To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide that COPS grant funds may be used for local law enforcement recruits to attend schools or academies if the recruits agree to serve in precincts of law enforcement agencies in their communities.

To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide that COPS grant funds may be used for local law enforcement recruits to attend schools or academies if the recruits agree to serve in precincts of law enforcement agencies in their communities. 1. Strong Communities Program Section 1701 of Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10381 (1) by redesignating subsection (m) as subsection (n); and (2) by inserting after subsection (l) the following: (m) COPS Strong Communities Program (1) Definitions (A) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (i) an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (ii) a local law enforcement agency that offers a law enforcement training program. (B) Local law enforcement agency The term local law enforcement agency (2) Grants The Attorney General may use amounts otherwise appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2020) to make competitive grants to local law enforcement agencies to be used for recruits to attend eligible entities if the recruits agree to serve in law enforcement agencies in their communities. (3) Eligibility To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, each recruit described in paragraph (2) shall— (A) serve as a full-time law enforcement officer for a total of not fewer than 4 years during the 8-year period after the date on which the recruit completes a law enforcement training program for which the recruit received benefits; (B) complete their service in a local law enforcement agency located within— (i) 5 miles of the residence of the recruit where the recruit has resided for not fewer than 5 years; or (ii) if the recruit resides in a county with less than 100,000 residents, within 20 miles of the residence of the recruit where the recruit has resided for not fewer than 5 years; and (C) submit evidence of employment of the recruit to the eligible agency in the form of a certification by the chief administrative officer of the local law enforcement agency where the recruit is employed. (4) Repayment (A) In general If a recruit does not complete the service described in paragraph (3), the recruit shall submit to the local law enforcement agency an amount equal to any benefits the recruit received under this subsection. (B) Regulations The Attorney General shall promulgate regulations that establish categories of extenuating circumstances under which a recruit may be excused from repayment under subparagraph (A). . 1. Strong Communities Program Section 1701 of Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10381 (1) by redesignating subsection (m) as subsection (n); and (2) by inserting after subsection (l) the following: (m) COPS Strong Communities Program (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (i) an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (ii) a local law enforcement agency that offers a law enforcement training program. (B) Local law enforcement agency The term local law enforcement agency (2) Grants The Attorney General may use amounts otherwise appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2020) to make competitive grants to local law enforcement agencies to be used for officers and recruits to attend law enforcement training programs at eligible entities if the officers and recruits agree to serve in law enforcement agencies in their communities. (3) Eligibility To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, each officer or recruit described in paragraph (2) shall— (A) serve as a full-time law enforcement officer for a total of not fewer than 4 years during the 8-year period beginning on the date on which the officer or recruit completes a law enforcement training program for which the officer or recruit received benefits; (B) complete the service described in subparagraph (A) in a local law enforcement agency located within— (i) 7 miles of the residence of the officer or recruit where the officer or recruit has resided for not fewer than 5 years; or (ii) if the officer or recruit resides in a county with fewer than 150,000 residents, within 20 miles of the residence of the officer or recruit where the officer or recruit has resided for not fewer than 5 years; and (C) submit to the eligible entity evidence of employment of the officer or recruit in the form of a certification by the chief administrative officer of the local law enforcement agency where the officer or recruit is employed. (4) Repayment (A) In general If an officer or recruit does not complete the service described in paragraph (3), the officer or recruit shall submit to the local law enforcement agency an amount equal to any benefits the officer or recruit received under this subsection. (B) Regulations The Attorney General shall promulgate regulations that establish categories of extenuating circumstances under which an officer or recruit may be excused from repayment under subparagraph (A). . June 14, 2022 Reported with an amendment

Summary: This bill allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to provide training to officers and recruits who agree to serve in law enforcement agencies in their communities.