Pathways to Policing Act
Bill: H.R.7826 | Sponsor: Rep. Phillips, Dean (D-MN)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Pathways to Policing Act
This bill authorizes the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to award grants to states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies to support recruitment of law enforcement officers. In particular, these grants may be used for (1) marketing and recruitment campaigns to encourage candidates to seek careers in law enforcement; and (2) developing, operating, or expanding Pathways to Policing programs (e.g., programs that facilitate entry into full-time law enforcement positions for certain candidates).

To authorize a grant to encourage recruitment of law enforcement 
                   officers, 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 ``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:

            ``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 containing such information as the COPS Director may 
require.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--A recipient of a grant under this part may use 
the grant funds for the following:
            ``(1) Marketing and recruitment campaigns.--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 encouraging candidates 
        to seek careers in law enforcement.
            ``(2) Pathways to policing.-- Not more than 50 percent of 
        the grant funds awarded to a recipient 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 
underrepresented in the field of law enforcement or who have 
nontraditional 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 Director' means the 
        Attorney General, acting through 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 
                        education 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 officer education and 
                training program, and
                    ``(C) may include service in part-time, uniformed 
                positions that further a candidate's training to be a 
                full-time law enforcement officer.

``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 2023 to 2027.

``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 underrepresented in the field of 
law enforcement or who have nontraditional educational or career 
backgrounds, to seek careers in law enforcement.
    ``(b) Consultation.--In developing and implementing 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, 
community-based organizations, and academic researchers.
    ``(c) States, Units of Local Government, and Law Enforcement 
Agencies.--In developing and implementing 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.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2023 to 2027.''.
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