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104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2675
To establish a grant program to install safety devices and improve safety
at convenience stores.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 20, 1995
Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To establish a grant program to install safety devices and
improve safety at convenience stores.
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 ‘‘Mom and Pop Protec-
tion Act’’.
SEC. 2. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may pro-
vide grants to States to establish a loan program for con-
venience store owners to install security devices and im-
prove safety in convenience stores.
(b) PAYMENT
AND INTEREST RATE.—The State
shall determine a repayment schedule of not more than
5 years and an interest rate not to exceed 3 percent for
convenience store owners to cover administrative expenses
for the State.
SEC. 3. STATE APPLICATION.
To receive a grant under this Act, the chief executive
officer of a State shall submit an application, at such time,
in such manner and form as the Attorney General may
prescribe that includes an assurance from the chief execu-
tive officer that the State shall develop a process of certifi-
cation and review to ensure that funds received under this
Act are used only for the purpose of installing safety de-
vices in convenience stores.
SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY FOR LOANS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a loan
from a State, a convenience store owner shall submit an
application to the State which includes—
(1) an assurance that security devices pur-
chased from funds received under this Act shall be
used to install security devices not later than 30
days after receipt of such funds;
(2) if practicable, an assurance that each such
store owner will maintain an unobstructed view of
the cash register from the exterior of the store, re-
moving any material that obstructs such view; and
(3) an assurance from each owner that such
owner will repay a loan from the State in not less
than 5 years.
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a loan
from a State, a convenience store shall meet the following
qualifications:
(1) The owner may not own more than 5 con-
venience stores.
(2) The gross receipts of any store may not ex-
ceed $700,000 for the preceding fiscal year, exclud-
ing proceeds from the sale of gasoline.
(c) STATE MINIMUM.—A State that receives a grant
under this Act shall receive not less than $200,000.
SEC. 5. USES OF FUNDS.
A loan received under this Act shall be used to install
the following:
(1) A video security system capable of 24-hour
surveillance.
(2) A drop safe or cash management device
with restricted access and posters that indicate not
more than $50 is accessible to store personnel.
(3) A silent alarm system to alert local law en-
forcement officers of a problem.
(4) Height markers at store exits.
SEC. 6. DETERMINATION TO TERMINATE PROGRAM.
(a) TERMINATION.—The Attorney General shall, by
notice in the Federal Register, terminate the State loan
program once the Attorney General determines that a suf-
ficient number of eligible convenience stores has had the
opportunity to apply for a loan from a State.
(b) NOTICE.—Not later than 60 days after publica-
tion of such termination is published in the Federal Reg-
ister, the State shall provide notice to convenience store
owners regarding such termination.
(c) REMAINING FUNDS.—Any funds, excluding the
amount of interest collected, that a State receives as re-
payment from a convenience store owner after the date
that the Attorney General terminates the State loan pro-
gram shall be used by such State for law enforcement pur-
poses.
SEC. 7. DEFINITION.
For purposes of this Act the term ‘‘convenience
store’’ includes a retail store that may sell fast foods, bev-
erages, dairy products, publications, grocery items,
snacks, some non food items, and gasoline.
SEC. 8. REPORT.
The chief executive officer of a State that receives
a grant under this Act shall submit an annual report to
the Attorney General regarding the number of loans, loca-
tions, amounts, terms, and repayment record of conven-
ience stores in such State that receive funds under this
Act.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.
There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal
year 1997 $50,000,000 to carry out this Act.
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