Title: INVEST to Prevent Crime Act
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Investing in Neighborhood-focused, Vital, Evidence-based Strategies and Trust to Prevent Crime Act of 2018 or the INVEST to Prevent Crime Act
This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize a grant program to prepare a comprehensive plan and to enhance community capacity to address crime through collaborative cross-sector approaches.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2590 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2590

   To authorize previously appropriated resources for communities to 
  address persistent or historical crime through collaborative cross-
                          sector partnerships.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 22, 2018

  Mr. Donnelly (for himself and Mr. Graham) introduced the following 
    bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To authorize previously appropriated resources for communities to 
  address persistent or historical crime through collaborative cross-
                          sector partnerships.

    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 ``Investing in Neighborhood-focused, 
Vital, Evidence-based Strategies and Trust to Prevent Crime Act of 
2018'' or the ``INVEST to Prevent Crime Act''.

SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--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 NN--DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM

``SEC. 3041. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part--
            ``(1) the term `crime hot spot' means a defined geographic 
        area within a focus neighborhood where, for not less than 1 
        year, the occurrence of crime is so frequent that it is highly 
        predictable;
            ``(2) the term `eligible entity' means a State, unit of 
        local government, Indian tribe, tribal organization, non-profit 
        organization, or institution of higher education that is a 
        member of a community consortium, which includes not less than 
        1 partner law enforcement agency, that is committed to working 
        with law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and research 
        partners to develop an evidence-based or research-based, cross-
        sector strategy to revitalize a focus neighborhood facing 
        significant crime challenges;
            ``(3) the term `evidence-based practice' means a program, 
        strategy, or procedure that has been demonstrated as effective 
        by causal evidence, obtained through one or more outcome 
        evaluations;
            ``(4) the term `focus neighborhood' means a defined 
        geographic area that is the focus of a project funded by a 
        grant awarded under this part;
            ``(5) the terms `Indian tribe' and `tribal organization' 
        have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Indian 
        Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
        5304);
            ``(6) the term `institution of higher education' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002);
            ``(7) the term `research-based practice' means a program, 
        strategy, or procedure that is selected and implemented based 
        on documented effectiveness, with activities adapted based on 
        data about local conditions, as appropriate;
            ``(8) the term `State' means each of the 50 States, the 
        District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
        United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the 
        Northern Mariana Islands; and
            ``(9) the term `unit of local government' means a county, 
        municipality, city, town, township, village, parish, borough, 
        or other unit of general government below the State level.

