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To authorize a grant to encourage recruitment of law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill authorizes competitive grants to states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies to support law enforcement recruitment efforts. Grantees may use funds for marketing and recruitment campaigns or to develop and operate "Pathways to Policing" programs that provide financial support and training to candidates who face barriers to entering law enforcement or come from nontraditional backgrounds. The bill prioritizes grants to applicants that recruit from communities traditionally underrepresented in law enforcement and from the communities they will serve. The bill also directs the Attorney General to develop a nationwide marketing and recruitment campaign to encourage candidates, particularly from underrepresented and nontraditional backgrounds, to pursue law enforcement careers. The bill authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for both the grant program and the nationwide campaign.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
8 cosponsors
Actions (2)
- May 14, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. · house
- May 14, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 14, 2025
Ms. Morrison (for herself, Mr. Finstad, Ms. Craig, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Valadao, and Mr. Nunn of Iowa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To authorize a grant to encourage recruitment of law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Pathways to Policing Act”.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.
Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“PART PP—LAW ENFORCEMENT HIRING SUPPORT GRANT
“SEC. 3061. GRANT AUTHORIZATION.
“(a) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this part, the COPS Director is authorized to make grants, on a competitive basis, to States, units of local government, and law enforcement agencies for the purposes described in subsection (c).
“(b) Applications.—To be eligible to receive a grant under this part, a State, unit of local government, or law enforcement agency shall submit an application to the COPS Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the COPS Director may require.
“(c) Use of Funds.—A recipient of a grant under this part may use the grant funds for the following:
“(1) Marketing and recruitment campaigns.—Not more than 50 percent of the grant funds awarded to a recipient under this part may be used to develop, implement, or expand marketing and recruitment campaigns for the purpose of encouraging candidates to seek careers in law enforcement.
“(2) Pathways to policing.—Not more than 50 percent of the grant funds awarded to a recipient under this part may be used to develop, operate, or expand Pathways to Policing programs.
“(d) Report.—For each fiscal year in which a grant is awarded under this part, each recipient of such grant shall submit to the COPS Director a report containing a summary of each activity carried out using such grant and such other information as the COPS Director may require.
“SEC. 3062. PRIORITY.
“(a) Underrepresented and Nontraditional Groups.—In awarding a grant under this part, priority shall be given to applicants that seek to recruit candidates who are members of communities traditionally underrepresented in the field of law enforcement or who have nontraditional educational or career backgrounds.
“(b) Community Policing.—In awarding a grant under this part, priority shall be given to applicants that seek to recruit candidates who reside in or who are willing to relocate to the communities that the candidates will serve, or that are in close proximity to the communities that the candidates will serve.
“SEC. 3063. DEFINITIONS.
“In this part:
“(1) COPS director.—The term ‘COPS Director’ means the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
“(2) Pathways to policing programs.—The term ‘Pathways to Policing programs’ refers to any program that—
“(A) facilitates the entry into full-time law enforcement positions for candidates that—
“(i) face barriers in obtaining the education and training necessary to pursue a law enforcement career; and
“(ii) have no prior law enforcement experience;
“(B) provides candidates with financial support, including tuition, compensation, or benefits, while attending a law enforcement officer education and training program, and
“(C) may include service in part-time, uniformed positions that further a candidate’s training to be a full-time law enforcement officer.
“SEC. 3064. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
“There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 to carry out sections 3061, 3062, and 3063 for each of fiscal years 2026 to 2030.
“SEC. 3065. NATIONWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT MARKETING AND RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN.
“(a) Marketing and Recruitment Campaigns.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General shall develop and implement nationwide marketing and recruitment campaigns for the purpose of encouraging candidates, including candidates who are members of communities traditionally underrepresented in the field of law enforcement or who have nontraditional educational or career backgrounds, to seek careers in law enforcement.
“(b) Consultation.—In developing and implementing the marketing and recruitment campaigns under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall consult with State attorneys general, State and local law enforcement entities, professional law enforcement associations, community-based organizations, and academic researchers.
“(c) States, Units of Local Government, and Law Enforcement Agencies.—In developing and implementing the marketing and recruitment campaigns under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall create educational materials and related resources for States, units of local government, and law enforcement agencies to operate a marketing and recruitment campaign under section 3061.
“(d) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 to 2030.”. <all>
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