H.R. 9701House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Keep Our Streets Safe Act of 2024

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:02 PM UTC

The Keep Our Streets Safe Act of 2024 would change how federal Byrne grant money is distributed to states. It tells the Attorney General to hold back a state’s grant if the state either does not let courts consider how dangerous a person might be when setting bail or pre‑trial release, or if the state has a policy that seals felons’ criminal records. Any money that is withheld must then be given to local governments within that state for other approved uses.

Key Provisions

Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to add a new “dangerousness standard” requirement for states receiving Byrne grant funds.
The Attorney General must withhold a state’s grant portion if the state does not allow courts to consider a defendant’s danger, risk, or threat to the community when setting bail or pre‑trial release, or if the state has a general policy of sealing felons’ records (excluding juveniles).
Funds that are withheld are to be reallocated by the Attorney General to local government units in the same state for use under existing grant guidelines.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

September 19, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 19, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

September 19, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 19, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9701

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 19, 2024

Mr. Molinaro (for himself, Mr. LaLota, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Lawler, Mr. D'Esposito, Mr. Langworthy, Ms. Tenney, and Mr. Williams of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To provide for the reallocation of certain grant funds from jurisdictions that do not allow for consideration the danger, risk, or threat an individual poses to the community when determining bail or pretrial release or that have in effect a policy providing for the sealing of certain criminal records.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Keep Our Streets Safe Act of 2024.

Requirement for States receiving Byrne grant funds

Section 505 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10156) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(j)

Requirement for dangerousness standard for pretrial release

(1)

Requirement on States

The Attorney General shall withhold the amount that would otherwise be made available to a State under subsection (b)(1) if the State—

(A)

does not allow a State court or magistrate to consider the danger, risk, or threat an individual poses to the community when determining bail or pretrial release; or

(B)

has in effect a general policy providing for the sealing of the criminal records of felons (other than juveniles).

(2)

Reallocation

The Attorney General shall reallocate funds that are withheld from a State under this subsection to units of local government within that State, for use in accordance with section 501(a)(1).