OLR Bill Analysis (Reprint of File 645)
AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN URBAN VIOLENCE REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAM.
This bill establishes an urban violence reduction grant program within available appropriations.
The Office of Policy and Management (OPM) must establish application procedures and administer the grant program, which consists of formula grants for six cities and competitive grants for other urban centers.
The grants are for anti-violence programs and services targeting urban youth between ages 12 and 18. OPM can award them directly to municipalities or to designated nonprofit agencies. An agency's grant applications must include the chief elected municipal official's endorsement.
OPM may adopt implementing regulations.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007
URBAN VIOLENCE REDUCTION GRANTS
The grants may be used for:
1. training on topics designed to reduce youth violence, such as problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, and peer counseling;
2. mentoring;
3. tutoring, enrichment, social, and cultural activities; and
4. athletics and recreation.
The bill requires grant recipients to involve parents and youth in program planning and operations on an ongoing basis.
Formula Grants
Table 1 shows funding levels for the six cities eligible for formula grants.
Table 1: Annual Formula Grant Funding Levels
$ 725,000 |
Bridgeport Hartford New Haven |
$ 475,000 |
New London Waterbury |
$ 200,000 |
Stamford |
The cities must submit annual plans to OPM, in the manner the agency prescribes, describing their intended use of grant funds. OPM cannot award grant funds unless it has approved the city's plan.
The bill directs OPM to proportionally reduce formula grant funding levels in any fiscal year in which the total of all grant awards exceeds appropriations.
Competitive Grants
The bill requires OPM to establish criteria for awarding grants based on competitive proposals. It must include them in the annual notices of grant availability it must publish beginning in FY 08.
OPM decides which grant proposals to fund and at what level.
BACKGROUND
Legislative History
The House referred the bill (File 645) to the Public Safety Committee which voted out a substitute eliminating provisions requiring the Public Safety Department to maintain a lost or stolen weapons database and a $ 1,000,000 appropriation for doing so.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea |
39 |
Nay |
0 |
(04/11/2007) |
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea |
21 |
Nay |
0 |
(05/08/2007) |