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1997 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1600 (Conference Report)

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COPS Local Aid

Item 438 #6c

Item 438 #6c

First Year - FY1997 Second Year - FY1998
Public Safety
Criminal Justice Services, Department of FY1997 $0 FY1998 $4,850,000 GF
FY1997 $0 FY1998 $1,000,000 NGF

Language
Page 287, line 9, strike "$40,374,458" and insert "$46,224,458".
Page 289, after line 49, insert:
"H.  Out of this appropriation, $4,850,000 from the general fund and $1,000,000 from nongeneral funds the second year is authorized to assist localities with the 25 percent matching requirement for federal grant funds awarded by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program and to further assist localities by providing an incentive for the locality to assume the federal share of these costs as such federal funds diminish.  The General Assembly intends to assist localities in adding 1,000 new police officer and sheriff's deputy positions in Virginia over the remaining duration of the federal program, and by providing an incentive for localities to continue funding an additional 850 existing, federally supported police officer and deputy sheriff positions for which federal funds will begin to expire.  Funds provided will (i) assist localities by providing the actual cash match requirement (25%) for such federal grants which may be awarded on or after July 1, 1997, and (ii) assist localities by assuming 25 percent of the costs for continuing this program as federal funds expire subsequent to July 1, 1997.  The Department of Criminal Justice Services shall provide quarterly reports to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on the progress in implementing this program."


Explanation
(This amendment provides financial assistance to localities in order to maximize funds available through the federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. Additional federal funding to hire up to 1,000 new local law enforcement officers will be available to Virginia over the next three years under the federal Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, while federal funds from this program will expire for existing police officer positions in the cities of Virginia Beach, Petersburg, Hampton and Newport News and the Town of Marion. The source of nongeneral funds is the state Intensified Drug Enforcement Act Fund. Companion amendments to Items 433 and 435 provide fiscal and technical staff support for this program.)