[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 128 (Monday, August 1, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AMENDING THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT OF 1968

  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2151) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and 
     Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide that COPS grant funds may 
     be used for local law enforcement recruits to attend schools 
     or academies if the recruits agree to serve in precincts of 
     law enforcement agencies in their communities.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an 
amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. STRONG COMMUNITIES PROGRAM.

       Section 1701 of Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 
     of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (m) as subsection (n); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (l) the following:
       ``(m) COPS Strong Communities Program.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
       ``(i) an institution of higher education, as defined in 
     section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1001), that, in coordination or through an agreement with a 
     local law enforcement agency, offers a law enforcement 
     training program; or
       ``(ii) a local law enforcement agency that offers a law 
     enforcement training program.
       ``(B) Local law enforcement agency.--The term `local law 
     enforcement agency' means an agency of a State, unit of local 
     government, or Indian Tribe that is authorized by law or by a 
     government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, 
     detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of 
     criminal law.
       ``(2) Grants.--The Attorney General may use amounts 
     otherwise appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal 
     year (beginning with fiscal year 2020) to make competitive 
     grants to local law enforcement agencies to be used for 
     officers and recruits to attend law enforcement training 
     programs at eligible entities if the officers and recruits 
     agree to serve in law enforcement agencies in their 
     communities.
       ``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this 
     subsection, each officer or recruit described in paragraph 
     (2) shall--
       ``(A) serve as a full-time law enforcement officer for a 
     total of not fewer than 4 years during the 8-year period 
     beginning on the date on which the officer or recruit 
     completes a law enforcement training program for which the 
     officer or recruit received benefits;
       ``(B) complete the service described in subparagraph (A) in 
     a local law enforcement agency located within--
       ``(i) 7 miles of the residence of the officer or recruit 
     where the officer or recruit has resided for not fewer than 5 
     years; or
       ``(ii) if the officer or recruit resides in a county with 
     fewer than 150,000 residents, within 20 miles of the 
     residence of the officer or recruit where the officer or 
     recruit has resided for not fewer than 5 years; and
       ``(C) submit to the eligible entity evidence of employment 
     of the officer or recruit in the form of a certification by 
     the chief administrative officer of the local law enforcement 
     agency where the officer or recruit is employed.
       ``(4) Repayment.--
       ``(A) In general.--If an officer or recruit does not 
     complete the service described in paragraph (3), the officer 
     or recruit shall submit to the local law enforcement agency 
     an amount equal to any benefits the officer or recruit 
     received under this subsection.
       ``(B) Regulations.--The Attorney General shall promulgate 
     regulations that establish categories of extenuating 
     circumstances under which an officer or recruit may be 
     excused from repayment under subparagraph (A).''.

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