[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5345 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5345

              To authorize ``Meth Watch'' program grants.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 8, 2004

 Mr. Souder (for himself, Mr. Wamp, Mr. Ose, and Mr. Case) introduced 
    the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
              To authorize ``Meth Watch'' program grants.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Meth Watch program is a voluntary program started 
        in the State of Kansas as a public-private partnership in 2002.
            (2) Since 2002, the Meth Watch program has worked to engage 
        retailers, law enforcement, State and local agencies, and other 
        key partners to reduce the illegal diversion of methamphetamine 
        precursor chemicals, and to increase community awareness about 
        the methamphetamine problem.
            (3) Since implementing the program, Kansas has succeeded in 
        reducing losses due to theft of precursor chemicals and in 
        improving communication and cooperation between law enforcement 
        and retailers.
            (4) Because of the success of the Meth Watch program, 
        several other States have begun to adopt the Kansas model, and 
        many more have expressed interest but have been deterred by a 
        lack of funds and expertise.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS FOR METH WATCH PROGRAMS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Director of the Office of National Drug 
Control Policy may provide grants to States for the implementation and 
evaluation of Meth Watch programs. Such programs shall have as their 
purpose--
            (1) improving communication and cooperation between law 
        enforcement agencies and manufacturers, distributors, and 
        retailers of products that are frequently used in the 
        production of methamphetamine; and
            (2) increasing public awareness of the ways in which the 
        illegal manufacturers of methamphetamine obtain precursor 
        chemicals and equipment for use in methamphetamine production, 
        and of how the public may assist law enforcement agencies in 
        stopping such activity.
    (b) Use of Grant Funds.--Grant funds awarded pursuant to subsection 
(a) may be used by a State--
            (1) to hire and retain personnel to implement and manage a 
        Meth Watch program;
            (2) to pay for training expenses and technical assistance 
        to law enforcement personnel and employees of manufacturers, 
        distributors, or retailers of products that are frequently used 
        in the production of methamphetamine;
            (3) to obtain informational materials, such as posters, 
        signs, window or counter stickers, or videos, designed to 
        implement the purposes of the program;
            (4) to establish and maintain an informational telephone, 
        Internet, or other ``hotline'' for the reporting by 
        manufacturers, distributors, or retailers to law enforcement 
        agencies of suspicious transactions in methamphetamine 
        precursor chemicals or equipment; or
            (5) to make grants to subdivisions of the State to 
        implement the program.
    (c) Application.--To receive a grant under this section, a State 
shall submit an application to the Director of the Office of National 
Drug Control Policy at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Director may require.
    (d) Duration of Grant.--A grant provided under this section may be 
available for use by a State for a period of no more than two years.
    (e) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of National Drug 
Control Policy shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations and to 
the authorizing committees of jurisdiction of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate a report evaluating the effectiveness of 
each Meth Watch program that has received funds under this section. The 
report shall set forth the specific performance measures of 
effectiveness used in making the evaluation, including measures 
designed to test the effectiveness of each program in reducing the 
amount of methamphetamine produced, and the amount of precursor 
chemicals and equipment diverted to illegal methamphetamine production, 
within the State.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Office of National Drug Control Policy $5,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008 to implement this section.
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