[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9390 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9390
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program
with respect to 24/7 sobriety programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 20, 2024
Mr. Johnson of South Dakota (for himself, Mr. Stauber, Ms. Craig, Mr.
Bacon, Mr. Gottheimer, Ms. Titus, and Ms. Brownley) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary,
and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program
with respect to 24/7 sobriety programs, 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 ``Supporting Opportunities to Build
Everyday Responsibility Act of 2024'' or the ``Sober Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Crimes attributed to alcohol abuse have been estimated
to cost the United States $84 billion annually.
(2) One in four Federal prisoners and nearly one in three
State prisoners reported drinking alcohol at the time of the
offense that led to their incarceration.
(3) A 24/7 sobriety program is intended to help people with
substance use disorders to achieve long term sobriety. It
complements ignition interlock devices and should be used in
tandem with ignition interlock devices that protect public
safety.
(4) In South Dakota a $400,000 investment in a statewide
24/7 sobriety program led to at least $28 million in savings--
$70 saved for every dollar spent.
(5) Participants in Montana's 24/7 sobriety program saw an
80 percent reduction in the probability of rearrest for a DUI.
(6) A 24/7 sobriety program should be implemented along
with effective screening and assessment to ensure effective
identification of individuals with substance use disorders.
(7) 24/7 sobriety programs are not a substitute for
criminal investigations or prosecutions.
(8) 24/7 sobriety programs should provide an opportunity
for victim input when determining whether an individual
qualifies for the program.
(9) Input from Federal, State, or local law enforcement and
prosecutors should be considered when potentially admitting an
individual into a 24/7 sobriety program.
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM FOR 24/7 SOBRIETY PROGRAMS.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish
a grant program (in this Act referred to as the ``Program'') to
distribute funding for state, local, and tribal 24/7 sobriety programs.
(b) Grant Authority.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary
may award a grant to an eligible recipient that submits an application
for the Program.
(c) Eligible Recipient.--
(1) In general.--Grants awarded under the Program may be
awarded to a State, Tribal government, or an agency, office, or
a group of such agencies or offices of the State or Tribal
government for the purpose of administering an eligible project
under subsection (e).
(2) Subgrant.--An eligible recipient awarded a grant under
the Program may distribute a subgrant of funds awarded under
the program to any local government office or agency, or group
of offices or agencies, for the purpose of administering an
eligible project under subsection (e).
(d) Plan.--To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an
eligible recipient shall submit to the Secretary a plan for how the
recipient would use the grant to maintain, expand, or implement a 24/7
sobriety program.
(e) Eligible Projects.--Grant funds awarded under the Program shall
be used to defray costs associated with maintaining or expanding an
existing 24/7 sobriety program or implementing a new 24/7 sobriety
program.
(f) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project
assisted with a grant under the Program shall not exceed 80 percent.
(g) Report by Eligible Recipient.--Not later than 1 year after
disbursement of funds to an eligible recipient under the Program, such
recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report including, for each
24/7 sobriety program funded by the recipient--
(1) information on eligibility and participation in the 24/
7 sobriety program;
(2) data with respect to the number of failed tests by
participants in the 24/7 sobriety program;
(3) data reflecting any criminal charges and convictions
among participants in the 24/7 sobriety program during their
participation in the program;
(4) data regarding programmatic outcomes, including
technical violations of the 24/7 sobriety program and
sanctions; and
(5) categorized expenses incurred for a 24/7 sobriety
program, including administrative expenses.
(h) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after receiving the
grant recipient reports required under subsection (g), the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report containing data gathered from such
grant recipient reports.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the Program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029.
(j) 24/7 Sobriety Program Defined.--In this section, the term ``24/
7 sobriety program'' means a law or program that authorizes a court or
an agency with jurisdiction, as a condition of bond, sentence,
probation, parole, or work permit, to--
(1) require an individual to abstain from alcohol or drugs
for a period of time;
(2) require an individual to be subject to testing for
alcohol or drugs--
(A) at least twice per day at a testing location;
or
(B) by continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring
via an electronic monitoring device; or
(3) impose an immediate sanction for a failed a test for
alcohol or drugs, including--
(A) a period of time in jail; or
(B) community service.
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
Section 405(d) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)(B)--
(A) in clause (ix) by inserting ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) by striking clause (x); and
(C) by redesignating clause (xi) as clause (x);
(2) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (B);
(B) by striking ``and subparagraph (B)'' each place
it appears;
(C) in subparagraph (E)--
(i) in the heading by striking ``Funding''
and all that follows through ``Not more than 12
percent'' and inserting ``Funding for grants to
states with alcohol-ignition interlock laws.--
Not more than 15 percent''; and
(ii) by striking clause (ii); and
(D) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (F)
as subparagraphs (B) through (E), respectively; and
(3) in paragraph (7)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (E)
as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively.
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