article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1996''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds that-- (1) effective and impartial enforcement of the law is one of the most important functions of the government; (2) the preservation of our form of Government and the rights of our citizens are dependent upon competent and professional law enforcement agencies; (3) responsibility for law enforcement in the United States resides primarily with State and local governments; (4)(A) one-third of all Americans live in nonurban areas and 90 percent of all law enforcement agencies serve populations of fewer than 25,000 residents; and (B) 75 percent serve a population of fewer than 10,000 residents; (5) rural violent crime has increased over 35 percent from 1985 to 1995, and is taking a toll on rural citizens and rural law enforcement practitioners; (6) approximately 22,400 local government entities exist in the 50 States, and the needs of rural law enforcement in the areas of research, technical assistance, and the delivery of executive education and training programs have been jointly identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; and (7) the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will continue to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice to promote the development and implementation of training and education programs for rural law enforcement agencies. SEC. 3. NATIONAL CENTER FOR RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. (a) In General.--Title XVIII of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 is amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle: ``Subtitle D--National Center for Rural Law Enforcement ``SEC. 180401. ESTABLISHMENT. ``(a) In General.--There is established at the University of Arkansas, at Little Rock, the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement. ``(b) Advisory Board.-- ``(1) In general.--There shall be established within the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement an Advisory Board (referred to in this Act as the `Advisory Board') that shall be comprised of 15 members, of whom-- ``(A) 10 shall be selected by the Attorney General of the United States, in consultation with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from personnel of rural law enforcement agencies serving communities with populations of less than 25,000 people, 2 from each of 5 regions (including the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest); ``(B) 2 shall be selected by the Attorney General from personnel of State law enforcement agencies, 1 from training and 1 from law enforcement; ``(C) 2 shall be selected by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and ``(D) the Executive Director of the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement, who shall serve as a permanent member of the Advisory Board. ``(2) Powers.-- ``(A) Terms of the Advisory Board members will be for 1 year, with 3 members rotating each year. The first Advisory Board members, at their first meeting, will draw lots from 1 to 5 years. ``(B) The Advisory Board members shall formulate, adopt, and publish guidelines governing the operation of the Center, consistent with its mission. ``(3) Travel expenses.--The members of the Advisory Board shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in performance of services for the Advisory Board. ``(c) Executive Director.-- ``(1) Appointment.--The Attorney General shall appoint the Executive Director of the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement in consultation with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Executive Director shall serve a term not longer than 5 years. ``(2) Duties.--The Executive Director shall have the duties and responsibilities fulfilling functions as set forth in this Act, including the preparation and submission of a periodic report to the Advisory Board and the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. ``(d) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The National Center for Rural Law Enforcement, with the advice of the Advisory Board, may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for members of the Senior Executive Service, ES-6, Level V of the Executive Schedule as authorized by section 5352 of such title. ``SEC. 180402. FUNCTIONS. ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement shall provide for-- ``(1) the training of supervisory and executive managers of rural law enforcement in a systematic and effective manner; ``(2) the support of rural law enforcement agencies with technical assistance and practical and focused research; ``(3) equitable education and training opportunities for rural law enforcement personnel; ``(4) the delivery of training programs by Federal agencies and the Center; ``(5) the promotion, development, and adoption of a voluntary national system of education and training standards and certification; ``(6) the development and dissemination of information designed to assist States and units of local government in rural areas throughout the country; ``(7) grants to, and contracts with, Federal, State, and general units of local government, public and private agencies, educational institutions, organizations, and individuals to carry out this subtitle; ``(8) the establishment and continuation of a clearinghouse and information center for the collection, preparation, and dissemination of information on criminal justice and rural law enforcement, including programs for prevention of crime and recidivism, and management training of law enforcement personnel; ``(9) assistance and service in a consulting capacity to Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies in the development, maintenance, and coordination of programs, facilities and services, training, research, and prevention with respect to crime in rural areas; ``(10) the encouragement and assistance to Federal, State, and local government programs and services, and programs for law enforcement officers, judges and judicial personnel, probation and parole personnel, correctional personnel, welfare workers, and other persons; ``(11) the development of technical training teams to aid in the development of seminars, workshops, and training programs within the States and with the State and local agencies that work with rural law enforcement managers; ``(12) the conduct, encouragement, and coordination of research relating to law enforcement and criminal justice issues, including the causes, diagnosis, and prevention of criminal activity; ``(13) the formulation and dissemination of rural law enforcement policy, goals, standards, and recommendations for Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies, organizations, institutions, and personnel; and ``(14) evaluation programs that study the effectiveness of new approaches, techniques, systems, programs, and devices employed to improve rural law enforcement systems. ``(b) Authority.--The National Center for Rural Law Enforcement may-- ``(1) enter into contracts with public or private agencies, organizations, or individuals for the performance of any of the functions of the Center; ``(2) enter into cooperative agreements with Federal, State, and local agencies and nonprofit entities to carry out the functions of the Center; ``(3) arrange with and reimburse the heads of Federal departments and agencies for the use of personnel, facilities, or equipment of such departments and agencies; ``(4) confer with and avail itself of the assistance, services, records, and facilities of State and local governments or other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals; and ``(5) procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at rates of compensation not to exceed the daily equivalent of the rate authorized for members of the Senior Executive Service, ES-6, Level 5, as authorized by section 5352 of title 5, United States Code. ``(c) Methods.--In carrying out its functions under this section, the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement shall-- ``(1) utilize consensus building; ``(2) work in cooperation with-- ``(A) rural, nonurban law enforcement agencies; ``(B) agencies of Federal, State, and local governments; and ``(C) institutions of higher learning, law enforcement associations, and other not-for-profit organizations; ``(3) request and receive from other Federal departments and agencies such statistics, data, program reports, and other materials necessary for the Center to carry out its functions; ``(4) arrange with and reimburse the heads of other Federal departments and agencies for the use of personnel, facilities, or equipment of such departments and agencies; and ``(5) use the assistance, services, records, and facilities of State and local governments or other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals. ``SEC. 180403. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle, as a separate line item in the Department of Justice Appropriations Act-- ``(1) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1997; and ``(2) such sums as are necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2001.''. (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 is amended by adding at the end of the matter relating to title XVIII, the following: ``Subtitle D--National Center for Rural Law Enforcement ``Sec. 180401. Establishment. ``Sec. 180402. Functions. ``Sec. 180403. Authorization of appropriations.''.
summary: Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1996 - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to establish the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Establishes an advisory board and requires the Attorney General to appoint an Executive Director of the Center to prepare and submit a periodic report to the advisory board and the University. Sets forth the Director's functions, including providing for: (1) the support of rural law enforcement agencies with technical assistance and practical and focused research; (2) education and training for rural law enforcement managers and personnel; (3) grants and contracts to carry out this Act; (4) the establishment and continuation of a clearinghouse and information center on criminal justice and rural law enforcement; (5) consulting assistance and service to Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies with respect to crime in rural areas; and (6) evaluation programs that study the effectiveness of new approaches employed to improve rural law enforcement systems. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act as a separate line item in the Department of Justice Appropriations Act.