David Dorn Back the Blue Act
Bill: H.R.3131 | Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Rodney (R-IL)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
David Dorn Back the Blue Act
This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide programs to support the hiring and retention of law enforcement personnel and to increase their salaries. Further, DOJ may make grants to state and local law enforcement agencies for this purpose.

To subsidize the salaries of State and local law enforcement officers 
   and promote officer hiring and retention, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``David Dorn Back the Blue Act''.

SEC. 2. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FUNDING REFORM.

    (a) Authorization.--Part W of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control 
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10491 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 2301 (34 U.S.C. 10491)--
                    (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) provide programs to support the hiring and retention 
        of law enforcement personnel and augment the salaries of law 
        enforcement personnel employed by cooperating State and local 
        law enforcement agencies or organizations.'';
            (2) in section 2302 (34 U.S.C. 10492), by inserting before 
        the period at the end the following: ``, or in the case of 
        State and local law enforcement agencies, to support the hiring 
        and retention of law enforcement personnel and augment wages 
        paid to law enforcement personnel'';
            (3) in section 2303 (34 U.S.C. 10493)--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by inserting before the 
                period at the end the following: ``, or to support the 
                hiring and retention of law enforcement personnel and 
                to augment wages paid to law enforcement personnel'';
                    (B) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding 
                paragraph (1), by inserting before the colon the 
                following: ``, unless supporting the hiring and 
                retention of law enforcement personnel or augmenting 
                wages in accordance with subsection (d)''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Hiring and Retention of Law Enforcement Personnel.--A law 
enforcement agency or organization that receives funds under this part 
may use the funds for activities and programs to hire and pay 
additional law enforcement personnel or to retain existing personnel.
    ``(e) Augmentation of Wages.--
            ``(1) In general.--A law enforcement agency or organization 
        that receives funds under this part may use the funds to 
        augment the salaries of law enforcement personnel, up to an 
        amount equal to 110 percent of the State real median household 
        income of the preceding year, as estimated by the United States 
        Census Bureau.
            ``(2) Requirement.--A law enforcement agency or 
        organization shall not be eligible to receive funds under this 
        part for the purpose described in paragraph (1) if the agency 
        or organization reduced the salaries of law enforcement 
        personnel during the calendar year immediately preceding the 
        application for funds for the sole purpose of dismantling law 
        enforcement agencies or organizations pursuant to a State or 
        local policy.
            ``(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in paragraph (2) shall 
        be construed to affect the eligibility of any law enforcement 
        agency or organization that reduces the salaries of law 
        enforcement personnel due to budget constraints that are 
        implemented as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.'';
            (4) in section 2304(1) (34 U.S.C. 10494(1)), by inserting 
        ``, unless Federal funds are sought for the purpose of 
        personnel hiring, personnel retention, or wage augmentation,'' 
        after ``certify''; and
            (5) in section 2305 (34 U.S.C. 10495(b))--
                    (A) by striking ``The Attorney General may award'' 
                and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Attorney General may award''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to grants 
        sought for the purpose of personnel hiring, personnel 
        retention, or wage augmentation.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1001(21) of title I 
of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 
10261(21)) is amended by striking ``$7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2020 through 2024.'' and inserting ``$15,000,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026, of which any funds appropriated in excess of 
$7,500,000 shall be used for the hiring and retention of law 
enforcement officers and the augmentation of wages as described in such 
part.''.
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