Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 7, 2012
Local Courthouse Safety Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Attorney General, as part of the Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement and Ensuring Officer Resilience and Survivability Initiative (VALOR) of the Department of Justice (DOJ), to provide safety training and technical assistance to local law enforcement agencies.
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to permit states and other grant recipients under the State Homeland Security Grant Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative, and Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to use grant funds to improve security at state or local government courthouses.
Directs the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to ensure that state or local governments have an opportunity to request excess security equipment (metal detectors, wands, baggage screening devices) for state or local courthouses having less security equipment than such courthouses require before such equipment is made available to any other individual or entity. Requires that priority be given to courthouses that have no security equipment.
Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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