# Plain Language Summary: Lawless Cities Accountability Act of 2023

This bill would allow the federal government to cut off funding to cities and states that the Attorney General decides aren't adequately enforcing the law. The bill targets jurisdictions that the Attorney General determines have forbidden police from responding to violence, withdrawn police protection from certain areas, significantly reduced police budgets, or refused federal law enforcement help during periods of widespread violence or destruction. Once labeled a "lawless jurisdiction," a city or state would lose access to federal money for at least 180 days, even if conditions improve sooner. The Attorney General would make these determinations every three months and publish them publicly.

The bill's supporters argue it's necessary because some cities have experienced surges in violent crime and property damage in recent years, and they believe this is partly due to policies that limit police authority or reduce police funding. They contend that federal taxpayer dollars shouldn't support jurisdictions they view as failing to maintain public order. The bill specifically references incidents of rioting and property destruction, claiming over $1 billion in damage occurred, and points to increases in homicides in certain cities as evidence of the problem.

In practice, this would be a powerful financial tool. Cities and states receive hundreds of billions in federal funding annually for housing, transportation, job training, and social services. Losing this money could significantly impact residents who depend on these programs, even if they had nothing to do with the policies the bill targets. The bill gives the Attorney General broad discretion to decide what counts as a "lawless jurisdiction," which means the determination could become politically contentious. A city might dispute the Attorney General's decision, but the bill doesn't clearly outline how jurisdictions could challenge the determination or what specific evidence would be required to prove they've improved enough to restore funding.

Lawless Cities Accountability Act of 2023

Rosendale, Matthew M.

Lawless Cities Accountability Act of 2023 This bill prohibits federal funding for a jurisdiction that is a lawless jurisdiction. The term lawless jurisdiction means a state or political subdivision of a state that does one of the following: <ul> <li>forbids law enforcement from intervening to restore order during widespread violence or destruction,</li> <li>withdraws law enforcement protection from an area or structure that law enforcement officers are lawfully entitled to access,</li> <li>disempowers or defunds law enforcement agencies, or</li> <li>refuses to accept law enforcement assistance from the federal government amid widespread violence or destruction.</li> </ul>