§ 1300.28 Driver and Officer Safety Education Grants.
(a) Purpose. This section establishes criteria, in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 405(i), for awarding grants to States that enact and enforce a law or adopt and implement programs that include certain information on law enforcement practices during traffic stops in driver education and training courses or peace officer training programs.
(b) Definitions. As used in this section—
Driver education and driving safety course means any programs for novice teen drivers or driver improvement programs sanctioned by the State DMV, which include in-class or virtual instruction and may also include some behind the wheel training.
Peace officer means any individual who is an elected, appointed, or employed agent of a government entity, who has the authority to carry firearms and to make warrantless arrests, and whose duties involve the enforcement of criminal laws of the United States.
(c) Qualification criteria. To qualify for a grant under this section in a fiscal year, a State shall submit, as part of its annual grant application, documentation demonstrating compliance with either paragraph (d) or (e) of this section, in accordance with part 8 of appendix B to this part. A State may qualify for a grant under paragraph (e) of this section for a period of not more than 5 years.
(d) Driver and officer safety law or program. The State must meet at least one of the following requirements:
(1) Driver education and driving safety courses—(i) General. A State must provide either a legal citation to a law, as provided in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, or supporting documentation, as provided in paragraph (d)(1)(iii) of this section, that demonstrates that driver education and driver safety courses provided to individuals by educational and motor vehicle agencies of the State include instruction and testing relating to law enforcement practices during traffic stops, including, at a minimum, information relating to—
(A) The role of law enforcement and the duties and responsibilities of peace officers;
(B) The legal rights of individuals concerning interactions with peace officers;
(C) Best practices for civilians and peace officers during those interactions;
(D) The consequences for failure of an individual or officer to comply with the law or program; and
(E) How and where to file a complaint against, or a compliment relating to, a peace officer.
(ii) If applying with a law. A State shall provide a legal citation to a law that demonstrate compliance with the requirements described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section.
(iii) If applying with supporting documentation. A State shall have a driver education and driving safety course that is required throughout the State for licensing or pursuant to a violation. To demonstrate compliance, the State shall submit:
(A) A certification signed by the GR attesting that the State has developed and is implementing a driver education and driving safety course throughout the State that meets the requirements described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section; and
(B) Curriculum or course materials, along with citations to where the requirements described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section are located within the curriculum.
(2) Peace officer training programs—(i) General. A State must provide either a legal citation to a law, as provided in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section, or supporting documentation, as provided in paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section, that demonstrates that the State has developed and is implementing a training program for peace officers and reserve law enforcement officers (other than officers who have received training in a civilian course described in paragraph (d)(1)) of this section with respect to proper interaction with civilians during traffic stops. Proper interaction means utilizing appropriate industry standards as established through a State Police Officer Standards and Training Board (POST) or similar association.
(ii) Applying with a law. A State shall provide a legal citation to a law that establishes a peace training program that meets the requirements described in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section.
(iii) Applying with supporting documentation. A State shall have a peace officer training program that is required for employment as a peace officer throughout the State and meets the requirements described in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section. To demonstrate compliance, the State shall submit:
(A) A certification signed by the GR attesting that the State has developed and is implementing a peace officer training program throughout the State that meets the requirements described in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section; and
(B) Curriculum or course materials, along with citations to where the requirements described in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section.
(e) Qualifying State. A State that has not fully enacted or adopted a law or program described in paragraph (d) of this section qualifies for a grant under this section if it submits:
(1) Evidence that the State has taken meaningful steps towards the full implementation of such a law or program. To demonstrate compliance with this criterion, the State shall submit one or more of the following—
(i) A proposed bill that has been introduced in the State, but has not yet been enacted into law, that meets the requirements in paragraph (d)(1) or (2) of this section; or
(ii) Planning or strategy document(s) that identify meaningful steps the State has taken as well as actions the State plans to take to develop and implement a law or program that meets the requirements in paragraph (d)(1) or (2) of this section; and
(2) A timetable for implementation of such a law or program within 5 years of first applying as a qualifying State under this paragraph (e).
(f) Matching. The Federal share of the cost of carrying out an activity funded through a grant under this subsection may not exceed 80 percent.
(g) Award amounts—(1) In general. Subject to paragraph (g)(2) of this section, the amount of a grant awarded to a State in a fiscal year under this section shall be in proportion to the amount each State received under Section 402 for fiscal year 2022.
(2) Limitation. Notwithstanding paragraph (g)(1) of this section, a State that qualifies for a grant under paragraph (e) of this section shall receive 50 percent of the amount determined from the calculation under paragraph (g)(1) of this section.
(3) Redistribution of funds. Any funds that are not distributed due to the operation of paragraph (g)(2) of this section shall be redistributed to the States that qualify for a grant under paragraph (d) of this section in proportion to the amount each such State received under Section 402 for fiscal year 2022.
(h) Use of grant funds. A State may use grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(i) only for:
(1) The production of educational materials and training of staff for driver education and driving safety courses and peace officer training described in paragraph (d) of this section; and
(2) The implementation of a law or program described in paragraph (d) of this section.