II
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2076
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 7, 2012
Mr. Franken (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Cornyn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
March 19, 2012
Committee discharged; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To improve security at State and local courthouses.
Short title
This Act may be cited as
the Local Courthouse Safety Act of
2012
.
Providing local courthouses with security training and assessments
The Attorney General, as part of the Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement and Ensuring Officer Resilience and Survivability Initiative (VALOR) of the Department of Justice, may provide safety training and technical assistance to local law enforcement agencies.
Improving flexibility of States to use grants to protect courthouses
State Homeland Security Grant Program
Section 2008(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609(a)) is amended—
in paragraph
(12), by striking and
at the end;
by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and
by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:
improving security at courthouses of a State or local government; and
.
Byrne Grants
Section 501(a)(1)(B) of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3751(a)(1)(B)) is amended by
inserting , including programs to improve security at
courthouses
before the period.
Improving access of local courthouses to excess Federal security equipment
In general
Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 529 the following:
Excess security equipment
Definitions
In this section—
the term excess security equipment means excess property that is used to detect weapons, including metal detectors, wands, and baggage screening devices; and
the term qualifying State or local courthouse means a courthouse of a State or local government that has less security equipment than the security needs of the courthouse require.
Disposal of excess security equipment
In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the Administrator of General Services shall ensure that a State or local government has an opportunity to request to receive excess security equipment for use at a qualifying State or local courthouse before the excess security equipment is made available to any other individual or entity under this subchapter.
Disposal
In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), upon request by a State or local government for excess security equipment for use at a qualifying State or local courthouse, the excess security equipment shall be made available to the State or local government without cost, except for any costs of care and handling.
Multiple requests
If more than 1 State or local government requests a particular piece of excess security equipment, the excess security equipment shall be distributed based on need, as determined by the Administrator of General Services, with priority given to a qualifying State or local courthouse that has no security equipment.
.
Technical and conforming amendment
The table of sections for chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 529 the following:
.