``SEC. 3042. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--The Attorney General may--
            ``(1) make grants to eligible entities to prepare a 
        comprehensive plan for and implement enhancement of the 
        capacity of local and tribal communities to effectively target 
        and address significant crime issues through collaborative 
        cross-sector approaches; and
            ``(2) provide training and technical assistance to eligible 
        entities that receive grants under this part.
    ``(b) Project Goals.--Projects funded under this section shall--
            ``(1) identify a focus neighborhood facing significant 
        crime challenges;
            ``(2) use evidence-based practices or research-based 
        practices;
            ``(3) encourage active involvement and leadership from 
        neighborhood residents, business owners, organizations, and 
        others who live, work, or conduct business in the focus 
        neighborhood; and
            ``(4) build cross-sector partnerships to address crime 
        problems from multiple perspectives.
    ``(c) Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--To receive a planning grant or an 
        implementation grant under this section, an eligible entity 
        shall submit an application to the Attorney General in such 
        form and containing such information as the Attorney General 
        may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Combined application.--The Attorney General may 
        develop a procedure under which an eligible entity may apply at 
        the same time and in a single application for a planning grant 
        and an implementation grant under this section, with receipt of 
        the implementation grant conditioned on the successful 
        completion of the activities funded by the planning grant.
            ``(3) Research partner.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An applicant for a grant under 
                this section shall identify a research partner, such as 
                an institution of higher education, research center, or 
                State or local agency, to--
                            ``(i) conduct a detailed analysis of crime 
                        drivers during the planning period described in 
                        subsection (d)(1)(A); and
                            ``(ii) assist the grant recipient to select 
                        the most appropriate evidence-based practices 
                        or research-based practices to apply based on 
                        the research findings.
                    ``(B) Continued assistance.--A research partner 
                described in subparagraph (A) shall remain engaged 
                throughout the duration of the grant by continuing to 
                provide and analyze data to help inform project 
                implementation.
    ``(d) Duration of Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2)--
                    ``(A) a planning grant awarded under this section 
                shall be used by the recipient for a period not to 
                exceed 12 months; and
                    ``(B) an implementation grant awarded under this 
                section shall be used by the recipient for a period not 
                to exceed 36 months.
            ``(2) Extension of planning or implementation.--Upon 
        request of a grant recipient, the Attorney General may allow 
        the grant recipient to extend the planning period described in 
        paragraph (1)(A) or the implementation period described in 
        paragraph (1)(B) for a reasonable length of time, as determined 
        by the Attorney General.
            ``(3) Limitation on additional funds.--If the Attorney 
        General allows an extension under paragraph (2), the Attorney 
        General may not award additional grant funds.
    ``(e) Planning Grants.--A grant awarded for the planning phase of a 
project may be used to--
            ``(1) identify, verify, and prioritize crime hot spots 
        within the focus neighborhood;
            ``(2) build community partnerships and facilitate 
        leadership to ensure residents are active participants in the 
        strategy to address crime in the community;
            ``(3) collaborate with local law enforcement agencies, 
        research partners, and the community to analyze the drivers of 
        crime and assess the needs of the community and the available 
        resources to meet those needs; and
            ``(4) work with community consortium partners to develop a 
        comprehensive cross-sector strategic plan to reduce crime in 
        the focus neighborhood that is based on the findings made under 
        paragraph (3).
    ``(f) Implementation Grants.--Funds awarded for the implementation 
phase of a project may be used to--
            ``(1) convene regular meetings of cross-sector partners and 
        the project management team;
            ``(2) continue work with research partners to assess 
        project implementation;
            ``(3) modify strategies developed during project planning 
        as appropriate;
            ``(4) support personnel and program costs to implement 
        strategies developed during project planning;
            ``(5) pursue community engagement and leadership 
        development; and
            ``(6) identify and develop a long-term sustainable strategy 
        to continue to achieve the project's goals after the conclusion 
        of the implementation period.

``SEC. 3043. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    ``At the end of the first grant year, and each year thereafter, the 
Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committee on the 
Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House 
of Representatives that provides an overall assessment of the 
outcomes--
            ``(1) achieved by the demonstration projects funded under 
        this part; and
            ``(2) achieved by any demonstration projects that--
                    ``(A) received funding under the Byrne Criminal 
                Justice Innovation program of the Department of Justice 
                or the Innovations in Community Based Crime Reduction 
                program of the Department of Justice during fiscal 
                years 2013 through 2018; and
                    ``(B) were carried out during the grant year to 
                which the report pertains.

``SEC. 3044. GRANT ACCOUNTABILITY.

