Mom and Pop Protection Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to States to establish a loan program for convenience store owners (owners) to install security devices and improve safety in convenience stores. Directs the State to determine a repayment schedule of not more than five years and an interest rate not to exceed three percent for owners to cover administrative expenses for the State.
Requires that, to receive a grant, the chief executive officer (CEO) of a State submit an application that includes an assurance that the State shall develop a process of certification and review to ensure that funds received are used only for the purpose of installing safety devices in convenience stores.
Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) owner eligibility for loans, including a requirement that a State receiving a grant receive not less than $200,000; and (2) uses of funds (for a video security system capable of 24-hour surveillance, a drop safe or cash management device with restricted access and posters indicating that not more than $50 is accessible to store personnel, a silent alarm system to alert local law enforcement officers, and height markers at store exits).
Directs: (1) the Attorney General, by notice in the Federal Register, to terminate the State loan program upon determining that a sufficient number of eligible convenience stores has had the opportunity to apply for a loan from a State; (2) the State to provide notice to owners regarding such termination; and (3) that any funds, excluding the amount of interest collected, that a State receives as repayment from an owner after the date that the Attorney General terminates the State loan program be used by such State for law enforcement purposes.
Requires the CEO of a State that receives a grant under this Act to submit an annual report to the Attorney General regarding the number of loans, locations, amounts, terms, and repayment record of convenience stores in such State that receive funds under this Act.
Authorizes appropriations.
[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 1444 Introduced in House (IH)]
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1444
To establish a grant program to install safety devices and improve
safety at convenience stores.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 24, 1997
Mr. Kennedy of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. Olver, Mr. Serrano, Mr.
Towns, Mr. Underwood, Mr. Thompson, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Fox of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Frost, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Dellums,
and Mr. Bishop) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program to install safety devices and improve
safety at convenience stores.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Mom and Pop Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General may provide grants to States
to establish a loan program for convenience store owners to install
security devices and improve safety in convenience stores.
(b) Payment and Interest Rate.--The State shall determine a
repayment schedule of not more than 5 years and an interest rate not to
exceed 3 percent for convenience store owners to cover administrative
expenses for the State.
SEC. 3. STATE APPLICATION.
To receive a grant under this Act, the chief executive officer of a
State shall submit an application, at such time, in such manner and
form as the Attorney General may prescribe that includes an assurance
from the chief executive officer that the State shall develop a process
of certification and review to ensure that funds received under this
Act are used only for the purpose of installing safety devices in
convenience stores.
SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY FOR LOANS.
(a) In General.--To be eligible to receive a loan from a State, a
convenience store owner shall submit an application to the State which
includes--
(1) an assurance that security devices purchased from funds
received under this Act shall be used to install security
devices not later than 30 days after receipt of such funds;
(2) if practicable, an assurance that each such store owner
will maintain an unobstructed view of the cash register from
the exterior of the store, removing any material that obstructs
such view; and
(3) an assurance from each owner that such owner will repay
a loan from the State in not less than 5 years.
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a loan from a State, a
convenience store shall meet the following qualifications:
(1) The owner may not own more than 5 convenience stores.
(2) The gross receipts of any store may not exceed $700,000
for the preceding fiscal year, excluding proceeds from the sale
of gasoline.
(c) State Minimum.--A State that receives a grant under this Act
shall receive not less than $200,000.
SEC. 5. USES OF FUNDS.
A loan received under this Act shall be used to install the
following:
(1) A video security system capable of 24-hour
surveillance.
(2) A drop safe or cash management device with restricted
access and posters that indicate not more than $50 is
accessible to store personnel.
(3) A silent alarm system to alert local law enforcement
officers of a problem.
(4) Height markers at store exits.
SEC. 6. DETERMINATION TO TERMINATE PROGRAM.
(a) Termination.--The Attorney General shall, by notice in the
Federal Register, terminate the State loan program once the Attorney
General determines that a sufficient number of eligible convenience
stores has had the opportunity to apply for a loan from a State.
(b) Notice.--Not later than 60 days after publication of such
termination is published in the Federal Register, the State shall
provide notice to convenience store owners regarding such termination.
(c) Remaining Funds.--Any funds, excluding the amount of interest
collected, that a State receives as repayment from a convenience store
owner after the date that the Attorney General terminates the State
loan program shall be used by such State for law enforcement purposes.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act--
(1) the term ``convenience store'' includes a retail store
that may sell fast foods, beverages, dairy products,
publications, grocery items, snacks, some nonfood items, and
gasoline; and
(2) the term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the
United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
SEC. 8. REPORT.
The chief executive officer of a State that receives a grant under
this Act shall submit an annual report to the Attorney General
regarding the number of loans, locations, amounts, terms, and repayment
record of convenience stores in such State that receive funds under
this Act.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.
There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1998
$50,000,000 to carry out this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
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