[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2217 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2217

   To offset the economic burden on border sheriffs from the lack of 
           southern border security, and for other purposes.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 16, 2011

Mr. Carter (for himself and Mr. Gohmert) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 
to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To offset the economic burden on border sheriffs from the lack of 
           southern border security, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Southern Border Sheriffs Community 
Impact Aid Act of 2011''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The international border of the United States 
        constitutes Federal infrastructure that has a substantial 
        economic impact on adjacent counties.
            (2) The high level of documented illegal activity on the 
        United States southern border has placed a unique economic 
        burden on border sheriffs' departments.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Federal Government should offset the additional law enforcement costs 
on these counties in a similar manner to the Community Impact Aid 
program for local schools that incur additional costs from Federal 
infrastructure.

SEC. 3. COMMUNITY IMPACT AID GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make 
grants to sheriffs' departments along the southern border of the United 
States for the purpose of hiring additional deputies, including for 
salaries, benefits, training, uniforms, patrol vehicles, and arms.
    (b) Grant Calculation Formula.--Except as provided in subsection 
(c), a grant made pursuant to subsection (a) shall be in an amount 
equal to 30 percent of an eligible sheriff's department's fiscal year 
2010 budget for patrol deputies.
    (c) Minimum Benefit.--Notwithstanding the calculation provided for 
in subsection (b), a grant made pursuant to subsection (a) to an 
eligible sheriff's department shall be in an amount that allows for the 
hiring of at least one additional deputy.
    (d) Availability.--Grants made pursuant to subsection (a) are 
authorized to remain available until expended.
    (e) Eligibility and Funding.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, a sheriff's department shall submit to the 
Secretary of Homeland Security an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    (f) Eligible Sheriffs' Departments.--Sheriffs' departments in the 
following counties are eligible to receive grants under this section:
            (1) In Texas, the following counties: El Paso, Hudspeth, 
        Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brewster, Terrell, Val Verde, 
        Kinney, Maverick, Dimmit, Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, 
        Cameron, Willacy, Jim Hogg, Zavala, and Pecos Counties.
            (2) In Arizona, the following counties: Yuma, Pima, Santa 
        Cruz, and Cochise Counties.
            (3) In New Mexico, the following counties: Dona Ana, Luna, 
        Grant, Otero, and Hidalgo Counties.
            (4) In California, the following counties: San Diego and 
        Imperial Counties.
    (g) Cut as You Go.--To carry out this section, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall reprogram funds that would otherwise be 
obligated and expended under the account heading ``Departmental 
Management and Operations''.
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