HR3458-119

What This Bill Does

The Strong Communities Act creates a COPS Strong Communities Program. Beginning in fiscal 2025, the Attorney General may use otherwise appropriated COPS funds for competitive grants to local law enforcement agencies to send officers and recruits to law enforcement training programs at eligible entities. Eligible entities are higher education institutions that coordinate with a local law enforcement agency to offer a training program, or local law enforcement agencies that offer such programs. Participants must agree to serve as full-time law enforcement officers for at least four years during the eight years after completing the training program, and must serve in a local law enforcement agency within seven miles of a residence where they have lived for at least five years, or within 20 miles if the county has fewer than 150,000 residents. They must submit employment certification from the agency's chief administrative officer. If they fail to complete service, they must repay the benefits received unless DOJ regulations excuse repayment for extenuating circumstances. DOJ must report annually to House and Senate Judiciary on grant recipients, locations, planned training participants, trained recruits returning as employees, and retention.

Who Benefits and How

Local law enforcement agencies benefit from grants that pay for officers and recruits to attend training programs. Police recruits benefit from training support if they are willing to serve in their home communities. Rural police departments benefit from the 20-mile service rule for counties with fewer than 150,000 residents. Community residents benefit if locally rooted officers return to serve in nearby agencies.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Officers and recruits who fail the service obligation must repay benefits unless an extenuating-circumstance regulation applies. DOJ COPS grant staff must run the grant competition, issue repayment regulations, and report annually to Congress. Local law enforcement agencies must track service, certify employment, and report training and retention data. Eligible colleges must coordinate training programs with local law enforcement agencies.

Key Provisions

• Creates COPS competitive grants for local law enforcement training at eligible entities.
• Requires four years of full-time local law enforcement service within eight years after training.
• Limits qualifying service to agencies within seven miles of long-term residence or 20 miles in smaller counties.
• Requires repayment of benefits for failure to serve unless DOJ creates an extenuating-circumstance exception.
• Requires annual DOJ transparency reports on recipients, locations, trainees, returning employees, and retention.