REFUND THE POLICE
TITLE I: LOCAL POLICE GRANT PROGRAM
1. The Governor is hereby authorized to award grants to local Police Departments and Sheriff's Offices in the Southern Region to support the following activities:
A. The purchase of body armor and other safety equipment.
B. Recruitment bonuses for the hiring of new law enforcement officers.
C. Performance bonuses for the retention of law enforcement officers with an honorable service record.
D. Law enforcement training programs.
2. Grant money awarded under this act may be used to pay for law enforcement training programs on the following tactics:
A. Deescalation tactics;
B. Riot tactics;
C. Hostage Rescue tactics;
D. Mass Shooting tactics;
E. SWAT tactics;
I. Community policing tactics;
J. Crime victim communication tactics; and
K. Foreign and Sign language communication tactics.
3. Grant awards shall prioritize departments and offices that are determined to be underfunded, understaffed, or facing an increase in violent crime within their jurisdiction.
4. No department or office may receive more than $1 Million from this grant program in any year.
TITLE II: FUNDING
1. The Southern Regional Police and all State and local Police Departments and Sheriff's Offices within the Southern Region shall conduct an inventory of armored vehicles, firearms and firearm accessories, and other equipment. Any such equipment identified as outdated, excess, or surplus shall be surrendered to the Regional Budget Office to be auctioned to members of the public, provided they are otherwise lawfully eligible to purchase firearms. All proceeds shall be credited into the Police Trust Fund (PTF).
2. The Southern Regional government shall purchase 1 Million troy ounces of silver bullion and commission the minting of 1 Million non legal tender, silver, 1 troy oz commemorative tokens, to be sold to the public at $32 per token.
A. Each token shall include on the obverse, "Southern Region 2022" as well as the name and a sculpting to be approved by the governor, of the following famous Southern Law Enforcement persons from popular media:
i. Andy Taylor and Barney Fife from the Andy Griffith Show;
ii. Cordell Walker from Walker, Texas Ranger;
iii. Jimmy McNulty and Kima Greggs from the Wire;
iv. A Texas Police cruiser escorting the Bear from B.J. and the Bear;
v. A Hazzard County Police cruiser chasing the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard;
vi. Virbil Tibbs from In the Heat of the Night
vii. A Georgia Police cruiser chasing the Bandit from Smokey and the Bandit;
viii. Matt Dillon from Gunsmoke;
ix. Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs from Miami Vice
x. Horatio Caine and Calleigh Duquesne from CSI Miami.
B. Each token shall include on the reverse, the Southern Motto and Motto Emiritus as well as a sculpting to be approved by the governor, of the Southern and Blue Lives Matter flags.
C. All proceeds from the sale of these tokens shall be deposited in the PTF.
3. The Governor is hereby authorized to expend up to $4 Billion from the PTF each year in carrying out this act.
TITLE III: ENACTMENT
1. This act shall take effect immediately.
