text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Neighborhood Security Act of 2003''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) National Neighborhood Watch was created by the National 
          Sheriffs Association in 1972 through funding provided by the 
          Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.
              (2) Neighborhood Watch is a voluntary program that supports 
          local efforts to safeguard communities.
              (3) A national registry of Neighborhood Watch units does 
          not exist.
              (4) On January 30, 2002, President Bush announced the 
          creation of Citizen Corps. Beginning in September 2002, in 
          cooperation of the National Sheriffs Association, Citizen Corps 
          has aimed to encourage citizens to form Neighborhood Watch 
          groups in their local communities to bolster homeland security.
              (5) Citizens in local communities should be encouraged and 
          empowered to engage in homeland security activities to reduce 
          the threat to homeland security from terrorism.
              (6) The Nation's homeland security system should do as much 
          as possible to--
                      (A) encourage the creation of, and participation 
                  in, high-quality Neighborhood Watch programs in local 
                  communities;
                      (B) disseminate information about homeland security 
                  efforts; and
                      (C) educate citizens on how to prevent, and respond 
                  to, possible terrorist attacks.
      (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
              (1) To provide each community in each city, suburb, and 
          small town within the United States with the opportunity to 
          establish an effective Neighborhood Watch in which all 
          community members have the opportunity to participate.
              (2) To create 50,000 new Neighborhood Watches by the end of 
          2007.
              (3) To enhance the quality of existing Neighborhood 
          Watches.
  
  SEC. 3. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GRANTS.
  
      (a) Grants Authorized.--
              (1) In general.--The Attorney General, through the Office 
          of Justice Programs, is authorized to award 1 or more grants to 
          eligible entities to develop and improve Neighborhood Watches 
          throughout the Nation.
              (2) Eligible entities.--Nonprofit organizations and 
          professional associations are eligible to receive grants under 
          this section.
      (b) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded pursuant to subsection (a) shall 
  be used to--
              (1) complete a survey of Neighborhood Watches that 
          identifies such programs by ZIP code;
              (2) establish a national registry of Neighborhood Watch 
          leaders, with appropriate contact information;
              (3) through the survey under paragraph (1), identify best 
          practices and model programs among Neighborhood Watches for--
                      (A) educating community members with respect to the 
                  prevention of terrorism and crime;
                      (B) preventing or assisting with the prevention of 
                  terrorism and crime;
                      (C) appropriately responding to terrorism and 
                  crime; and
                      (D) achieving broad community involvement in 
                  activities under subparagraphs (A) through (C);
              (4) using the best practices identified in paragraph (3), 
          create a manual for communities seeking to--
                      (A) establish a new Neighborhood Watch; or
                      (B) improve an existing Neighborhood Watch; and
              (5) engage in outreach and respond to inquiries in order to 
          disseminate information about--
                      (A) the benefits of effective Neighborhood Watches;
                      (B) the means to establish new Neighborhood 
                  Watches; and
                      (C) the means to improve existing Neighborhood 
                  Watches.
              (6) In response to an appropriate request to create a 
          Neighborhood Watch, the grantee shall provide a Neighborhood 
          Watch start-up kit which includes material useful for a 
          Neighborhood Watch that is identified by the grantee.
      (c) Application.--
              (1) In general.--Each eligible entity desiring a grant 
          under this section shall submit an application to the Attorney 
          General at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
          information as the Attorney General may reasonably require.
              (2) Criteria.--Applicants for grants under this section 
          shall be selected based on--
                      (A) the applicant's ability to carry out the 
                  activities described in subsection (b);
                      (B) the applicant's experience coordinating 
                  Neighborhood Watches;
                      (C) adequate consultation with state and local law 
                  enforcement; and
                      (D) and other criteria, as determined by the 
                  Attorney General.
  
  SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
  2004 and such sums as are necessary for fiscal years 2005 through 2008 
  to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
target: Neighborhood Security Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Attorney General, through the Office of Justice Programs, to award grants to nonprofit organizations and professional associations to develop and improve Neighborhood Watches throughout the Nation.Requires grants to be used to: (1) complete a survey that identifies Neighborhood Watches by ZIP code; (2) establish a national registry of Neighborhood Watch leaders; (3) identify best practices and model programs among Neighborhood Watches for preventing and responding to terrorism and crime; (4) create a manual for communities seeking to establish or improve a Neighborhood Watch; (5) engage in outreach and respond to inquiries to disseminate information about the benefits of effective Neighborhood Watches and the means to establish or improve them; and (6) provide a Neighborhood Watch start-up kit upon request.
feat_title: A bill to assist the Neighborhood Watch program to empower communities and citizens to enhance awareness about threats from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and encourage local communities to better prepare to respond to terrorist attacks.