Build TRUST Act of 2015

To provide for a reduction in the amount that may be awarded to a unit of local government under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Building Bridges and Transforming Resentment and Unfairness to Support and Trust for Municipal Law Enforcement Act of 2015 Build TRUST Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The growing trend of local units of government using traffic fines and traffic court fees and costs as revenue generators promotes unfair, excessive targeting of citizens by law enforcement agents, infringes on civil liberties, and promotes reliance on unpredictable revenue sources. (2) The growing trend of local units of government using traffic fines and traffic court fees and costs as revenue generators has the potential to breed public cynicism and distrust of local law enforcement agencies, and to lessen public confidence that the laws are being enforced impartially and the criminal justice system is administered equally. 3. Reduction in grant funding for units of local government (a) Collection of fines for violations of traffic laws Except as provided in subsection (b) or section 4, a unit of local government which, during the previous 3 fiscal years, funded an amount that, on average, was greater than 18 percent of its operating budget using revenue generated from collecting fines and other fees related to violations of traffic laws, shall, in the case of a unit of local government receiving grant funds under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq. (b) Disproportionate racial composition of law enforcement agencies In the case of a unit of local government described in subsection (a) for which, during the previous fiscal year, the percentage of individuals who identify as a race who were employees of the law enforcement agency for that unit of local government, and the percentage of individuals who identify as that race who live in the jurisdiction which that law enforcement agency serves, differs by greater than 30 percent, the unit of local government shall receive only 5 percent of the grant award that would have otherwise been awarded to that unit of local government under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq.). (c) Obligation of States A State that receives a grant award under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq. (d) Reallocation Any funds withheld from a State or unit of local government from a direct grant award by the Attorney General shall be reallocated in accordance with subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq.). 4. Exemptions The provisions of section 3 shall not apply in the case of any unit of local government— (1) that serves a population of less than 15,000 people and so certifies to the Attorney General; or (2) to which the Attorney General has granted a waiver under section 5. 5. Waivers The Attorney General may, in his or her discretion, grant a waiver under this section to any unit of local government for good cause shown, and shall consider the following factors: (1) Whether, resulting from allegations of excessive uses of force, false arrests, improper searches and seizures, failures to discipline officers sufficiently, or failure to supervise officers, the unit of local government is subject to a consent decree or Memorandum of Understanding, or the subject of an investigation by the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. (2) Whether the unit of local government has taken affirmative action to ensure that adequate practices and procedures are in place to increase public trust and confidence in the impartial and equitable administration of justice, including— (A) whether incidents of officer involved shootings and uses of excessive force are investigated by a Special Prosecutor appointed by the Governor, State Attorney General, or Presiding Judge of the local court of jurisdiction; (B) whether incidents of officer involved shootings and uses of excessive force are adjudicated in a public proceeding rather than the grand jury process. (3) Whether the minority community is equitably represented in the municipality’s legislative body and executive departments.

Summary: Building Bridges and Transforming Resentment and Unfairness to Support and Trust for Municipal Law Enforcement Act of 2015 or the Build TRUST Act of 2015 Reduces the amount that would otherwise be awarded to a unit of local government under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program: (1) by 75% for any such unit that, during the previous three fiscal years, funded an amount that on average was greater than 18% of its operating budget using revenue generated from collecting fines and other fees related to violations of traffic laws; and (2) by 95% for any such unit for which, during the previous fiscal year, the percentage of individuals who identify as a race who were employees of the law enforcement agency for that unit and the percentage of individuals who identify as that race who live in the jurisdiction such agency serves differs by greater than 30%. Reduces by 50% the amount that would otherwise be awarded under such Program to state that did not reduce a subgrant award to a unit of local government in accordance with this Act in the preceding fiscal year. Requires the Attorney General to reallocate funds withheld from a state or unit of local government pursuant to this Act in accordance with the Program. Exempts any local governmental unit which certifies that it serves a population of less than 15,000 or to which the Attorney General has granted a waiver for good cause shown based on specified factors, including that: (1) such unit has taken affirmative action to ensure that adequate practices and procedures are in place to increase public trust and confidence in the impartial and equitable administration of justice, and (2) the minority community is equitably represented in the unit's legislative body and executive departments.