COPS Improvements Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1139
Sponsor: Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced: 2009-02-23 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime prevention
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Elementary and secondary education
Government studies and investigations
Homeland security
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Intergovernmental relations
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Military facilities and property
School administration
Terrorism
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: 
COPS Improvements Act of 2009 - 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) establish and implement programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug activities, including the manufacturing, distribution, and use of methamphetamine; (3) establish criminal gang enforcement task forces; and (4) meet emerging law enforcement needs, as warranted. 

Authorizes the use of COPS ON THE BEAT grants to hire honorably discharged 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.

Increases and extends the authorization of appropriations for the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program for FY2009-FY2014.

Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report to Congress on the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program.

action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
COPS Improvements Act of 2009 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the authority of the Attorney General to make competitive grants under the public safety and community policing grant program (COPS grant program) to states, local and Indian tribal governments, other public and private entities, multi-jurisdictional or regional consortia, and individuals to: (1) train officers hired to perform intelligence, anti-terror, or homeland security duties; (2) hire school resource officers and establish local partnerships to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and other problems in elementary and secondary schools; (3) establish and implement innovative programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug activities, including the manufacturing, distribution, and use of methamphetamine; (4) hire and rehire civilian forensic analysts and laboratory personnel; (5) establish criminal gang enforcement task forces; and (6) meet emerging law enforcement needs. 
 
Authorizes the use of COPS grants to hire honorably discharged 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 the COPS 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.
 
Directs the Attorney General to provide for a scientific study of the effectiveness of the programs, projects, and activities under the grant program in reducing crime. 
 
Increases and extends the authorization of appropriations for the COPS grant program for FY2009-FY2014.
 
(Sec. 3) Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report to Congress on the effect of the COPS grant program on the rate of violent crime, drug offenses, and other crimes, the degree to which state and local government grant recipients contribute funds for law enforcement programs and activities, and any waste, fraud, or abuse within the program. Requires the Inspector General, in making such report, to audit and review a random sampling of state and local law enforcement agencies.

action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on April 21, 2009. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
COPS Improvements Act of 2009 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the authority of the Attorney General to make competitive grants under the public safety and community policing grant program (COPS grant program) to states, local and Indian tribal governments, other public and private entities, multi-jurisdictional or regional consortia, and individuals to: (1) train officers hired to perform intelligence, anti-terror, or homeland security duties; (2) hire school resource officers and establish local partnerships to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and other problems in elementary and secondary schools; (3) establish and implement innovative programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug activities, including the manufacturing, distribution, and use of methamphetamine; (4) hire and rehire civilian forensic analysts and laboratory personnel; (5) establish criminal gang enforcement task forces; and (6) meet emerging law enforcement needs. 
 
Authorizes the use of COPS grants to hire honorably discharged 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 the COPS 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.
 
Directs the Attorney General to provide for a scientific study of the effectiveness of the programs, projects, and activities under the grant program in reducing crime. 
 
Increases and extends the authorization of appropriations for the COPS grant program for FY2009-FY2014.
 
(Sec. 3) Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report to Congress on the effect of the COPS grant program on the rate of violent crime, drug offenses, and other crimes, the degree to which state and local government grant recipients contribute funds for law enforcement programs and activities, and any waste, fraud, or abuse within the program. Requires the Inspector General, in making such report, to audit and review a random sampling of state and local law enforcement agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 342 - 78 (Roll no. 206). (text: CR 4/22/2009 H4656-4658)
action_date: 2009-04-23
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): 342 - 78 (Roll no. 206).(text: CR 4/22/2009 H4656-4658)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4718)
action_date: 2009-04-22
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: 2009-04-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1139.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4656-4665)
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Mr. Weiner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 35.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 111-78.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 111-78.
action_date: 2009-03-25
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 7.
action_date: 2009-03-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Introduced in House