1. SEARCH Mid-Year Meeting Federal Legislative Briefing
February 14, 2007
Crystal City, VA

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. FY ’07 Criminal Justice Funding
The House and Senate bills both included a “soft” earmark for SEARCH’s 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 earmark…shall have no legal effect…”
Robert R. Belair

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 SEARCH’s 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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