[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5599-S5600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. TORRICELLI:
  S. 1082. A bill to amend part Q of title I of the Omnibus Crime 
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide assistance for 
unincorporated neighborhood watch programs; to the Committee on the 
Judiciary.


               neighborhood watch partnership act of 1999

  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, today I rise today to introduce the 
``Neighborhood Watch Partnership Act of 1999.'' This bill will broaden 
the eligibility of groups that may apply for essential funding for 
neighborhood watch activities.
  Communities across the country are finding sensible ways to solve 
local problems. Through partnerships with local police, neighborhood 
watch groups are having a decisive impact on crime. There are almost 
20,000 such groups creating innovative programs that promote community 
involvement in crime prevention techniques. They empower community 
members and organize them against rape, burglary, and all forms of fear 
on the street. They forge bonds between law enforcement and the 
communities they serve.
  Unfortunately, many communities find it difficult to afford the often 
expensive equipment such as cellphones and CBs needed to start a 
neighborhood watch organization. While the COPS program within the 
Department of Justice provides funding for some neighborhood watch 
groups, an organization must incorporate to benefit from the current 
program. A mere 2000 of the nearly 20,000 groups incorporate, however, 
meaning that the vast majority of watch groups cannot apply for funding 
assistance. This makes very little sense.
  The time has come to make a clear commitment to these groups. That is 
why I am introducing a bill to extend COPS funding to unincorporated 
neighborhood watch organizations. The bill would provide grants of up 
to $1,950 to these groups. Under current law, either the local police 
chief or sheriff must

[[Page S5600]]

approve grant requests by unincorporated watch groups. We would impose 
the same requirement on unincorporated groups, thus providing 
accountability for the disbursement of funds.
  Mr. President, neighborhood watch organizations provide an invaluable 
service. By extending the partnership between community policing and 
watch group organizations, we will boldly encourage small and large 
communities to preserve and create crime prevention tools. We should 
act now. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1082

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

     SECTION 1. ASSISTANCE FOR UNINCORPORATED NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH 
                   PROGRAMS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act maybe cited as the 
     ``Neighborhood Watch Partnership Act of 1999''.
       (b) In General.--Section 1701(d) of title I of the Omnibus 
     Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
     3796dd(d)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(12) provide assistance to unincorporated neighborhood 
     watch organizations approved by the appropriate local police 
     or sheriff's department, in an amount equal to not more than 
     $1950 per organization, for the purchase of citizen band 
     radios, street signs, magnetic signs, flashlights, and other 
     equipment relating to neighborhood watch patrols.''.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1001(a)(11) 
     of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 
     of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)(11)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $282,625,000 for fiscal year 2000.''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B) by inserting after ``(B)'' the 
     following: ``Of amounts made available to carry out part Q in 
     each fiscal year $14,625,000 shall be used to carry out 
     section 1701(d)(12).''.
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