Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits state funding for cities and towns that reduce law enforcement budgets.

Highlights:

• Defines “local entity” as the governing body of a city or county (Sec. 1-6).

• Establishes a local entity including any entity under the jurisdiction of the local entity, will be eligible to receive any state funds if the local entity reduces the budget of a law enforcement agency under the jurisdiction of the local entity unless the total budget of the local entity is reduced by an equal or larger percentage of the local entity provides sufficient justification (Sec. 1-1).

• Specifies state funds will be denied to a local entity by all state agencies for each state fiscal year that begins after the fiscal year in which the law enforcement agency’s budget is reduced (Sec. 1-2).

• Establishes a local entity’s eligibility to receive state funds will be reinstated beginning on the first day of the month following the date on which the local entity’s budget is no longer in violation of this law (Sec. 1-3).

• Requires a local entity to submit written justification to the Department of Management for any reductions in the local entity’s law enforcement budget. Sufficient justification may include any of the following (Sec. 1-4.a):

• Reductions related to one-time capital or one-time equipment or vehicle purchases in the prior fiscal year;

• Reductions related to lower personnel cost of law enforcement personnel due only to lower-cost entry-level law enforcement personnel replacing prior law enforcement personnel;

• Reductions due to the merging or consolidation of jail services or communications and dispatch services for the merging of law enforcement agencies; or

• Reductions due to reduced population in a jurisdiction served by a law enforcement agency.

Full Bill Text