Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1996

Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1996 - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to establish the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Establishes an advisory board and requires the Attorney General to appoint an Executive Director of the Center to prepare and submit a periodic report to the advisory board and the University. Sets forth the Director's functions, including providing for: (1) the support of rural law enforcement agencies with technical assistance and practical and focused research; (2) education and training for rural law enforcement managers and personnel; (3) grants and contracts to carry out this Act; (4) the establishment and continuation of a clearinghouse and information center on criminal justice and rural law enforcement; (5) consulting assistance and service to Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies with respect to crime in rural areas; and (6) evaluation programs that study the effectiveness of new approaches employed to improve rural law enforcement systems.

Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act as a separate line item in the Department of Justice Appropriations Act.