SPONSOR: Rep. Michael Smith & Sen. Pettyjohn Reps. Bush, Gray, Ramone, Shupe; Sens. Mantzavinos, Wilson HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE BILL NO. 39 AN ACT TO CREATE THE EXPANDED PROTECTION FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND HOMES GRANT PROGRAM.
SPONSOR: Rep. Michael Smith & Sen. Pettyjohn Reps. Bush, Gray, Ramone, Shupe; Sens. Mantzavinos, Wilson
SPONSOR: Rep. Michael Smith & Sen. Pettyjohn
Reps. Bush, Gray, Ramone, Shupe; Sens. Mantzavinos, Wilson
SPONSOR:
Rep. Michael Smith & Sen. Pettyjohn
Reps. Bush, Gray, Ramone, Shupe; Sens. Mantzavinos, Wilson
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 39
AN ACT TO CREATE THE EXPANDED PROTECTION FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND HOMES GRANT PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies have been finding it difficult to attract enough qualified candidates to fill current vacancies; and WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies are being increasingly challenged to retain qualified officers; and WHEREAS, law enforcement officials are finding it more difficult for their short-staffed agencies to fully meet their public safety obligations; and WHEREAS, jurisdictions throughout Delaware have experienced a rising number of citizens expressing concern about aggressive driving, speeding, and other traffic law violations; and WHEREAS, traffic fatalities have increased significantly during 2022 when compared to the same period last year. NOW, THEREFORE: BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE: Section 1. There is hereby created the Expanded Protection for Our Communities and Homes (EPOCH) Grant Program with a one-time $20 million appropriation to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (the Department). Section 2. The Department shall establish the EPOCH Grant Program Account from which all distributions specified in this legislation shall be made. Section 3. Unless a law enforcement agency listed in this section opts out of the program by communicating its intentions to the Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Department shall distribute $50,000 from the EPOCH Grant Program Account established by Section 2 of this act, to each of the following agencies: 1. Bethany Beach Police Department 2. Blades Police Department 3.Bridgeville Police Department 4. Camden Police Department 5. Cheswold Police Department 6. Clayton Police Department 7. Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement (DNREC) 8. Division of Parks and Recreation (DNREC) 9. Environmental Crimes Unit (DNREC) 10. Dagsboro Police Department 11. Delaware Capitol Police 12. Delaware State Police 13. Delaware State University 14. Delmar Police Department 15. Dewey Beach Police Department 16. Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement 17. Dover Police Department 18. Ellendale Police Department 19. Elsmere Police Department 20. Felton Police Department 21. Fenwick Island Police Department 22. Frankford Police Department 23. Greenwood Police Department 24. Harrington Police Department 25. Kenton Police Department 26. Laurel Police Department 27. Lewes Police Department 28. Middletown Police Department 29. Milford Police Department 30. Millsboro Police Department 31. Milton Police Department 32. New Castle City Police Department 33. New Castle County Police Department 34. Newark Police Department 35. Newport Police Department 36. Ocean View Police Department 37. Rehoboth Beach Police Department 38. Seaford Police Department 39. Selbyville Police Department 40. Smyrna Police Department 41. South Bethany Police Department 42. Townsend Police Department 43. University of Delaware Police Department 44. Viola Police Department 45. Wilmington Police Department 46. Wyoming Police Department 47. Georgetown Police Department Section 4. Subsequent to the distribution of funds established in Section 3 of this act, the Department shall distribute the funds remaining in the EPOCH Grant Program Account to the agencies listed in Section 3 on a per capita basis in consideration of the number of authorized uniformed law enforcement officers as of July 1, 2023, for each participating agency. Section 5. EPOCH grants could be used by the recipient agencies to: (a) recruit new officers; (b) promote or encourage careers in law enforcement; (c) initially pay the salaries of newly hired officers; (d) pay for overtime to facilitate additional work to address issues of concern, including traffic enforcement; (e) implement programs designed to improve public safety within a recipient agencys jurisdiction. Section 6. Agencies could choose to cooperate in joint efforts, combining portions of EPOCH grant allocations to address initiatives of shared interest within the parameters of those conditions established in Section 5. Section 7. Any uncertainty as to the appropriate use of an EPOCH Grant as described in this act shall be resolved by the Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security within 10 business days of the submission of a request for resolution. Section 8. Funds appropriated to the police agencies through the EPOCH Grant Program shall not be subject to reversion in Fiscal Years 2024, 2025, and 2026. Any EPOCH grants unexpended or unencumbered by the recipient agencies as of the beginning of Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026) shall be returned to the Department and reverted to the General Fund. Section 9. Each agency receiving EPOCH Grant allocations shall, within 15 business days of the end of Fiscal Years 2024, 2025, and 2026, report to the Department detailing how much of its total grant allocation was spent during that fiscal year; what portion of the allocation has been encumbered; and what portion of the grant remains available for allocation. The Department would, no later than 60 days following this reporting deadline, compile the information and distribute it to every member of the General Assembly and the governor, as well as posting it on the Departments website for public inspection. Section 10. Implementation of this legislation shall be subject to a $20 million appropriation from the Delaware General Assembly. Section 11. EPOCH grant recipients would be solely responsible for any continuing financial obligations created by their use of the EPOCH grant allocations.
WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies have been finding it difficult to attract enough qualified candidates to fill current vacancies; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies are being increasingly challenged to retain qualified officers; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement officials are finding it more difficult for their short-staffed agencies to fully meet their public safety obligations; and
WHEREAS, jurisdictions throughout Delaware have experienced a rising number of citizens expressing concern about aggressive driving, speeding, and other traffic law violations; and
WHEREAS, traffic fatalities have increased significantly during 2022 when compared to the same period last year.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. There is hereby created the Expanded Protection for Our Communities and Homes (EPOCH) Grant Program with a one-time $20 million appropriation to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (the Department).
Section 2. The Department shall establish the EPOCH Grant Program Account from which all distributions specified in this legislation shall be made.
Section 3. Unless a law enforcement agency listed in this section opts out of the program by communicating its intentions to the Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Department shall distribute $50,000 from the EPOCH Grant Program Account established by Section 2 of this act, to each of the following agencies:
1. Bethany Beach Police Department
2. Blades Police Department
3.Bridgeville Police Department
4. Camden Police Department
5. Cheswold Police Department
6. Clayton Police Department
7. Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement (DNREC)
8. Division of Parks and Recreation (DNREC)
9. Environmental Crimes Unit (DNREC)
10. Dagsboro Police Department
11. Delaware Capitol Police
12. Delaware State Police
13. Delaware State University
14. Delmar Police Department
15. Dewey Beach Police Department
16. Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement
17. Dover Police Department
18. Ellendale Police Department
19. Elsmere Police Department
20. Felton Police Department
21. Fenwick Island Police Department
22. Frankford Police Department
23. Greenwood Police Department
24. Harrington Police Department
25. Kenton Police Department
26. Laurel Police Department
27. Lewes Police Department
28. Middletown Police Department
29. Milford Police Department
30. Millsboro Police Department
31. Milton Police Department
32. New Castle City Police Department
33. New Castle County Police Department
34. Newark Police Department
35. Newport Police Department
36. Ocean View Police Department
37. Rehoboth Beach Police Department
38. Seaford Police Department
39. Selbyville Police Department
40. Smyrna Police Department
41. South Bethany Police Department
42. Townsend Police Department
43. University of Delaware Police Department
44. Viola Police Department
45. Wilmington Police Department
46. Wyoming Police Department
47. Georgetown Police Department
Section 4. Subsequent to the distribution of funds established in Section 3 of this act, the Department shall distribute the funds remaining in the EPOCH Grant Program Account to the agencies listed in Section 3 on a per capita basis in consideration of the number of authorized uniformed law enforcement officers as of July 1, 2023, for each participating agency.
Section 5. EPOCH grants could be used by the recipient agencies to:
(a) recruit new officers;
(b) promote or encourage careers in law enforcement;
(c) initially pay the salaries of newly hired officers;
(d) pay for overtime to facilitate additional work to address issues of concern, including traffic enforcement;
(e) implement programs designed to improve public safety within a recipient agencys jurisdiction.
Section 6. Agencies could choose to cooperate in joint efforts, combining portions of EPOCH grant allocations to address initiatives of shared interest within the parameters of those conditions established in Section 5.
Section 7. Any uncertainty as to the appropriate use of an EPOCH Grant as described in this act shall be resolved by the Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security within 10 business days of the submission of a request for resolution.
Section 8. Funds appropriated to the police agencies through the EPOCH Grant Program shall not be subject to reversion in Fiscal Years 2024, 2025, and 2026. Any EPOCH grants unexpended or unencumbered by the recipient agencies as of the beginning of Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026) shall be returned to the Department and reverted to the General Fund.
Section 9. Each agency receiving EPOCH Grant allocations shall, within 15 business days of the end of Fiscal Years 2024, 2025, and 2026, report to the Department detailing how much of its total grant allocation was spent during that fiscal year; what portion of the allocation has been encumbered; and what portion of the grant remains available for allocation. The Department would, no later than 60 days following this reporting deadline, compile the information and distribute it to every member of the General Assembly and the governor, as well as posting it on the Departments website for public inspection.
Section 10. Implementation of this legislation shall be subject to a $20 million appropriation from the Delaware General Assembly.
Section 11. EPOCH grant recipients would be solely responsible for any continuing financial obligations created by their use of the EPOCH grant allocations.
SYNOPSIS This bill seeks to create the Expanded Protection for Our Communities and Homes (EPOCH) Grant Program through a one-time appropriation of $20 million. The grant money would be distributed to every Delaware police agency that chooses to participate. The distribution would consist of a minimum standard allocation made to each agency and an allocation based on the number of uniformed officers authorized for each agency. EPOCH grants could be used by the recipient agencies to recruit new officers; promote or encourage careers in law enforcement; initially pay the salaries of newly hired officers; pay for overtime to facilitate additional work to address issues of local concern (including traffic enforcement); and implement programs designed to improve public safety in the area of the agencys jurisdiction. The grant allocations would be available for the agencies to use for up to three years, after which any unused and unencumbered funding would return to the General Fund.
SYNOPSIS
This bill seeks to create the Expanded Protection for Our Communities and Homes (EPOCH) Grant Program through a one-time appropriation of $20 million. The grant money would be distributed to every Delaware police agency that chooses to participate. The distribution would consist of a minimum standard allocation made to each agency and an allocation based on the number of uniformed officers authorized for each agency. EPOCH grants could be used by the recipient agencies to recruit new officers; promote or encourage careers in law enforcement; initially pay the salaries of newly hired officers; pay for overtime to facilitate additional work to address issues of local concern (including traffic enforcement); and implement programs designed to improve public safety in the area of the agencys jurisdiction. The grant allocations would be available for the agencies to use for up to three years, after which any unused and unencumbered funding would return to the General Fund.