Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law Enforcement Act
This bill, titled the Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law Enforcement Act, would modify the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow COPS grants to be used for recruitment and retention bonuses for law enforcement officers. Specifically, it authorizes grants to provide signing or retention bonuses to officers in agencies that are facing challenges such as declining recruitment or high retirements or resignations. The bill also updates the definition of “law enforcement officer” to align with a referenced section of federal law. The overall aim is to help local police and other law enforcement agencies attract and keep officers by offering financial incentives, potentially improving staffing levels and community policing capacity.
Key Points
- 1Adds a new permissible use of COPS grants: providing recruitment and retention bonuses for law enforcement officers.
- 2Targeted focus: bonuses are available to agencies experiencing difficulties in recruitment or experiencing high retirement or resignation rates.
- 3Definition update: the bill ties the term “law enforcement officer” to the definition used in a specific section of the underlying statute (section 1204(9)).
- 4Legislative scope: amends Section 1701(b) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to include the bonus authority as a grant-use item.
- 5Title and sponsorship: introduced as the “Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law Enforcement Act” in the 119th Congress; introduced by Rep. Landsman with several co-sponsors and referred to the Judiciary Committee.