[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 169 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 169
To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish a grant program for
States that establish specific standards for education and training
programs concerning civilian and law enforcement encounters during
traffic stops and other in-person encounters, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 4, 2021
Mr. Green of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish a grant program for
States that establish specific standards for education and training
programs concerning civilian and law enforcement encounters during
traffic stops and other in-person encounters, 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 ``Driver and Officer Safety Education
Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATES MEETING MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR
EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMS CONCERNING LAW
ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES DURING TRAFFIC STOPS AND OTHER IN-
PERSON ENCOUNTERS.
(a) Increase in Authorization Levels.--Section 4001(a)(3) of the
FAST Act is amended by--
(1) striking paragraphs (D) and (E); and
(2) inserting after paragraph (C) the following:
``(D) $288,660,000 for fiscal year 2019; and
``(E) $291,618,000 for fiscal year 2020.''.
(b) Grant Program.--Section 405 of title 23, United States Code is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``13'' and inserting
``12.74'';
(2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``14.5'' and
inserting ``14.21'';
(3) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``52.5'' and
inserting ``51.45'';
(4) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ``8.5'' and inserting
``8.33'';
(5) in subsection (a)(5), by striking ``1.5'' and inserting
``1.47'';
(6) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ``5'' and inserting
``4.9'';
(7) in subsection (a)(7), by striking ``5'' and inserting
``4.9'';
(8) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (10) of
subsection (a) as paragraphs (9) through (11);
(9) by inserting after subsection (a)(7) the following:
``(8) Commuter safety education.--In each fiscal year, 2
percent of the funds provided under this section shall be
allocated among States that implement commuter safety education
programs (as described in subsection (i)).'';
(10) in subsection (a)(9), as so redesignated, by--
(A) striking ``through (7)'' and inserting
``through (8)''; and
(B) striking ``through (h)'' and inserting
``through (i)''; and
(11) by inserting at the end the following:
``(i) Commuter Safety Education.--
``(1) General authority.--Subject to the requirements under
this subsection, the Secretary of Transportation shall award
grants to States that enact a commuter safety education
program.
``(2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs of
activities funded using amounts from grants awarded under this
subsection may not exceed 80 percent for each fiscal year for
which a State receives a grant.
``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this
subsection, a State shall enact a law or adopt a program that
requires the following:
``(A) Driver education and driving safety
courses.--Inclusion, in driver education and driving
safety courses provided to individuals by educational
and motor vehicle agencies of the State, of instruction
and testing concerning law enforcement practices during
traffic stops and other in-person encounters, including
information on--
``(i) the role of law enforcement and the
duties and responsibilities of peace officers;
``(ii) an individual's legal rights
concerning interactions with peace officers;
``(iii) best practices for civilians and
peace officers during such interactions;
``(iv) laws regarding questioning and
detention by peace officers, including any law
requiring an individual to present proof of
identity to a peace officer;
``(v) the consequences for an individual's
or officer's failure to comply with those laws;
and
``(vi) how and where to file a complaint
against or a compliment on behalf of a peace
officer.
``(B) Peace officer training programs.--Development
and implementation of a training program, including
instruction and testing materials, for peace officers
and reserve law enforcement officers (other than
officers who have received training in a civilian
course described in subparagraph (A)) pertaining to
proper interaction with civilians during traffic stops
and other in-person encounters.
``(4) Allocation of grant funds.--For each fiscal year,
funds made available to carry out this subsection for such
fiscal year shall be apportioned to a covered State in an
amount determined by multiplying--
``(A) the amount made available to carry out this
subsection for the fiscal year; by
``(B) the ratio that the amount of funds
apportioned to each such State under section 402 for
such fiscal year bears to the total amount of funds
apportioned to all such States under section 402 for
such fiscal year.
``(5) Covered state.--In this subsection, a `covered State'
means--
``(A) a State that the Secretary determines is
enforcing and carrying out the law or program described
in paragraph (3); and
``(B) a State that qualifies pursuant to paragraph
(6)(A).
``(6) Special rule for certain states.--
``(A) Qualifying state.--A State qualifies pursuant
to this subparagraph if--
``(i) the Secretary determines such State
has taken meaningful steps toward the full
implementation of a law or program described in
paragraph (3);
``(ii) the Secretary determines such State
has established a timetable for the
implementation of such law or program; and
``(iii) subject to subparagraph (C), such
State has received a grant pursuant to this
subsection for a period of no more than 2
years.
``(B) Withholding.--With respect to a State that
qualifies pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary
shall--
``(i) withhold 50 percent of the amount
that such State would otherwise receive if such
State were a State described in paragraph
(5)(A); and
``(ii) direct any such amounts for
distribution among the States described in
paragraph (5)(A).
``(C) Waiver.--Upon the request of a State, the
Secretary may waive or modify the 2-year period
described in subparagraph (A)(iii) if the Secretary
determines that such a waiver would be equitable due to
exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances.
``(7) Use of grant amounts.--Grant funds received pursuant
to this subsection may be used--
``(A) for the production of educational materials
and training of staff for driver education and driving
safety courses and peace officer training described in
paragraph (3); and
``(B) for the implementation of the law described
in paragraph (3).''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by section 2(b) shall take effect on the first
day of the fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this
Act.
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