Auto theft prevention grant program

(a) Establishment Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish an auto theft prevention grant program to provide funding to State law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen vehicle trafficking. (b) Application A State desiring a grant under the Program shall submit to the Director an application that includes— (1) evidentiary or other materials, including, as appropriate, State-specific police reports, budget documents, plans, or other documents, demonstrating that the State needs Federal assistance to combat auto theft; (2) documentation of the actions taken by the State during the year before the grant year, based on the information in such evidentiary or other materials, to reduce the instances of auto theft in the State; and (3) a plan indicating how the State will— (A) use amounts received under the Program to implement auto theft prevention activities in accordance with subsections (d) and (e); and (B) evaluate the success of the activities carried out using amounts received under the Program. (c) Awards (1) In general The Director may make a grant under the Program to the Attorney General of any State which has submitted an application that complies with the requirements under subsection (b). (2) Considerations In determining whether to make a grant to a State under the Program and the amount of a grant under the Program, the Director shall— (A) consider the information provided in the application of the State; and (B) endeavor to prioritize States with a higher overall level of auto thefts during the year before the grant year. (d) Distribution of funds (1) Local law enforcement agencies The Attorney General of a recipient State shall make not less than 50 percent of the amount of a grant awarded under the Program available as competitive subgrants to local law enforcement agencies within the recipient State to combat auto theft, with the amount awarded determined by prioritizing localities with a higher overall level of auto thefts during the year before the grant year. (2) State law enforcement agencies The Attorney General of a recipient State shall make not less than 25 percent of the amount of a grant awarded under the Program available to State law enforcement agencies of the recipient State to combat auto theft. (3) Other amounts (A) In general The Attorney General of a recipient State shall make any amounts received under a grant under the Program that are not allocated under paragraph (1) or (2) available as competitive subgrants to local law enforcement agencies or to State law enforcement agencies of the recipient State. (B) Prioritization for localities The amount of any subgrant made under this paragraph to a local law enforcement agency shall follow the prioritization under paragraph (1). (e) Eligible activities Amounts received under a grant under the Program may only be used for the purpose of combating auto theft and combating stolen automobile trafficking, including— (1) purchasing equipment used to combat auto theft, such as law enforcement vehicles and license plate readers; (2) funding costs associated with equipment described in paragraph (1), such as subscription fees and data storage fees for license plate readers; (3) hiring additional law enforcement officers and support staff to combat auto theft; (4) funding overtime costs and additional compensation for law enforcement officers and support staff involved in combating auto theft; (5) providing training for law enforcement officers and support staff to combat auto theft; (6) providing resources for joint task forces established to combat auto theft; (7) funding law enforcement data collection, data storage, or research activities related to combating auto theft; and (8) funding for the administrative costs of applying for and implementing the grant, which shall not exceed 5 percent of the grant amount. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the Program.