SEARCH Mid-Year Meeting Federal Legislative Briefing February 14, 2007 Crystal City, VA FY 07 Criminal Justice Funding On June 22, 2006, the House approved the FY 2007 SSJC Appropriations bill (H.R. 5672). On July 13th, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out their version of the DOJ appropriation A final bill was not enacted Instead, Justice funding will be carried in a Continuing Resolution
(CR), HJ Res. 20 Robert R. Belair FY 07 Criminal Justice Funding For most Justice programs, the funding level will be at FY 06 levels (subject to some small, across-the-board recisions) There are, however, some increases over FY 06 $520 million for Byrne block grants, an increase of more than $100 million over FY 06; [but about $35 million less than 07 House and Senate figures] $542 million for COPS, an increase of over $60 million over FY 06; down almost $30
million from House 07; and up about $5 million from Senate 07 Robert R. Belair FY 07 Criminal Justice Funding For many Justice programs, staying at FY 06 levels is far better than what were likely to be 07 levels NIJ: $55 million, same as House 07; up $12 million over Senate 07 BJS: $35 million, down $1 million from House 07; up $15 million over Senate 07 White Collar: $9 million, up $1 million over House 07; up $9 million over Senate 07 RISS: $40.2 million, about same as House
07; down $5 million from Senate 07 Robert R. Belair FY 07 Criminal Justice Funding Missing Children: $48 million, down $7.5 million from House 07; down about $2.5 from Senate 07 Global Justice Information Sharing Program: $10 million, up $8 million over House 07; up $10 million over Senate 07 Sex Offender Registry: $0.00, down $1.9 million from House and Senate 07 COPS Interoperable Communications:
$139.9 million, up $39.9 million over House 07; $29.9 million over Senate 07 Robert R. Belair FY 07 Criminal Justice Funding NCHIP: $10 million, up about $5.2 million over House; $5 million over Senate DNA: $108.5, down about $42.5 million from 07 House and Senate CITA: $28.7 million, up $28.7 million from both House and Senate Reentry: $5 million, approximately same
as House and Senate Robert R. Belair FY 07 Criminal Justice Funding Weed and Seed: $50 million, about the same as House 07; up $10 million from Senate 07 Anti-gang: $15 million, down about $40 million from House 07; down about $15 million from Senate 07 Robert R. Belair FY 07 Criminal Justice Funding
The House and Senate bills both included a soft earmark for SEARCHs National Technical Assistance and Training Program SEARCH funding for FY 06 was at $2 million Funding request for FY 07 - $4 million Authorization level for SEARCH - $4 million The CR states: Any language specifying an earmarkshall have no legal effect Robert R. Belair Homeland Security Funding One of only two appropriations bills to be enacted, HR 5441 signed into law on October 4, 2006
ODP: $525 million; down $25 million from 06 Terrorism Prevention Grants: $375 million; down $25 million from 06 High-Threat Area Grants: $770 million; up $5 million from 06 Firefighters Grant: $662 million; up $7 million from 06 Robert R. Belair Homeland Security
Funding Information Analysis and Infrastructure: $547.6 million; up about $22.5 million from 06 US Visit: $362.5 million; up $12.5 million from 06 DHS Information Technology Enhancements: $349 million; up about $128 million from 06 TSA Screening: $3.768 billion; up about $160 million from 06 Robert R. Belair JIEM Language in FY 07
Homeland Security Appropriation The DHS Conference Report incorporates, by reference, House Report language which makes specific and positive mention of SEARCHs JIEM software The Committee is aware that Justice Information Exchange Modeling (JIEM) software is being used successfully by criminal justice agencies. The Committee expects that the Department of Homeland Security will investigate this software and, if appropriate, encourage and promote its use by first responders to build integrated information systems to effectuate the sharing of critical information among first responders and criminal justice agencies and between these agencies, the Department of Homeland Security and other
appropriate federal agencies. Robert R. Belair Sex Offender Registry Statute On July 27, 2006, HR 4472 signed into law A tiered system which divides sex offenders into three categories Content requirements for state repositories
Duration requirement for information on the registries Prescribed time periods for re-registration by sex offenders Community notification requirements Robert R. Belair Sex Offender Registry Statute Penalties for jurisdictions which fail to comply
Punishment for sex offenders who fail to register and re-register Establishment of a national sex offender registry Public access 3 year state implementation period State grants for sex offender management Studies Robert R. Belair Chemical Facility AntiTerrorism Act of 2005 Part of DHS appropriation Requires DHS to adopt regulations for chemical plant security DHS has published a Proposed Rule
Requires an identification verification process Includes a criminal history background check requirement No identification of the scope or nature of the background check Robert R. Belair Bills of Interest to SEARCH Expected to Be in Play in 110th Congress NICS improvement legislation
Disposition reporting Mental health reporting Watch lists Anti-gang legislation Reentry legislation Background checks on school officials Immigration reform HAZMAT credentialing enhancement Robert R. Belair Bills of Interest to SEARCH Expected to Be in Play in 110th Congress Interoperable communications Expungement of criminal records
Child abuse registry Biometrics applications Border control Tax breaks for businesses using biometrics NICS Gun show checks Robert R. Belair
Issues of Interest to SEARCH Expected to Be in Play in 110th Congress REAL ID Act compliance TWIC implementation Registered Traveler deployment Data mining Omnibus privacy Robert R. Belair
