By Ed Somers
November 17, 2003

On November 3, the Department of Homeland Security announced the Fiscal Year 2004 state allocations for three programs totaling $2.2 billion. They are: 1) State Homeland Security Program at $1.7 billion; and 2) Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program at $500 million; and 3) Citizen Corps at $35 million.

Under the new system, the State Administrative Agencies apply with one application form online, streamlining the process with which DHS distributes the funds. However, as in FY 2003, these funds will all go through the states.

The funding is being run through the Office of Domestic Preparedness within DHS, and under the law the states have 30 days to apply for the funds, after which DHS has 15 days to approve the applications. Once the approval is granted, the states will have 60 days to obligate 80 percent of their funding to local governments. This means that local governments should receive funding no later than February 13, 2004. However, as in FY 2003, there are no requirements as to which local governments within a state will receive funding — with that decision being left to the governor.

The $500 million Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program is new. Allowable law enforcement activities under this program include: 1) information sharing to preempt terrorist attacks; 2) target hardening to reduce vulnerability of selected high value targets; 3) threat recognition to recognize the potential or development of a threat; 4) intervention activities to interdict terrorists before they can execute a threat; 5) interoperable communications; and 6) management and administration.

The new program also allows for "overtime costs for personnel to participate in information, investigative and intelligence sharing activities specifically related to homeland security," limited to 20 percent of the funding received by a state or local law enforcement agency unless waived by DHS.

The complete announcement is available at usmayors.org, including the state-by-state allocations for the three programs.

$725 Million for Urban Area Grants Announced

On November 13, DHS announced an additional $725 million in FY 2004 funding for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). This is the third round of UASI funding, with nearly $800 million being provided in FY 2003. In commenting on the program, Secretary Ridge said, "The funds will go to the designated states, which will then work with counties and cities to form regions that will work together through mutual aid agreements, interoperable communications, statewide intelligence centers and community and citizen participation."

$675 million will be allocated in the form of grants through the states to 50 urban areas selected by the DHS. According to DHS, "the urban areas are chosen based on a formula that takes into account factors including critical infrastructure, population density and credible threat information." Funding allocations among the cities, contiguous counties and mutual aid partners will be based on an urban area assessment and strategic plan. Eighty percent of the funds allocated to the state under this program must be awarded to the designated cities and contiguous counties within the urban area based on the strategic plan. The state may use the remaining twenty percent for further security enhancements within the urban area.

$50 million has been allocated in the form of grants through the states for mass transit security agencies across the country to help the agencies enhance the security of its assets and passengers.

A complete listing of the grantees is available at usmayors.org.