§ 20504 — Grant Program For Support Of Amber Alert Communications Plans

(a) The Attorney General shall carry out a program to provide grants to States and Indian tribes for— (1) the development or enhancement of programs and activities for the support of AMBER Alert communications plans; and (2) the integration of tribal AMBER Alert systems into State AMBER Alert systems. (b) Activities funded by grants under the program under subsection (a) may include— (1) the development and implementation of education and training programs, and associated materials, relating to AMBER Alert communications plans; (2) the development and implementation of law enforcement programs, and associated equipment, relating to AMBER Alert communications plans; (3) the development and implementation of new technologies to improve AMBER Alert communications; (4) the integration of State or regional AMBER Alert communication plans with a territorial government or an Indian tribe; and (5) such other activities as the Attorney General considers appropriate for supporting the AMBER Alert communications program. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost of any activities funded by a grant under this section may not exceed 50 percent. (2) If the Attorney General determines that American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, or an Indian tribe is unable to comply with the requirement under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall waive such requirement. (d) The Attorney General shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure the distribution of grants under the program under subsection (a) on an equitable basis throughout the various regions of the United States, including territories of the United States. (e) The Attorney General shall prescribe requirements, including application requirements, and standards to improve accountability and transparency for grants awarded under the program under subsection (a). (f) In this section, the term “Indian tribe” means a federally recognized Indian tribe or a Native village, Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation (as those terms are defined in section 1602 of title 43). (1) There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Justice $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out this section and, in addition, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b). (2) Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.