State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP)
The SCAAP program provides reimbursement to state and local governments for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3093 and the Senate Committee on Appropriations passed S. 1745, both bills making appropriations for Justice for Fiscal Year 2008.  The House bill provides $405,000 in funds for SCAAP and the Senate bill provides $400,000.  The President had once again proposed eliminating this important program. 

The U.S. Department of Justice owes Los Angeles County $12.5 million for Fiscal Year 2005.  The House bill includes language regarding the long delay in disbursing fiscal year SCAAP funds, and directs the Department to improve coordination with the Department of Homeland Security in the vetting, verification and reimbursement of claims made under the SCAAP program.

Federal Funding For State And Local Law Enforcement
H.R. 3093, which passed the House of Representatives on July 26, 2007, includes language expressing concern that the President's budget for State and Local Law Enforcement was $1.4 billion below the FY 2007 level. The "Committee not only funded it above last year's level, a total of $1.7 billion more than the President's request was provided."  The report language states:  "According to the Uniform Crime Report of crime data from more than 11,700 State and local law enforcement agencies, violent crime--murders, robberies, forcible rapes and aggravated assaults--increased 1.3 percent in 2006 and 2.3 percent in 2005. These are the first significant increases in violent crime in 15 years. Most violent crime falls under the jurisdiction of State and Local Law Enforcement, therefore the Committee provides $3.2 billion to State and Local Law Enforcement for crime fighting and prevention initiatives, 53 percent above the President's request and 10 percent above the fiscal year 2007 level. This restores State and Local programs to their fiscal year 2004 level, a major step in reversing the downward trend in funding for these programs.

Prison Privatization
H.R. 3093, the Appropriation bill for Justice for Fiscal Year 2008, passed the House of Representatives on July 26, 2007.  Included in the bill is language prohibiting the privatization of work performed by employees of the Bureau of Prisons or of Federal Prison Industries, Inc.  This provision does not prevent the Bureau of Prisons from meeting additional bed space needs using State, local, and private existing and new prison capacity. However, it prevents the privatization of existing federal jobs.  This means that no current employee of the Federal Bureau of Prisons can be displaced by a private sector employee.  The bill would further allow Federal employees the same appeals rights as contractors after decisions are made on public-private competitions.

Prison Overcrowding and Understaffing At The Federal Level
H.R. 3093, which passed the House of Representatives, expresses concern over the safety implications of overcrowding in Federal prisons. Today, there are more than 195,000 Federal inmates in 114 institutions, a six-fold population increase since 1980. The crowding rate is now 36 percent over capacity and is projected to grow. The Committee expressed concern over reports of a rising incidence of assaults by inmates on staff and other inmates.  The Committee strongly urged the Administration to examine these reports closely and to adjust staffing levels as warranted. The Committee expressed concern that inadequate budget requests have resulted in the BOP's excessive use of overtime to staff correctional facilities instead of properly funding permanent staff positions. The bill directs the Bureau of Prisons to report to the Committee on Appropriations within sixty days on the authorized staffing levels at each of its facilities and to indicate which positions are not filled.  The Committee report states how critically important that future Administration budget requests adequately reflect the personnel and infrastructure investments needed to safely and humanely incarcerate the growing Federal prison population.

Collective Bargaining Rights
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 980 by a bipartisan vote of 314 to 97 on July 17, 2007. The "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007" guarantees the rights of law enforcement officers in all 50 states to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

To view copy of the bill, Click Here

ALADS Federal Legislative Priorities for the 110th Congress

ALADS' top priorities at the federal level include securing funds for Los Angeles for the cost of incarcerating criminal aliens; securing federal funds to purchase high quality protective vests for peace officers; ensuring that ALADS members are not forced to pay into the social security system; protecting officers personal information; and federal death benefits for officers. More Info.

ALADS Legislative Action Alert:  Contact your Member of Congress

Click here to contact your Representative in Congress to express opposition to social security reform proposals that would require state and local government employees to pay into the social security system.  Currently, no measure has been introduced in the House or the Senate.

Comprehensive List of Legislation Introduced in Congress of Interest to ALADS

Click Here for a comprehensive list of bills introduced in the 110th Congress that impact law enforcement.