“To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for eligibility of transit support specialists for crime prevention and security grants.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises the crime prevention and security grant program (49 U.S.C. §5321) to authorize, notwithstanding restrictions under the urbanized area formula grant program (i.e., 49 U.S.C. §5307(a)(1)(D)), operational grants from amounts available under 49 U.S.C. §5338 for transit support specialists in addition to existing capital grants. (As background, the program funds security enhancements for public transit systems, including when a non-applicant local authority has law enforcement responsibilities.) It defines a transit support specialist as unarmed personnel who provide a visible security presence on transit vehicles, stops, and stations by (1) monitoring stations and vehicles; (2) assisting riders and personnel; (3) aiding with medical emergencies; (4) engaging the public to deter disruptive behavior; (5) reporting suspicious activity to personnel and law enforcement; (6) resolving minor conflicts to preserve law enforcement for emergencies; and (7) performing crisis intervention.