[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19224-19225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9550]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; FY 2003 Community 
Policing Discretionary Grants

AGENCY: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department 
of Justice.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services (COPS) announces the availability of Universal Hiring 
Programs (UHP) grants to pay up to 75 percent of the entry-level salary 
and benefits for newly hired, additional sworn officers over a three 
year grant term for a total of 36 months, up to a maximum of $75,000 
per officer, to initiate or enhance community oriented policing. A 
minimum 25 percent local match, paid with state or local funds, is 
required. To qualify for funding, officers must be hired on or after 
the grant award start date. Funding will begin once the new officers 
have been hired on or after the date of the award, and will be paid 
over the course of the grant. At the time of application, applicants 
must agree to plan for the retention of each COPS-funded UHP position 
awarded with state, local or other non-COPS funds at the conclusion of 
federal funding for each position, for a minimum of one full local 
budget cycle. All policing agencies, as well as jurisdictions seeking 
to establish new policing agencies, are eligible to apply for this 
program. Priority consideration

[[Page 19225]]

will be given to those applications that demonstrate a use of funds 
related to terrorism preparedness or response through community 
policing.

DATES: The application deadline for UHP funding is June 6, 2003. All 
UHP applications must be postmarked by the deadline date. Applications 
postmarked after the deadline date will not be considered. All grant 
awards are subject to the availability of funds. In the event that UHP 
funding requests exceed available grant funds, applications may be 
considered in subsequent fiscal years, subject to the availability of 
funds.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of an application or for additional 
information, call the U.S. Department of Justice Response Center at 1-
800-421-6770. The UHP application kit and information on the COPS 
Office are also available on the Internet via COPS Online at: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 
103-322) authorizes the Department of Justice to make grants to 
increase deployment of law enforcement officers to increase or enhance 
community policing on the streets and rural routes of this nation. The 
Universal Hiring Program (UHP) enables interested agencies to 
supplement their current sworn forces, or interested jurisdictions to 
establish a new agency, through federal grants for up to three years.
    The National Strategy for Homeland Security, the Administration's 
roadmap for securing the homeland, highlights the key role that state 
and local governments play in responding to a terrorist attack. 
Terrorism preparedness and prevention have become key responsibilities 
for state and local units. As such, while all policing agencies, as 
well as jurisdictions seeking to establish new policing agencies, are 
eligible to apply for this program, priority consideration will be 
given to those applications that demonstrate a use of funds related to 
terrorism preparedness or response through community policing.
    Grants will be made for up to 75 percent of the entry level salary 
and benefits for each new officer over a three year grant term for a 
total of 36 months, up to a maximum of $75,000 per officer, with a 
required minimum of 25 percent local match to be paid with state or 
local funds. Funding will begin once the new officers have been hired 
on or after the date of the award, and will be paid over the course of 
the grant. Officers must be hired on or after the grant award start 
date to qualify for grant funding.
    Waivers of the non-federal matching requirement may be requested 
under UHP, but will be granted only upon a demonstration of 
extraordinary fiscal hardship.
    COPS grant funds must not be used to replace funds that agencies 
otherwise would have used to fund an officer in the absence of the 
grant. In other words, any hiring under UHP must in addition to, and 
not in lieu of, officers that otherwise would have been hired with 
state, local or other non-COPS funds. At the time of application, 
applicants must also agree to plan for the retention of each additional 
COPS-funded UHP position with state, local or other non-COPS funds at 
the conclusion of federal funding, for a minimum of one full local 
budget cycle. The retention requirement cannot be satisfied through 
attrition.
    An award under the COPS Universal Hiring Program will not affect 
the consideration of an agency's eligibility for a grant under other 
COPS programs.

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) reference for 
this program is 16.710.
    Dated: April 8, 2003.

Carl R. Peed,
Director, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
[FR Doc. 03-9550 Filed 4-17-03; 8:45 am]
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