# Plain Language Summary of H.R. 5211

This bill creates a new federal grant program that pays for police recruits to attend police academies or training schools, but with a catch—the recruits have to promise to work as police officers in their own communities for at least four years after they finish training.

Here's how it works in practice: A local police department could apply for federal grant money to send new recruits to a police academy or training program. The government would cover the training costs, but the recruit would sign an agreement saying they'll work as a full-time police officer for at least four years in their local area. The "local area" is defined as either within five miles of where they've lived for the past five years, or within twenty miles if they live in a county with fewer than 100,000 people. This is designed to encourage police officers to stay and work in the communities where they actually live, rather than training somewhere and then leaving for a job elsewhere.

If a recruit takes the training money but then doesn't complete their four-year commitment, they'd have to pay back the full cost of their training. However, the bill allows the Attorney General to create exceptions for situations where someone has a legitimate reason they couldn't finish their service commitment. The program would start in 2022 and use existing federal law enforcement grant money that's already budgeted for police departments.

To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide that COPS grant funds may be used for local law enforcement recruits to attend schools or academies if the recruits agree to serve in precincts of law enforcement agencies in their communities.

Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]

 <p>This bill allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to provide training to recruits who agree to serve in law enforcement agencies in their communities.</p>