    ``(a) Accountability.--All grants awarded by the Attorney General 
under this part shall be subject to the following accountability 
provisions:
            ``(1) Audit requirement.--
                    ``(A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term 
                `unresolved audit finding' means a finding in the final 
                audit report of the Inspector General of the Department 
                of Justice that the audited grantee has utilized grant 
                funds for an unauthorized expenditure or otherwise 
                unallowable cost that is not closed or resolved within 
                12 months from the date when the final audit report is 
                issued.
                    ``(B) Audits.--Beginning in the first fiscal year 
                beginning after the date of enactment of this 
                subsection, and in each fiscal year thereafter, the 
                Inspector General of the Department of Justice shall 
                conduct audits of recipients of grants under this part 
                to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds by 
                grantees. The Inspector General shall determine the 
                appropriate number of grantees to be audited each year.
                    ``(C) Mandatory exclusion.--A recipient of grant 
                funds under this part that is found to have an 
                unresolved audit finding shall not be eligible to 
                receive grant funds under this part during the first 2 
                fiscal years beginning after the end of the 12-month 
                period described in subparagraph (A).
                    ``(D) Priority.--In awarding grants under this 
                part, the Attorney General shall give priority to 
                eligible applicants that did not have an unresolved 
                audit finding during the 3 fiscal years before 
                submitting an application for a grant under this part.
                    ``(E) Reimbursement.--If an entity is awarded grant 
                funds under this part during the 2-fiscal-year period 
                during which the entity is barred from receiving grants 
                under subparagraph (C), the Attorney General shall--
                            ``(i) deposit an amount equal to the amount 
                        of the grant funds that were improperly awarded 
                        to the grantee into the General Fund of the 
                        Treasury; and
                            ``(ii) seek to recoup the costs of the 
                        repayment to the fund from the grant recipient 
                        that was erroneously awarded grant funds.
            ``(2) Nonprofit organization requirements.--
                    ``(A) Definition.--For purposes of this paragraph 
                and the grant programs under this part, the term 
                `nonprofit organization' means an organization that is 
                described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
                Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 
                501(a) of such Code.
                    ``(B) Prohibition.--The Attorney General may not 
                award a grant under this part to a nonprofit 
                organization that holds money in offshore accounts for 
                the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in 
                section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
                    ``(C) Disclosure.--Each nonprofit organization that 
                is awarded a grant under this part and uses the 
                procedures prescribed in regulations to create a 
                rebuttable presumption of reasonableness for the 
                compensation of its officers, directors, trustees, and 
                key employees, shall disclose to the Attorney General, 
                in the application for the grant, the process for 
                determining such compensation, including the 
                independent persons involved in reviewing and approving 
                such compensation, the comparability data used, and 
                contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and 
                decision. Upon request, the Attorney General shall make 
                the information disclosed under this subparagraph 
                available for public inspection.
            ``(3) Conference expenditures.--
                    ``(A) Limitation.--No amounts made available to the 
                Department of Justice under this part may be used by 
                the Attorney General, or by any individual or entity 
                awarded discretionary funds through a cooperative 
                agreement under this part, to host or support any 
                expenditure for conferences that uses more than $20,000 
                in funds made available by the Department of Justice, 
                unless the head of the relevant agency or department, 
                provides prior written authorization that the funds may 
                be expended to host the conference.
                    ``(B) Written approval.--Written approval under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include a written estimate of 
                all costs associated with the conference, including the 
                cost of all food, beverages, audio-visual equipment, 
                honoraria for speakers, and entertainment.
                    ``(C) Report.--The Deputy Attorney General shall 
                submit an annual report to the Committee on the 
                Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the 
                Judiciary of the House of Representatives on all 
                conference expenditures approved under this paragraph.
            ``(4) Annual certification.--Beginning in the first fiscal 
        year beginning after the date of enactment of this subsection, 
        the Attorney General shall submit, to the Committee on the 
        Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and 
        the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives, an annual 
        certification--
                    ``(A) indicating whether--
                            ``(i) all audits issued by the Office of 
                        the Inspector General under paragraph (1) have 
                        been completed and reviewed by the appropriate 
                        Assistant Attorney General or Director;
                            ``(ii) all mandatory exclusions required 
                        under paragraph (1)(C) have been issued; and
                            ``(iii) all reimbursements required under 
                        paragraph (1)(E) have been made; and
                    ``(B) that includes a list of any grant recipients 
                excluded under paragraph (1) from the previous year.
    ``(b) Preventing Duplicative Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Before the Attorney General awards a 
        grant to an applicant under this part, the Attorney General 
        shall compare potential grant awards with other grants awarded 
        under this part to determine if duplicate grant awards are 
        awarded for the same purpose.
            ``(2) Report.--If the Attorney General awards duplicate 
        grants to the same applicant for the same purpose the Attorney 
        General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
        Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
        Representatives a report that includes--
                    ``(A) a list of all duplicate grants awarded, 
                including the total dollar amount of any duplicate 
                grants awarded; and
                    ``(B) the reason the Attorney General awarded the 
                duplicate grants.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1001(a) of title I of 
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 
10261(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(28) For activities under part NN, there are authorized to be 
appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that amounts 
appropriated to carry out part NN of title I of the Omnibus Crime 
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as added by subsection (a), may 
not be offset by a decrease in the amounts appropriated for--
            (1) the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant 
        program under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus 
        Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10151 et 
        seq.); or
            (2) the Cops on the Beat grant program under part Q of 
        title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
        1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381 et seq.).
                                 <all>