Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2015

To amend title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend the authorization of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program through fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 2. Extension of authorization of appropriations for Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Section 1001(a)(23) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3793(a)(23) (23) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out part Y, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. . 3. Expiration of appropriated funds Section 2501 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796ll (h) Expiration of appropriated funds (1) Definition In this subsection, the term appropriated funds (2) Expiration All appropriated funds that are not obligated on or before December 31, 2022 shall be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury not later than January 31, 2023. . 4. Sense of Congress on 2-year limitation on funds It is the sense of Congress that amounts made available to carry out part Y of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796ll et seq. 5. Matching funds limitation Section 2501(f) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796ll(f) (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Limitation on matching funds A State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe may not use funding received under any other Federal grant program to pay or defer the cost, in whole or in part, of the matching requirement under paragraph (1). . 6. Application of Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program requirements to any armor vest or body armor purchased with Federal grant funds Section 521 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3766a (c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a grantee that uses funds made available under this part to purchase an armor vest or body armor shall— (A) comply with any requirements established for the use of grants made under part Y; (B) have a written policy requiring uniformed patrol officers to wear an armor vest or body armor; and (C) use the funds to purchase armor vests or body armor that meet any performance standards established by the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance. (2) In this subsection, the terms armor vest body armor . 7. Uniquely fitted armor vests Section 2501(c) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796ll(c) (1) in paragraph (2), by striking and (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ; or ; and (3) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (4) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) provides armor vests to law enforcement officers that are uniquely fitted for such officers, including vests uniquely fitted to individual female law enforcement officers; or . May 10, 2016 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend through FY2020 the authorization of appropriations for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) program. (Sec. 3) It requires the transfer to the general fund of the Treasury, no later than January 31, 2023, of all funds appropriated for the BVP program for FY2016-FY2020 that are not obligated on or before December 31, 2022. (Sec. 4) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that amounts made available to carry out the BVP program should be made available through the end of the fiscal year following the one for which the amounts are appropriated and should not be made available until expended. (Sec. 5) It prohibits the use of federal funds under another grant program to pay or defer the cost of the matching funds requirement for the BVP program. (Sec. 6) It requires a state, local, or tribal government that receives a BVP program grant to comply with BVP program requirements, to have a written policy requiring uniformed patrol officers to wear an armor vest or body armor, and to use the funds to purchase vests or body armor that meet performance standards established by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. (Sec. 7) The bill allows preferential consideration to a BVP program grant applicant from a jurisdiction that provides armor vests that are uniquely fitted to law enforcement officers, including individual female officers.