H.R. 198

119 HR 198 IH: Stop Enabling Repeat Violence and Endangering Our Communities Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-01-03
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 198  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   January 3, 2025   Ms. Tenney  (for herself,  Mr. LaLota ,  Mr. Garbarino ,  Ms. Malliotakis ,  Mr. Lawler , and  Mr. Langworthy ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To authorize grants for States, and units of local government that take efforts to stop enabling repeat violence, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Stop Enabling Repeat Violence and Endangering Our Communities Act   or the   SERVE Our Communities Act  .
2.
SERVE Our Communities grant program
(a)
Authorization
The Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, is authorized to make grants to eligible States and units of local government for the purposes described in subsection (c).
(b)
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for a grant under this section, a State or unit of local government—
(1)
shall allow a State court or magistrate to consider the danger an individual poses to the community when determining bail or pretrial release conditions; and
(2)
shall have taken steps during the previous calendar year to prevent repeat offenses by violent offenders, including—
(A)
enacting a law that allows a State court or magistrate to consider the danger an individual poses to the community when determining bail or pretrial release conditions;
(B)
expanding efforts of that jurisdiction to hire and retain law enforcement officers and prosecutorial staff; or
(C)
administering a public education program to combat anti-police sentiment and improve community-police relations.
(c)
Use of funds
A State or unit of local government that receives a grant under this section may use such funds for the purposes described in section 211(b) of the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( 34 U.S.C. 60531(b) ).
(d)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to carry out this section.
(e)
Definitions
In this section, the terms  State  and  unit of local government  have the meanings given such terms in section 901 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10251 ).