text: 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.''.
target: 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.
feat_title: Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1996