In late 2000, former President Bill Clinton signed a bill increasing the amount of funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act from $25 million per year to $50 million per year and extending it to 2004. The grant helps local jurisdictions purchase bulletproof vests for their public safety officers.
In addition to the increased funding level, the new act provides funding priority for smaller jurisdictions with populations below 100,000. Under the new act, approved smaller jurisdictions will receive 50 percent of the requested funds in approved applications.

Larger jurisdictions, those with a population above 100,000, will receive up to 50 percent of the total costs of vests based on the funds remaining after the smaller jurisdictions have been reimbursed. This new formula may result in some larger jurisdictions receiving less than 50 percent reimbursement.

This year, for the first time, the Department of Justice is urging jurisdictions not to order vests, for which reimbursement is sought, until their application is approved, unless the jurisdiction has the funds to pay for the vests.

The 2002 application period runs until April 13, and applications may include any National Institutes of Justice approved vests purchased on or after March 1, 1999.

According to the new act, any jurisdiction that is a unit of government recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau is eligible to apply for funding. This includes cities, towns, villages, boroughs, parishes, counties, states, special government districts and Native American tribes. The jurisdiction must also employ eligible law enforcement officers.

As in the past, the application must be completed and submitted on the Internet at http://vests.ojp.gov/index.jsp. If you are unable to access this site on the Internet, contact the Office of Justice Programs at their toll-free number (877) 758-3783.