Restoring Law and Order Act

Bill: 117-s-4875
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2022-09-15
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime victims

Criminal justice information and records

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Human trafficking
Latest action: action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-09-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Restoring Law and Order Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Justice to award grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to support their workforce and their ability to address specified criminal activities (e.g., child trafficking). The Government Accountability Office must also study law enforcement deficiencies with respect to processing rape kits.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4875 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 15, 2022 Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Hagerty ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a grant program for law enforcement agencies, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Restoring Law and Order Act . 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: PP 3061. Definitions In this part: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means an agency of a State, unit of local government, or Indian Tribe that is authorized by law or by an agency of a State, unit of local government, or Indian Tribe to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of criminal law. (2) Rural county The term rural county means a county that is not a part of a metropolitan statistical area (as defined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget). 3062. Establishment (a) In general The Attorney General shall award grants to eligible entities to— (1) hire and retain law enforcement officers; (2) combat interstate child trafficking; (3) prevent violent crime by prioritizing stringent sentences for repeat offenders; (4) use public safety tools such as bail and pretrial detention to prevent dangerous offenders from returning to communities; (5) acquire resources to better target drug and fentanyl crimes; (6) detain and deport illegal aliens who have committed criminal offenses in the United States; and (7) eliminate investigatory backlogs and more quickly process criminal evidence. (b) Distribution of funds Of the amounts appropriated to carry out this part, the Attorney General shall award not less than 25 percent to eligible entities located in a rural county. 3063. Appropriations (a) IRS funding (1) Rescission Effective on the date of enactment of the Restoring Law and Order Act , any unobligated balances made available under clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 10301(1)(A) of the Act titled An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14 are rescinded. (2) Appropriation Of the unobligated balances rescinded under paragraph (1)— (A) $9,500,000,000 is appropriated to the Attorney General for fiscal year 2023 to carry out this part, to remain available until September 30, 2027; and (B) the remainder shall be deposited in the Treasury. (b) Unemployment Trust Fund (1) Rescission Effective on the date of enactment of the Restoring Law and Order Act , any unobligated balances in the Employment Trust Fund established under section 904(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1104(a) ) are rescinded. (2) Appropriation Of the unobligated balances rescinded under paragraph (1)— (A) $500,000,000 is appropriated to the Attorney General for fiscal year 2023 to carry out this part, to remain available until September 30, 2027; and (B) the remainder shall be deposited in the Treasury. . 3. GAO study Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the deficiencies— (1) of law enforcement agencies in the United States in processing rape kits; and (2) in the availability of rape kits.