a) In general The Attorney General shall, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, make rules to create, carry out, and administer the Program in accordance with this section. (b) Funds To be directed to local control Amounts made available as grants under the Program shall be, to the greatest extent practicable, locally controlled to address problems that are identified locally (c) Regional Gang Task Forces 30 percent of the amounts made available as grants under the Program each fiscal year shall be granted to established Regional Gang Task Forces in regions experiencing a significant or increased presence of, or high levels of activity from, transnational organized crime groups posing threats to community safety in terms of violent crime, firearms offenses, human trafficking, trafficking and distribution of illegal opioids and heroin, and other crimes. 6. Authorization of appropriations; consolidation of programs (a) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated for the Program under this Act $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2020. (b) Consolidation of programs For each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022, no funds are authorized to be separately appropriated to the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs for— (1) competitive and evidence-based programs to reduce gun crime and gang violence; (2) an Edward Byrne Memorial criminal justice innovation program; (3) community-based violence prevention initiatives; or (4) gang and youth violence education, prevention and intervention, and related activities. March 14, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2018 (Sec. 3) This bill authorizes the Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program within the Department of Justice. (Sec. 4) The purpose of the grant program is to foster and improve partnerships to create safer neighborhoods through sustained reductions in crimes by (1) developing and executing comprehensive strategic plans, (2) developing evidence-based intervention and prevention initiatives, and (3) collecting data on outcomes. (Sec. 5) Grant funds must be locally controlled, to the greatest extent practicable. Of amounts made available for grants, 30% must go to gang task forces in regions experiencing a significant or increased presence of criminal or transnational organizations engaging in high levels of violent crime, firearm offenses, human trafficking, and drug trafficking.