I
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3249
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AN ACT
To authorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2017
.
Definitions
For the purposes of this Act—
the term criminal street gangs has the meaning given such term in section 521 of title 18, United States Code;
the term gang crime means a felony or misdemeanor crime, under State or Federal law, committed by one or more persons who are a member of, or directly affiliated with, a criminal street gang;
the term transnational organized crime group has the meaning given such term in section 36(k)(6) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708(k)(6));
the term transnational organized crime has the meaning given such term in section 36(k)(5) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708(k)(5)); and
the term firearms offenses means an offense under section 922 or 924 of title 18, United States Code.
Establishment
The Attorney General of the United States is authorized to establish and carry out a program, to be known as the Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program
or, in this Act, as the Program
, within the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice.
Purpose
The purpose of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program is to foster and improve existing partnerships between Federal, State, and local agencies, including the United States Attorney in each Federal judicial district, to create safer neighborhoods through sustained reductions in violent crimes by—
developing and executing strategic plans to assist law enforcement agencies in combating gang crimes, including the enforcement of gun laws and drug interdiction; and
developing intervention and prevention initiatives, including juvenile justice projects and activities which may include street-level outreach, conflict mediation, and the changing of community norms, in order to reduce violence.
Rules and regulations
In general
The Attorney General shall, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, make rules to create, carry out, and administer the Program in accordance with this section.
Funds To be directed to local control
Amounts made available as grants under the Program shall be, to the greatest extent practicable, locally controlled to address problems that are identified locally.
Regional Gang Task Forces
30 percent of the amounts made available as grants under the Program each fiscal year shall be granted to established Regional Gang Task Forces in regions experiencing a significant or increased presence of, or high levels of activity from, transnational organized crime groups posing threats to community safety in terms of violent crime, firearms offenses, human trafficking, trafficking and distribution of illegal opioids and heroin, and other crimes.
Authorization of appropriations; consolidation of programs
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated for the Program under this Act $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2021.
Consolidation of programs
For each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, no funds are authorized to be separately appropriated to the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs for—
competitive and evidence-based programs to reduce gun crime and gang violence;
an Edward Byrne Memorial criminal justice innovation program;
community-based violence prevention initiatives; or
gang and youth violence education, prevention and intervention, and related activities.
Passed the House of Representatives March 14, 2018.
Karen L. Haas,
Clerk.
