PRINTER'S NO. 170
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
176
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY GROVE, PASHINSKI, COHEN, SAYLOR, HAHN, JAMES,
SCHLOSSBERG, MURT, BARRAR, A. HARRIS, MAHER, MENTZER, O'NEILL
AND D. COSTA, JANUARY 23, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, JANUARY 23, 2015
AN ACT
Providing for grants to regional police departments; imposing
powers and duties on the Center for Local Government Services
and the Department of Community and Economic Development;
providing for transfers from the State Gaming Fund; and
repealing provisions in Title 4 relating to transfers from
State Gaming Fund.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Law
Enforcement Grant Program Act.
Section 2. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Regional police are the future of local law
enforcement.
(2) Regional police provide professional, efficient and
local police service to multiple municipalities across this
Commonwealth.
(3) An increased number of regional police departments
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would ease the strain on the Pennsylvania State Police, which
is overtaxed by the growing number of municipalities it
serves.
(4) The Commonwealth has chosen to support regional
police departments by investing in start-up grants for
regional police departments.
(5) The Commonwealth has a vested interest in providing
grants to existing regional police departments to increase
their financial strength and sustain them after their initial
start-up period.
(6) By strengthening regional police departments, the
Commonwealth improves the safety and security of our
communities.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Center." The Center for Local Government Services within
the Department of Community and Economic Development of the
Commonwealth.
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Grant." A grant awarded to a law enforcement agency in
accordance with this act.
"Law enforcement agency." A regional police department.
"Law enforcement officer." A police officer employed on a
full-time or part-time basis by a law enforcement agency.
"Program." The Law Enforcement Grant Program established
under section 4.
"Regional police department." A regional police force
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created by two or more municipal corporations under 53 Pa.C.S.
Ch. 23 Subch. A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation).
Section 4. Law Enforcement Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Law Enforcement Grant Program is
established and shall be administered by the center.
(b) Purpose of grants.--The center shall award grants to
eligible law enforcement agencies. Grant funds may be used for
the following:
(1) Vehicle acquisition.
(2) Cameras, including cameras to be placed in vehicles.
(3) Speed timing devices.
(4) Uniforms.
(5) Police and emergency equipment.
(6) Training.
(7) Personnel costs.
(8) Community law enforcement efforts.
Section 5. Application and review.
(a) Notice.--The center shall notify law enforcement
agencies of the availability of the program by July 1 for fiscal
years beginning after June 30, 2015.
(b) Application form.--The center shall develop and
distribute a uniform application for applicants to submit for
grants under the program. The center shall provide the
application form and accompanying instructions to law
enforcement agencies annually by September 1.
(c) Submission of application.--To be considered, an
application must be submitted to the center no later than
November 30 of each fiscal year. The center shall approve or
disapprove an application within 60 days of the application
being filed.
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(d) Review.--The center shall review applications submitted
for grants under the program and shall approve them if they meet
the requirements of subsection (e) and the applicant agrees to
the terms and conditions for the grant as determined by the
center. A law enforcement agency must submit a signed agreement
to the center prior to the release of grant funds to the law
enforcement agency.
(e) Basis of award.--
(1) Grants shall be awarded based upon the demonstrated
need of the law enforcement agency requesting the grant.
(2) Need shall be calculated based on the total number
of law enforcement officers employed by the law enforcement
agency as of July 1 of each fiscal year.
Section 6. Conditions.
(a) Claim.--An applicant for a grant that fails to return a
signed agreement for the preceding fiscal year is ineligible for
grant funding in the current fiscal year unless the applicant
provides to the center a reasonable written explanation as to
why the applicant failed to claim its grant.
(b) Compliance.--An applicant for a grant that fails to
demonstrate that it complied with all the terms of its agreement
for the preceding fiscal year is ineligible for grant funding in
the current fiscal year.
Section 7. Funding.
(a) Funding.--Annually, the sum of $2,000,000 shall be
transferred from the State Gaming Fund to the department for the
purpose of issuing grants.
(b) Administration.--No money from the transfer under
subsection (a) may be used for expenses or costs incurred by the
department for the administration of the program.
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Section 8. Report.
Within six months of receiving a grant, a law enforcement
agency shall submit a report to the center. The report shall
document the use of the grant funds by the law enforcement
agency.
Section 9. Guidelines.
The department shall adopt guidelines necessary to implement
and administer the provisions of this act.
Section 10. Repeal.
(a) Intent.--The General Assembly declares that the repeal
under subsection (b) is necessary to effectuate this act.
(b) Repeal.--The provisions of 4 Pa.C.S. ยง 1408(c) are
repealed.
Section 11. Applicability.
This act shall apply to fiscal years beginning on or after
July 1, 2015.
Section 12. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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