§60305 Evaluations by Inspector General and administrative remedies

Summary

The Department of Justice Inspector General must review each State’s use of grant money after the State’s first fiscal year of receiving funds. The Inspector General has to send a report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees saying whether the State followed the grant rules. If the State did not follow the rules, the Inspector General must point out the problems and suggest fixes to the Attorney General. The Inspector General must focus first on States at highest risk of not following the rules, accept public comments through a website form, and consider those comments. The Inspector General will also check compliance from time to time during the grant period. For States that use the special procedure described in section 60301(e)(1)(C), the Inspector General must decide by the end of the first funded year whether the State is largely following that law. For fiscal years 2005 through 2009, at least 2.5% of the money for this program must be set aside for the Inspector General’s work. After the Inspector General’s report or determination, the Attorney General must let the State comment. If the Attorney General finds the State out of compliance, the Attorney General must work with the State on a corrective plan. If the State does not agree to an approved plan within 90 days after the report, the Attorney General must issue corrective guidance within 30 days. Within 90 days after a plan starts or guidance is issued, the Attorney General must tell the House and Senate Judiciary Committees whether the State fixed the problems. If the State still does not correct the issues, the Attorney General must stop further funding under sections 60301 and 60302 and require the State to return that year’s grant money. A State that lost funds may apply again in a later year. If a State using the procedure in section 60301(e)(1)(C) is found not in substantial compliance, funds must be used only for the purposes listed in section 60301 until the Inspector General finds the State is compliant.