COPS Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2318
Sponsor: Rep. Reichert, David G. [R-WA-8]
Introduced: 2015-05-14 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Child safety and welfare
Crime prevention
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Justice
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency planning and evacuation
Executive agency funding and structure
Homeland security
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Military facilities and property
Natural disasters
Research administration and funding
Research and development
School administration
Terrorism
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-14
text: 

COPS Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to modify the public safety and community policing grant program (COPS ON THE BEAT grant program) to: (1) establish within the Department of Justice, under the general authority of the Attorney General, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to be headed by a Director; and (2) authorize the Attorney General to carry out more than one such program. 
 
Repeals provisions authorizing: (1) the Attorney General to give preferential consideration to applications for hiring and rehiring additional career law enforcement officers that involve a non-federal contribution exceeding a 25% minimum; and (2) the use of such grants to develop and implement either innovative programs to permit members of the community to assist state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in the prevention of crime in the community or new administrative and managerial systems to facilitate the adoption of community-oriented policing as an organization-wide philosophy.
 
Authorizes the use of such grants to: (1) hire school resource officers and establish local partnerships to enhance school safety and to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and other problems in elementary and secondary schools; (2) establish and implement innovative programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug manufacturing, distribution, and use; (3) meet emerging law enforcement needs; (4) hire former members of the Armed Forces to serve as career law enforcement officers for deployment in community-oriented policing; and (5) develop new technologies to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in crime prevention and training. 
 
Requires an application for a grant for officers performing homeland security duties to explain how the applicant intends to coordinate with federal law enforcement in support of the applicant's homeland security mission.
 
Increases the limit on grant funding provided for hiring or rehiring a career law enforcement officer, unless the Attorney General grants a waiver, from $75,000 to $125,000. 
 
Extends the authorization of appropriations for the program for FY2015-FY2019.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2015-05-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-05-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-14
text: Introduced in House