[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9576 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9576
To authorize a grant to encourage recruitment of law enforcement
officers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 12, 2024
Mr. Phillips (for himself, Mr. Finstad, Ms. Craig, Mr. Valadao, Mr.
Gottheimer, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Panetta)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize a grant to encourage recruitment of law enforcement
officers, 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 ``Pathways to Policing Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.
Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968
(34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``PART PP--LAW ENFORCEMENT HIRING SUPPORT GRANT
``SEC. 3061. GRANT AUTHORIZATION.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this part, the COPS Director is authorized to make grants,
on a competitive basis, to States, units of local government, and law
enforcement agencies for the purposes described in subsection (c).
``(b) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
part, a State, unit of local government, or law enforcement agency
shall submit an application to the COPS Director at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the COPS Director may
require.
``(c) Use of Funds.--A recipient of a grant under this part may use
the grant funds for the following:
``(1) Marketing and recruitment campaigns.--Not more than
50 percent of the grant funds awarded to a recipient under this
part may be used to develop, implement, or expand marketing and
recruitment campaigns for the purpose of encouraging candidates
to seek careers in law enforcement.
``(2) Pathways to policing.-- Not more than 50 percent of
the grant funds awarded to a recipient under this part may be
used to develop, operate, or expand Pathways to Policing
programs.
``(d) Report.--For each fiscal year in which a grant is awarded
under this part, each recipient of such grant shall submit to the COPS
Director a report containing a summary of each activity carried out
using such grant and such other information as the COPS Director may
require.
``SEC. 3062. PRIORITY.
``(a) Underrepresented and Nontraditional Groups.--In awarding a
grant under this part, priority shall be given to applicants that seek
to recruit candidates who are members of communities traditionally
underrepresented in the field of law enforcement or who have
nontraditional educational or career backgrounds.
``(b) Community Policing.--In awarding a grant under this part,
priority shall be given to applicants that seek to recruit candidates
who reside in or who are willing to relocate to the communities that
the candidates will serve, or that are in close proximity to the
communities that the candidates will serve.
``SEC. 3063. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) COPS director.--The term `COPS Director' means the
Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office of
Community Oriented Policing Services.
``(2) Pathways to policing programs.--The term `Pathways to
Policing programs' refers to any program that--
``(A) facilitates the entry into full-time law
enforcement positions for candidates that--
``(i) face barriers in obtaining the
education and training necessary to pursue a
law enforcement career; and
``(ii) have no prior law enforcement
experience;
``(B) provides candidates with financial support,
including tuition, compensation, or benefits, while
attending a law enforcement officer education and
training program, and
``(C) may include service in part-time, uniformed
positions that further a candidate's training to be a
full-time law enforcement officer.
``SEC. 3064. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 to carry out
sections 3061, 3062, and 3063 for each of fiscal years 2025 to 2029.
``SEC. 3065. NATIONWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT MARKETING AND RECRUITMENT
CAMPAIGN.
``(a) Marketing and Recruitment Campaigns.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General shall
develop and implement nationwide marketing and recruitment campaigns
for the purpose of encouraging candidates, including candidates who are
members of communities traditionally underrepresented in the field of
law enforcement or who have nontraditional educational or career
backgrounds, to seek careers in law enforcement.
``(b) Consultation.--In developing and implementing the marketing
and recruitment campaigns under subsection (a), the Attorney General
shall consult with State attorneys general, State and local law
enforcement entities, professional law enforcement associations,
community-based organizations, and academic researchers.
``(c) States, Units of Local Government, and Law Enforcement
Agencies.--In developing and implementing the marketing and recruitment
campaigns under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall create
educational materials and related resources for States, units of local
government, and law enforcement agencies to operate a marketing and
recruitment campaign under section 3061.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 to 2029.''.
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