I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9576 
To authorize a grant to encourage recruitment of law enforcement officers, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 
Mr. PHILLIPS (for himself, Mr. FINSTAD, Ms. CRAIG, Mr. VALADAO, Mr. 
GOTTHEIMER, Mr. BACON, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Mr. PA-
NETTA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To authorize a grant to encourage recruitment of law 
enforcement officers, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pathways to Policing 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM. 
Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘PART PP—LAW ENFORCEMENT HIRING 
SUPPORT GRANT 
‘‘SEC. 3061. GRANT AUTHORIZATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this part, the COPS Director 
is authorized to make grants, on a competitive basis, to 
States, units of local government, and law enforcement 
agencies for the purposes described in subsection (c). 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this part, a State, unit of local government, 
or law enforcement agency shall submit an application to 
the COPS Director at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the COPS Director may re-
quire. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—A recipient of a grant under 
this part may use the grant funds for the following: 
‘‘(1) MARKETING
AND
RECRUITMENT
CAM-
PAIGNS.—Not more than 50 percent of the grant 
funds awarded to a recipient under this part may be 
used to develop, implement, or expand marketing 
and recruitment campaigns for the purpose of en-
couraging candidates to seek careers in law enforce-
ment. 
‘‘(2) PATHWAYS TO POLICING.— Not more than 
50 percent of the grant funds awarded to a recipient 
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under this part may be used to develop, operate, or 
expand Pathways to Policing programs. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—For each fiscal year in which a grant 
is awarded under this part, each recipient of such grant 
shall submit to the COPS Director a report containing a 
summary of each activity carried out using such grant and 
such other information as the COPS Director may require. 
‘‘SEC. 3062. PRIORITY. 
‘‘(a) UNDERREPRESENTED
AND NONTRADITIONAL 
GROUPS.—In awarding a grant under this part, priority 
shall be given to applicants that seek to recruit candidates 
who are members of communities traditionally underrep-
resented in the field of law enforcement or who have non-
traditional educational or career backgrounds. 
‘‘(b) COMMUNITY POLICING.—In awarding a grant 
under this part, priority shall be given to applicants that 
seek to recruit candidates who reside in or who are willing 
to relocate to the communities that the candidates will 
serve, or that are in close proximity to the communities 
that the candidates will serve. 
‘‘SEC. 3063. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this part: 
‘‘(1) COPS DIRECTOR.—The term ‘COPS Di-
rector’ means the Attorney General, acting through 
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the Director of the Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services. 
‘‘(2) PATHWAYS TO POLICING PROGRAMS.—The 
term ‘Pathways to Policing programs’ refers to any 
program that— 
‘‘(A) facilitates the entry into full-time law 
enforcement positions for candidates that— 
‘‘(i) face barriers in obtaining the edu-
cation and training necessary to pursue a 
law enforcement career; and 
‘‘(ii) have no prior law enforcement 
experience; 
‘‘(B) provides candidates with financial 
support, including tuition, compensation, or 
benefits, while attending a law enforcement offi-
cer education and training program, and 
‘‘(C) may include service in part-time, uni-
formed positions that further a candidate’s 
training to be a full-time law enforcement offi-
cer. 
‘‘SEC. 3064. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 
to carry out sections 3061, 3062, and 3063 for each of 
fiscal years 2025 to 2029. 
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‘‘SEC. 3065. NATIONWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT MARKETING 
AND RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN. 
‘‘(a) MARKETING AND RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGNS.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Attorney General shall develop and implement 
nationwide marketing and recruitment campaigns for the 
purpose of encouraging candidates, including candidates 
who are members of communities traditionally underrep-
resented in the field of law enforcement or who have non-
traditional educational or career backgrounds, to seek ca-
reers in law enforcement. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—In developing and imple-
menting the marketing and recruitment campaigns under 
subsection (a), the Attorney General shall consult with 
State attorneys general, State and local law enforcement 
entities, professional law enforcement associations, com-
munity-based organizations, and academic researchers. 
‘‘(c) STATES, UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND 
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.—In developing and im-
plementing the marketing and recruitment campaigns 
under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall create 
educational materials and related resources for States, 
units of local government, and law enforcement agencies 
to operate a marketing and recruitment campaign under 
section 3061. 
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‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 to 2029.’’. 
Æ 
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