S 2327

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 17, 1998

Mr. Coats (for himself and Mr. Lieberman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To provide grants to grassroots organizations in certain cities to develop youth intervention models.

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 “National Youth Crime Prevention Demonstration Act”.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are as follows:

(1) To establish a demonstration project that establishes violence-free zones that would involve successful youth intervention models in partnership with law enforcement, local housing authorities, private foundations, and other public and private partners.

(2) To document best practices based on successful grassroots interventions in cities, including Washington, District of Columbia; Boston, Massachusetts; Hartford, Connecticut; and other cities to develop methodologies for widespread replication.

(3) To increase the efforts of the Department of Justice, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other agencies in supporting effective neighborhood mediating approaches.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

The Attorney General shall, subject to appropriations, award a grant to the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (referred to in this Act as the “National Center”) to enable the National Center to award grants to grassroots entities in the following 8 cities:

(1) Washington, District of Columbia.

(2) Detroit, Michigan.

(3) Hartford, Connecticut.

(4) Indianapolis, Indiana.

(5) Chicago (and surrounding metropolitan area), Illinois.

(6) San Antonio, Texas.

(7) Dallas, Texas.

(8) Los Angeles, California.

SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY.

(a) In General.—To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, a grassroots entity referred to in section 3 shall submit an application to the National Center to fund intervention models that establish violence-free zones.

(b) Selection Criteria.—In awarding grants under this Act, the National Center shall consider—

(1) the track record of a grassroots entity and key participating individuals in youth group mediation and crime prevention;

(2) the engagement and participation of a grassroots entity with other local organizations; and

(3) the ability of a grassroots entity to enter into partnerships with local housing authorities, law enforcement agencies, and other public entities.

SEC. 5. USES OF FUNDS.

(a) In General.—Funds received under this Act may be used for youth mediation, youth mentoring, life skills training, job creation and entrepreneurship, organizational development and training, development of long-term intervention plans, collaboration with law enforcement, comprehensive support services and local agency partnerships, and activities to further community objectives in reducing youth crime and violence.

(b) Guidelines.—The National Center will identify local lead grassroots entities in each designated city which include the Alliance of Concerned Men of Washington in the District of Columbia; the Hartford Youth Peace Initiative in Hartford, Connecticut; the Family Help-Line in Los Angeles, California; the Victory Fellowship in San Antonio, Texas; and similar grassroots entities in other designated cities.

(c) Technical Assistance.—The National Center, in cooperation with the Attorney General, shall also provide technical assistance for startup projects in other cities.

SEC. 6. REPORTS.

The National Center shall submit a report to the Attorney General evaluating the effectiveness of grassroots agencies and other public entities involved in the demonstration project.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act—

(1) the term “grassroots entity” means a not-for-profit community organization with demonstrated effectiveness in mediating and addressing youth violence by empowering at-risk youth to become agents of peace and community restoration; and

(2) the term “National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise” is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the District of Columbia.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act—

(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;

(2) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;

(3) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;

(4) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2002; and

(5) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.

(b) Reservation.—The National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise may use not more than 20 percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) in any fiscal year for administrative costs, technical assistance and training, comprehensive support services, and evaluation of participating grassroots organizations. <all>