I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4224
To ensure safety in public schools by increasing police presence.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 15, 1998
Mr. FROST introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary
A BILL
To ensure safety in public schools by increasing police
presence.
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 ‘‘Safe Schools Act of
1998’’.
SEC. 2. GRANT AUTHORIZATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may make
grants to States, units of local government, Indian tribal
governments and other public and private entities and
multijurisdiction or regional consortia thereof to increase
police presence, to expand and improve cooperative efforts
between law enforcement agencies and members of the
community to address crime and disorder problems in and
around schools.
(b) PREFERENTIAL CONSIDERATION.—In awarding
grants under this Act, the Attorney General may give pref-
erential consideration, to the extent practicable, to appli-
cations for hiring and rehiring additional career law en-
forcement officers that involve a non-Federal contribution
exceeding the 25 percent minimum under subsection (d).
(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may
provide technical assistance to States, units of local
government, Indian tribal governments, and to other
public and private entities, in furtherance of the pur-
poses of this Act.
(2) MODEL.—The technical assistance provided
by the Attorney General may include the develop-
ment of a flexible model that will define for State
and local governments, and other public and private
entities, definitions and strategies associated with
community and school-based policing and methodolo-
gies for its implementation.
(3) TRAINING CENTERS AND FACILITIES.—The
technical assistance provided by the Attorney Gen-
eral may include the establishment and operation of
training centers or facilities, either directly or by
contracting or cooperative arrangements. The func-
tions of the centers or facilities established under
this paragraph may include instruction and seminars
for police executives, managers, trainers, supervisors,
and such others as the Attorney General considers
to be appropriate concerning community and school-
based policing and improvements in police-commu-
nity interaction and cooperation that further the
purposes of this Act.
(d) MATCHING FUNDS.—The portion of the costs of
a program, project, or activity provided by a grant under
subsection (a) may not exceed 75 percent, unless the At-
torney General waives, wholly or in part, the requirement
under this subsection of a non-Federal contribution to the
costs of a program, project, or activity. In relation to a
grant for a period exceeding 1 year for hiring or rehiring
career law enforcement officers, the Federal share shall
decrease from year to year for up to 5 years, looking to-
ward the continuation of the increased hiring level using
State or local sources of funding following the conclusion
of Federal support, as provided in an approved plan pur-
suant to section 4(c)(8).
(e) TERMINATION OF GRANTS FOR HIRING OFFI-
CERS.—The authority under subsection (a) of this section
to make grants for the hiring and rehiring of additional
career law enforcement officers shall lapse at the conclu-
sion of 6 years from the date of enactment of this Act.
Prior to the expiration of this grant authority, the Attor-
ney General shall submit a report to Congress concerning
the experience with and effects of such grants. The report
may include any recommendations the Attorney General
may have for amendments to this Act and related provi-
sions of law in light of the termination of the authority
to make grants for the hiring and rehiring of additional
career law enforcement officers.
SEC. 3. USES OF FUNDS.
Grants made under this Act may be used—
(1) to rehire law enforcement officers who have
been laid off as a result of State and local budget
reductions for deployment in school-based policing;
and
(2) to hire and train new, additional career law
enforcement officers for deployment in school-based
policing across the Nation.
SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—No grant may be made under this
Act unless an application has been submitted to, and ap-
proved by, the Attorney General.
(b) APPLICATION.—An application for a grant under
this Act shall be submitted in such form, and contain such
information, as the Attorney General may prescribe by
regulations or guidelines.
(c) CONTENTS.—In accordance with the regulations
or guidelines established by the Attorney General, each ap-
plication for a grant under this Act shall—
(1) include a long-term strategy and detailed
implementation plan that reflects consultation with
community groups and appropriate private and pub-
lic agencies;
(2) demonstrate a specific public safety need;
(3) explain the applicant’s inability to address
the need without Federal assistance;
(4) identify related governmental and commu-
nity initiatives which complement or will be coordi-
nated with the proposal;
(5) certify that there has been appropriate co-
ordination with all affected agencies;
(6) outline the initial and ongoing level of com-
munity support for implementing the proposal in-
cluding financial and in-kind contributions or other
tangible commitments;
(7) specify plans for obtaining necessary sup-
port and continuing the proposed program, project,