Sponsor
Ritchie Torres
Representative · D-NY
Representative · D-NY
The bill lets DOJ fund private retail security upgrades—potentially improving safety and reducing theft for small businesses—while raising privacy, equity, and oversight concerns about using public funds for private surveillance.
Small-business owners (retailers) and local governments can access DOJ grant funding because the bill clarifies allowable uses and expands eligible recipients, enabling federal support for private-sector security upgrades.
Employees and customers of small retail stores can get installed panic buttons, cameras, and related security equipment funded by DOJ grants, improving worker and customer safety and emergency response.
Small retailers can reduce crime-related losses and operating disruptions by using federal grants for security upgrades, supporting economic resilience for vulnerable independent businesses.
Customers, employees, and the general public may face increased privacy and civil‑liberties risks because taxpayer funds could subsidize surveillance equipment and data collection in private businesses.
Low-income and disadvantaged communities could lose out if limited DOJ grant dollars are redirected toward private business security instead of public safety programs that serve vulnerable populations.
Taxpayers and local oversight bodies face greater risk of misuse or inadequate accountability if federal grants fund private-sector surveillance without strengthened monitoring and clear accountability rules.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows DOJ grants to fund panic buttons and surveillance in private businesses and makes NAICS 445131 businesses eligible recipients.
Official title: To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide for the inclusion of an additional use of Byrne-JAG grant funds.
Introduced March 10, 2025 by Ritchie Torres · Last progress March 10, 2025
Expands allowable uses of Department of Justice grant money to cover installation of panic buttons and surveillance equipment in private businesses and explicitly makes businesses with NAICS 445131 eligible grant recipients. The change amends a provision of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to broaden who can receive grants and what equipment those grants may fund.