(a)(1) There is created within the Department of Public Safety the Public Safety Equipment Grant Program to be administered by the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety.(2) The secretary may hire personnel necessary to carry out the duties of administering the program.(3)(A) The secretary shall establish a grant review committee to evaluate applications and to advise on the awarding of grants under the program.(B) The grant review committee shall consist of law enforcement officers and other interested persons as determined by the secretary.(b)(1) In consultation with the grant review committee, the secretary shall award grants under the program to law enforcement agencies, detention centers, and corrections agencies for equipment that aids in improving trust and relationships between law enforcement agencies, detention centers, and corrections agencies and the communities that they serve.(2) Grants may be made for equipment, training, or accreditation including without limitation: (A) Body cameras with auto-activation capabilities;(B) In-car cameras with auto-activation capabilities;(C) Cloud-based storage services;(D) On-premises server hardware and storage to accomodate ion: (A) Body cameras with auto-activation capabilities;(B) In-car cameras with auto-activation capabilities;(C) Cloud-based storage services;(D) On-premises server hardware and storage to accomodate on-premises installations;(E) Conducted electrical devices and related training programs;(F) Virtual reality training;(G) Agency accreditation programs;(H) Bulletproof vests;(I) Pepper spray;(J) Rubber bullets; and(K) Other equipment as deemed necessary by the secretary.(3) As a condition for receiving a grant under this section, the secretary may require a law enforcement agency, detention center, or corrections agency to provide matching funds at a percentage to be determined by the secretary.(4) As a part of the grant application process and in consultation with the grant review committee, the secretary may: (A) Design procedures and criteria for awarding grants under this section;(B) Receive and review applications for grants under this section;(C) Prescribe the form, nature, and extent of the information that shall be contained in an application for a grant under this section;(D) Audit and inspect the records of grant recipients; and(E) Require reports from grant recipients.(c) ent of the information that shall be contained in an application for a grant under this section;(D) Audit and inspect the records of grant recipients; and(E) Require reports from grant recipients.(c) On or before October 1 of each year, the secretary shall submit a report to the Governor and the cochairs of the Legislative Council providing an account of the activities and expenditures of the program during the preceding calendar year.Added by Act 2021, No. 786,§ 2, eff. 4/20/2021.
Arkansas Legal Code