COPS Improvements Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1700
Sponsor: Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced: 2007-03-26 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Arrest
Authorization
Black colleges
Community policing
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime prevention
Criminal investigation
Criminology
Department of Justice
Drug abuse
Drug law enforcement
Drugs and youth
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fraud
Gangs
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Inspectors general
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Labor and Employment
Methamphetamine
Minorities
Police
Police communication systems
Police training
Prosecution
Recruiting of employees
Retired military personnel
School security
Science, Technology, Communications
Technological innovations
Terrorism
Veterans' employment
Violence
Waste in government spending

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: 
COPS Improvements Act of 2007 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the authority of the Attorney General to make grants for public safety and community policing programs (COPS ON THE BEAT grant program). 

Authorizes grants to: (1) hire school resource officers and establish local partnerships to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and other problems in elementary and secondary schools; (2) pay for officers hired to perform intelligence, anti-terror, or homeland security duties; (3) establish and implement programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug activities, including the manufacturing, distribution, and use of methamphetamine; and (4) meet emerging law enforcement needs, as warranted. 

Authorizes the use of COPS ON THE BEAT grants to hire former members of the Armed Forces to serve as career law enforcement officers.

Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants for: (1) assigning prosecutors to handle cases from specific geographic areas and to address counter-terrorism problems and violent crime in local communities; and (2) developing new technologies to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in crime prevention and training.

Grants the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services exclusive authority to perform functions and activities under COPS ON THE BEAT grant program.

Authorizes the Attorney General to extend grant periods and to renew grants if the grant recipient can demonstrate significant progress in achieving the objectives of the initial grant application.

action_date: 2007-05-14
text: 
COPS Improvements Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the authority of the Attorney General to make grants for public safety and community policing programs (COPS ON THE BEAT or COPS program). Revises grant purposes to provide for: (1) the hiring or training of law enforcement officers for intelligence, anti-terror, and homeland security duties; (2) the hiring of school resource officers; (3) school-based partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and schools to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and other problems facing elementary and secondary schools; (4) innovative programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug (including methamphetamine) manufacturing, distribution, and use; (5) criminal gang enforcement task forces; and (6) enhanced community policing and crime prevention grants that meet emerging law enforcement needs. 

Allows COPS program grants to be used to hire former members of the Armed Forces to serve as career law enforcement officers for community-oriented policing, particularly in communities adversely affected by a recent military base closing. 

Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to: (1) assign community prosecutors to handle cases from specific geographic areas and address counter-terrorism problems, specific violent crime problems, and localized violent and other crime problems; and (2) develop new technologies to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in crime prevention.

Grants the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services exclusive authority to perform functions and activities under the COPS grant program.

Authorizes the Attorney General to renew COP program grants if grant recipients can demonstrate significant progress in achieving the objectives of the initial grant application.

Requires the Attorney General to select one or more institutions of higher education, including historically Black colleges and universities, to conduct a scientific study of the effectiveness of the programs, projects, and activities funded by the COPS program. Requires such institutions to report on on their studies to the Attorney General not later than four years after the enactment of this Act. Requires the Attorney General to report to Congress on such studies.

Increases and extends through FY2013 the authorization of appropriations for the COPS program. Increases from 3 to 5% the amount of funds available for technical assistance. Specifies amounts to be made available for hiring officers and prosecutors, and for technology grants.

(Sec. 3) Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to report to Congress on the COPS program, including information on: (1) the effect of the t program on the rate of violent crime, drug offenses, and other crimes; (2) the degree to which state and local governments awarded a COPS grant contribute funds for law enforcement programs and activities; and (3) any waste, fraud, or abuse in the program. Requires the Inspector General to audit and review a random sampling of state and local law enforcement agencies in preparing such report.

action_date: 2007-05-15
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 14, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

COPS Improvements Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the authority of the Attorney General to make grants for public safety and community policing programs (COPS ON THE BEAT or COPS program). Revises grant purposes to provide for: (1) the hiring or training of law enforcement officers for intelligence, anti-terror, and homeland security duties; (2) the hiring of school resource officers; (3) school-based partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and schools to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and other problems facing elementary and secondary schools; (4) innovative programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug (including methamphetamine) manufacturing, distribution, and use; (5) criminal gang enforcement task forces; and (6) enhanced community policing and crime prevention grants that meet emerging law enforcement needs. 

Allows COPS program grants to be used to hire former members of the Armed Forces to serve as career law enforcement officers for community-oriented policing, particularly in communities adversely affected by a recent military base closing. 

Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to: (1) assign community prosecutors to handle cases from specific geographic areas and address counterterrorism problems, specific violent crime problems, and localized violent and other crime problems; and (2) develop new technologies to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in crime prevention.

Grants the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services exclusive authority to perform functions and activities under the COPS grant program.

Authorizes the Attorney General to renew COP program grants if grant recipients can demonstrate significant progress in achieving the objectives of the initial grant application.

Requires the Attorney General to select one or more institutions of higher education, including historically Black colleges and universities, to conduct a scientific study of the effectiveness of the programs, projects, and activities funded by the COPS program. Requires such institutions to report on on their studies to the Attorney General not later than four years after the enactment of this Act. Requires the Attorney General to report to Congress on such studies.

Increases and extends through FY2013 the authorization of appropriations for the COPS program. Increases from 3 to 5% the amount of funds available for technical assistance. Specifies amounts to be made available for hiring officers and prosecutors, and for technology grants.

(Sec. 3) Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to report to Congress on the COPS program, including information on: (1) the effect of the program on the rate of violent crime, drug offenses, and other crimes; (2) the degree to which state and local governments awarded a COPS grant contribute funds for law enforcement programs and activities; and (3) any waste, fraud, or abuse in the program. Requires the Inspector General to audit and review a random sampling of state and local law enforcement agencies in preparing such report.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-05-16
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 381 - 34 (Roll no. 348). (text: CR H4985-4986)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 381 - 34 (Roll no. 348).(text: CR H4985-4986)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5016)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1700.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4985-4995)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-05-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 90.
action_date: 2007-05-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-150.
action_date: 2007-05-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-150.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-04-26
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2007-04-26
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-04-24
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-04-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: Introduced in House