Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Courthouse Safety Act of 2013”.
Courthouse Safety Act of 2013
A BILL
To improve security at State and local courthouses.
Sec. 2 Security training
Part D of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3741 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“403. Preventing violence against law enforcement and ensuring officer resilience and survivability
“The Director may carry out a training and technical assistance program designed to teach employees of State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies how to anticipate, survive, and respond to violent encounters during the course of their duties, including duties relating to security at State, county, and tribal courthouses. If the Director offers a training program specifically designed to train participants on courthouse security issues, preference for admission into such program shall be given to employees of jurisdictions that have magnetometers available for use at their courthouses.”
Sec. 3 State Justice Institute
The State Justice Institute Act of 1984 is amended—
in section 203(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 10702(b)(1)), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “, safe,” after “a fair”; and
in section 206 (42 U.S.C. 10705)—
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (14)—
by inserting “to” before “conduct”; and
by striking “and” at the end;
by redesignating paragraph (15) as paragraph (16); and
by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
“(15) to improve the safety and security of State and local courts; and”
by adding at the end the following:
“(g) Magnetometers—In the case of a grant awarded under this section to be used as described in subsection (c)(15), if the State or local court applying for the grant does not have magnetometers available for use, not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 of the matching fund required under subsection (d) of the State or local court shall be used to acquire a magnetometer.”
Sec. 4 Security equipment
In general— Subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 559 the following:
“560. Surplus security equipment for State and local courts
“(a) Definitions—In this section—
“(1) the term surplus security equipment means surplus property that is used to detect weapons, including metal detectors, wands, and baggage screening devices; and
“(2) the term qualifying State or local courthouse means a courthouse of a State or local government that has less security equipment than the security needs of the courthouse require.
“(b) Disposal of surplus security equipment
“(1) In general—Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the Administrator of General Services shall ensure that a qualifying State or local courthouse has an opportunity to request to receive surplus security equipment for use at the qualifying State or local courthouse before the surplus security equipment is made available to any other individual or entity under this subchapter.
“(2) Disposal
“(A) In general—Subject to subparagraph (B), upon request by qualifying State or local courthouse for surplus security equipment for use at a qualifying State or local courthouse, the surplus security equipment shall be made available to the qualifying State or local courthouse without cost, except for any costs of shipping, handling, and maintenance.
“(B) Multiple requests—If more than 1 qualifying State or local courthouse requests a particular piece of surplus security equipment, the surplus security equipment shall be distributed based on need, as determined by the Administrator of General Services, with priority given to a qualifying State or local courthouse that has no security equipment.”
Technical and conforming amendment— The table of sections for chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 559 the following: