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1997 Session

Budget Amendments - SB700 (Committee Approved)

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Federal COPS Local Match

Item 438 #8s

Item 438 #8s

First Year - FY1997 Second Year - FY1998
Public Safety
Criminal Justice Services, Department of FY1997 $0 FY1998 $4,100,000 GF

Language
Page 287, line 9, strike "$40,374,458" and insert "$44,474,458".
Page 287, after line 32, insert:
"A.1.  This appropriation includes $4,100,000 the second year from the general fund to provide up to one-half of the local matching share for certain local police officer and deputy sheriff positions funded with federal grants pursuant the federal Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, enacted as part of the federal Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.  The Department of Criminal Justice Services is authorized to make grants out of these funds for this purpose to localities which have been awarded federal funds under this program, subject to the following conditions:
2. For those localities which received grants under this program or under the predecessor program (the Police Hiring Supplement) prior to July 1, 1997, the Department of Criminal Justice Services is authorized to make one-time grants to such localities for up to one-half of the local match requirement for the year in which the federal funds expire.
3. For those localities which receive grants under this program on or after July 1, 1997, the Department of Criminal Justice Services is authorized to make grants to such localities for not more than three years for up to one-half of the local match requirement, to provide transitional assistance for such localities in assuming the cost of the federal grants.  However, no funds pursuant to this appropriation shall be authorized for any locality which receives grants under this program on or after July 1, 1997, unless the locality shall provide a copy of its complete and final grant application to the Department of Criminal Justice Services at such time as the grant application is submitted to the U. S. Department of Justice.
4. No funds pursuant to this appropriation shall be authorized for any locality unless and until the locality shall provide certification that the locality has applied for and has either received or been denied the federal waiver for severe fiscal distress, and no funds shall be expended pursuant to this appropriation for any locality which is granted a waiver from the local matching requirement due to severe fiscal stress.
5. It is the intention of the General Assembly to provide such transitional assistance for the purpose of providing an incentive for localities to employ up to 1,000 additional local police officers, beyond the number of officers which had already been approved for federal and local funding as of December 31, 1996.  The Department shall provide a report on this program to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees prior to the 1998 General Assembly."


Explanation
(This amendment provides $4,100,000 the second year from the general fund to reimburse localities for up to one-half of the 25 percent local match for three years for up to 1,000 new police officers and deputy sheriffs. Federal grants for these officers and deputies are expected to be awarded to localities under the federal COPS program. The 1,000 additional officers and deputies are expected to be in place by the end of the decade.)