[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6074 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6074
To combat the heroin epidemic and drug sample backlogs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 12, 2018
Ms. Esty of Connecticut (for herself, Mr. MacArthur, and Ms. Kuster of
New Hampshire) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To combat the heroin epidemic and drug sample backlogs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Combating the Heroin Epidemic
Through Forensic Drug Testing Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. CONFRONTING THE USE OF HEROIN AND ASSOCIATED DRUGS.
Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968
(42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART LL--CONFRONTING THE USE OF HEROIN AND ASSOCIATED DRUGS
``SEC. 3021. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HEROIN DISTRIBUTION, SALE, AND USE.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to assist States and
Indian tribes to--
``(1) carry out programs to address the distribution, sale,
and use of heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs;
and
``(2) improve the ability of State, tribal, and local
government institutions to carry out such programs.
``(b) Grant Authorization.--The Attorney General, through the
Bureau of Justice Assistance, may make grants to States to address the
distribution, sale, and use of heroin, fentanyl, and associated
synthetic drugs to enhance public safety.
``(c) Grant Projects To Address Distribution, Sale, and Use of
Heroin, Fentanyl, and Associated Synthetic Drugs.--Grants made under
subsection (b) may be used for programs, projects, and other activities
to--
``(1) reimburse State, local, or other forensic science
laboratories to help address backlogs of untested samples of
heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs;
``(2) reimburse State, local, or other forensic science
laboratories for procuring equipment, technology, or other
support systems if the applicant for the grant demonstrates to
the satisfaction of the Attorney General that expenditures for
such purposes would result in improved efficiency of laboratory
testing and help prevent future backlogs;
``(3) reimburse State, tribal, and local law enforcement
agencies for procuring field-testing equipment for use in the
identification or detection of heroin, fentanyl, and associated
synthetic drugs;
``(4) investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals
violating laws related to the distribution or sale of heroin,
fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs; and
``(5) support State, tribal, and local health department
services deployed to address the use of heroin, fentanyl, and
associated synthetic drugs.
``(d) Limitation.--Not less than 60 percent of the amounts made
available to carry out this section shall be awarded for the purposes
under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (c).
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2019 and 2020.
``(f) Allocation.--
``(1) Population allocation.--Seventy-five percent of the
amount made available to carry out this section in a fiscal
year shall be allocated to each State that meets the
requirements of section 2802 so that each State shall receive
an amount that bears the same ratio to the 75 percent of the
total amount made available to carry out this section for that
fiscal year as the population of the State bears to the
population of all States.
``(2) Discretionary allocation.--
``(A) In general.--Twenty-five percent of the
amount made available to carry out this section in a
fiscal year shall be allocated pursuant to the
discretion of the Attorney General for competitive
grants to States with high rates of primary treatment
admissions for heroin and other opioids, for use by
State law enforcement agencies.
``(B) Considerations.--In making grants under
subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall consider--
``(i) the average annual number of part 1
violent crimes reported by each State to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation for the 3 most
recent calendar years for which data is
available; and
``(ii) the existing resources and current
needs of the potential grant recipient.
``(3) Minimum requirement.--Each State shall receive not
less than 0.6 percent of the amount made available to carry out
this section in each fiscal year.
``(4) Certain territories.--
``(A) In general.--For purposes of the allocation
under this section, American Samoa and the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be considered as
1 State.
``(B) Allocation amongst certain territories.--For
purposes of subparagraph (A), 67 percent of the amount
allocated shall be allocated to American Samoa and 33
percent shall be allocated to the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands.''.
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