Law Enforcement Scholarship Act of 1991 - Directs each State to pay from funds under this Act the Federal share (not more than 60 percent) of the cost of awarding scholarships to in-service law enforcement personnel for further education.
Requires each State receiving such funds to designate a lead agency to conduct such scholarship program. Makes the Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs responsible for administration of such program and for issuing regulations.
Provides that such a scholarship shall be for one academic year and may be used at any accredited institution of higher education. Conditions eligibility on an individual's having been employed in law enforcement for two years immediately preceding the date on which scholarship assistance is sought.
Requires each individual awarded a scholarship to work in a law enforcement position in the State which made the award for a period of one month for each credit hour of financial assistance (with a six-month minimum and two-year maximum).
Requires annual reports to the Attorney General, the President, and the Congress.
Authorizes appropriations.
HR 323 IH 102d CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 323 To authorize the Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs to enhance law enforcement by providing financial assistance to law enforcement personnel who seek to further their professional education. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 1991 Mr. FEIGHAN (for himself, Mr. SANGMEISTER, and Mr. MANTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the Committees on the Judiciary and Education and Labor A BILL To authorize the Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs to enhance law enforcement by providing financial assistance to law enforcement personnel who seek to further their professional education. 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 `Law Enforcement Scholarship Act of 1991'. SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. It is the purpose of this Act to assist States to establish scholarship programs which-- (1) enhance the recruitment of young individuals to careers in law enforcement; (2) assist State and local law enforcement efforts to enhance the educational status of law enforcement personnel; and (3) provide educational assistance to law enforcement personnel seeking further education; SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act-- (1) the term `Assistant Attorney General' means the Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs; (2) the term `educational expenses' means expenses that are directly attributable to-- (A) a course of education leading to the award of an associate degree; (B) a course of education leading to the award of a baccalaureate degree; or (C) a course of graduate study following award of a baccalaureate degree, including the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies and related expenses; (3) the term `institution of higher education' has the same meaning given such term in section 1401(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965; (4) the term `law enforcement position' means employment as an officer in a State or local police force, or correctional institution; and (5) the term `State' means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. SEC. 4. ALLOTMENT. From amounts appropriated under the authority of section 11, the Assistant Attorney General shall allocate-- (1) 80 percent of such funds to States on the basis of the number of law enforcement officers in each State; and (2) 20 percent of such funds to States on the basis of the State's shortage of law enforcement personnel and the need for assistance under this Act. SEC. 5. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. (a) IN GENERAL- From amounts available pursuant to section 5 each State shall pay the Federal share of the cost of awarding scholarships to in-service law enforcement personnel to enable such personnel to seek further education. (b) FEDERAL SHARE- (1) The Federal share of the cost of scholarships under this Act shall not exceed 60 percent. (2) The non-Federal share of the cost of scholarships under this Act shall be supplied from sources other than the Federal Government. (c) LEAD AGENCY- Each State receiving an allotment under section 5 to conduct a scholarship program in the State in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall designate an appropriate State agency to serve as the lead agency in carrying out the provisions of this Act. (d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL- The Assistant Attorney General shall be responsible for the administration of the program conducted pursuant to this Act and shall, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, promulgate regulations to implement this Act. (e) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES- Each State receiving an allotment under section 4 may reserve not more than 8 percent of such allotment for administrative expenses. (f) SPECIAL RULE- Each State receiving an allotment under section 5 shall ensure that each scholarship recipient under this Act be compensated at the same rate of pay and benefits and enjoy the same rights under applicable agreements with labor organizations and under State and local law as other law enforcement personnel of the same rank and tenure in the office of which the scholarship recipient is a member. (g) SUPPLEMENTATION OF FUNDING- Funds received under this Act shall only be used to supplement, and not to supplant, Federal, State, or local efforts for recruitment and education of law enforcement personnel. SEC. 6. SCHOLARSHIPS. (a) PERIOD OF AWARD- Scholarships awarded under this Act shall be for a period of one academic year. (b) USE OF SCHOLARSHIPS- Each individual awarded a scholarship under this Act may use such scholarship for educational expenses at any accredited institution of higher education. SEC. 7. ELIGIBILITY. An individual shall be eligible to receive a scholarship under this Act if such individual has been employed in law enforcement for the 2-year period immediately preceding the date on which assistance is sought. SEC. 8. STATE APPLICATION. (a) IN GENERAL- Each State desiring an allotment under section 5 shall submit an application to the Assistant Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Assistant Attorney General may reasonably require. Each such application shall-- (1) contain assurances that the lead agency shall work in cooperation with the local law enforcement liaisons, representatives of police labor organizations and police management organizations, and other appropriate State and local agencies to develop and implement interagency agreements designed to carry out the provisions of this Act; (2) contain assurances that the State shall advertise the scholarship assistance provided under this Act; (3) contain assurances that the State shall screen and select law enforcement personnel for participation in the scholarship program under this Act; (4) contain assurances that the State shall make scholarship payments to institutions of higher education on behalf of individuals receiving financial assistance under this Act; (5) identify model curriculum and existing programs designed to meet the educational and professional needs of law enforcement personnel; and (6) contain assurances that the State shall promote cooperative agreements with educational and law enforcement agencies to enhance law enforcement personnel recruitment efforts in high schools and community colleges. SEC. 9. LOCAL APPLICATION. (a) IN GENERAL- Each individual desiring a scholarship under this Act shall submit an application to the State at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the State may reasonably require. Each such application shall describe the academic courses for which financial assistance is sought. (b) PRIORITY- In awarding scholarships under this Act, each State shall give priority to applications from individuals who are-- (1) members of racial, ethnic, or gender groups whose representation in the law enforcement agencies within the State is substantially less than in the population eligible for employment in law enforcement in the State; and (2) pursuing an undergraduate degree. SEC. 10. SCHOLARSHIP AGREEMENT. (a) IN GENERAL- Each individual receiving a scholarship under this Act shall enter into an agreement with the Assistant Attorney General. (b) CONTENTS- Each agreement described in subsection (a) shall-- (1) provide assurances that the individual shall work in a law enforcement position in the State which awarded such individual the scholarship in accordance with the service obligation described in subsection (c) after completion of such individual's academic courses leading to an associate, bachelor, or graduate degree; (2) provide assurances that the individual will repay all of the scholarship assistance awarded under this title in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Assistant Attorney General shall prescribe, in the event that the requirements of the agreement under paragraph (1) are not complied with except where the individual-- (A) dies; (B) becomes physically or emotionally disabled, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or (C) has been discharged in bankruptcy; and (3) set forth the terms and conditions under which an individual receiving a scholarship under this Act may seek employment in the field of law enforcement in a State other than the State which awarded such individual the scholarship under this Act. (c) SERVICE OBLIGATION- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), each individual awarded a scholarship under this Act shall work in a law enforcement position in the State which awarded such individual the scholarship for a period of one month for each credit hour for which financial assistance is received under this Act. (2) For purposes of satisfying the requirement specified in paragraph (1), each individual awarded a scholarship under this Act shall work in a law enforcement position in the State which awarded such individual the scholarship for not less than 6 months nor more than 2 years. SEC. 11. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. No later than April 1 of each fiscal year, the Assistant Attorney General shall submit a report to the Attorney General, the President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate. Such report shall-- (1) state the number of present and past scholarship recipients under this Act, categorized according to the levels of educational study in which such recipients are engaged and the years of service such recipients have served in law enforcement; and (2) describe the geographic, racial, and gender dispersion of scholarship recipients; and (3) describe the progress of the program and make recommendations for changes in the program. SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996 to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime and Criminal Justice.
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