Page 31 - Security Grant Program News Today

Feb. 26, 2021, entitled "National Preparedness: A Summary and Select Issues" by Lauren R. Stienstra, section research manager, and Shawn Reese, emergency management and homeland security policy analyst: SUMMARY The nation has faced challenges in the effort to respond to, and recover from, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Persistent challenges related to acquisition and delivery of diagnostic tests, production and management of personal protective equipment, and development a...

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 1, 2021) – On Friday, a Maryland Senate committee passed a bill that would ban state and local law enforcement agencies from acquiring certain military equipment from federal programs. Sen. William Smith (D) introduced Senate Bill 599 (SB599) on Jan. 29.  The legislation would prohibit Maryland state and local law enforcement agencies from receiving or purchasing the following property from a military equipment surplus program operated by the federal government. A weapo...

The Washington state House passed a bill that would prohibit no-knock warrants and put limits on state and local law enforcement agencies’ ability to acquire certain military equipment from federal programs.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 22, 2021) – A bill introduced in the California Assembly would take the first step toward limiting the impact of federal programs that militarize local police and expand the national surveillance state. Asm. David Chiu (D), and a coalition of other democrats, introduced Assembly Bill 481 (AB481) on Feb. 8. The legislation would require law enforcement agencies to get local government approval before obtaining military equipment through federal programs. Under the law,...

A bill introduced in the Arizona Senate would take a first step toward limiting the impact of federal programs that militarize local police and expand the national surveillance state.

ALBANY, NY (Feb. 15, 2021) – A bill introduced in the New York Assembly would ban state and local law enforcement agencies from acquiring certain military equipment from federal programs. Asm. Ron Kim and four fellow Democrats introduced Assembly Bill 3115 (A3115) on Jan. 22. The legislation would prohibit local law enforcement from receiving or purchasing the following property from a military equipment surplus program operated by the federal government. Drones that are armored, weaponized, ...

The legislation would not only prohibit the use of impact projectiles; rubber bullets, etc., and noxious chemical agents, such as tear gas, from being used at protests or demonstrations, it would also prohibit police departments from acquiring the following items (through purchase or otherwise):

By Arturo Castañares Editor-at-Large A secret committee of local fire and police chiefs postponed its December meeting just minutes before it was to start after La Prensa San Diego filed a lawsuit claiming the group’s meetings violate state open meeting laws. The group, called the Urban Area Working Group (UAWG), is the “Approving Authority” recognized by the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to distribute funding to local law enforcement and fire agencies to prepare for and ...

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Feb. 2, 2021) – A bill introduced in the Minnesota House would ban state and local law enforcement agencies from acquiring military equipment from one major federal program. A coalition of 11 Democrats introduced House Bill 487 (HF487) on Jan. 28.  The legislation would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies in Minnesota from acquiring “military-grade weapons” from the federal 1033 program. HF487 defines military-grade weapons as “militarily equipped vehi...

Sheriff’s Office to continue Rio Vista policing duties FAIRFIELD — The Solano County Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide policing service to Rio Vista through the end of June. The Board of Supervisors approved an amended agreement Tuesday by which Rio Vista will pay the county nearly $1.27 million for the additional service. It brings the total contract with the city to just shy of $3.8 million. The supervisors’ action was part of the consent agenda. There was no comment. In other...