FY 2014 NICS Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP)

 

BJS is publishing this notice to announce the continuation of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014, identify the program priorities, and provide information on application requirements. The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, Pub. L. No. 110-180 (“the NIAA”) was signed into law on January 8, 2008 in the wake of the April 2007 shooting tragedy at Virginia Tech. The Virginia Tech shooter was able to purchase firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) because information about his prohibiting mental health history was not available to the NICS, and the system was therefore unable to deny the transfer of the firearms used in the shootings. The NIAA seeks to address the gap in information available to NICS about such prohibiting mental health adjudications and commitments and other prohibiting factors. Filling these information gaps will better enable the system to operate as intended to keep guns out of the hands of persons prohibited by federal or state law from receiving or possessing firearms. The automation of records will also reduce delays for law-abiding gun purchasers. The NIAA authorized a grant program to assist states in providing certain information to the NICS and prescribes grant penalties for noncompliance with the Act’s record completeness goals. Additionally, pursuant to the Act, there are certain conditions, described under “Eligibility,” that a state must satisfy in advance of receiving grants under the Act.

Deleted 06/11/2014 (Archived.) BJS-2014-3834 Agency: Department of Justice
Office: Office of Justice Programs Cooperative Agreement 27 The NIAA provides that the grants authorized are to be made in a manner consistent with the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP). The NARIP applications must be submitted by (a) the agency designated by the Governor to administer the NCHIP program, (b) the state or territory central administrative office or similar entity designated by statute or regulation to administer federal grant funds on behalf of the jurisdiction’s court system, or (c) federally recognized Indian tribal government. Note - In accordance with the NIAA (see 18 U.S.C. § 922 note), there are two specific conditions that each state must satisfy before being eligible to receive grants: 1. First, “each State shall provide the Attorney General with a reasonable estimate, as calculated by a method determined by the Attorney General… of the number of the records” subject to the NIAA completeness requirements. (Id.) The last round of estimates were collected in 2011. Applicants under this solicitation should confirm with BJS whether this eligibility criteria has been met. 2. Second, “to be eligible for a grant under this [program], a State shall certify, to the satisfaction of the Attorney General, that the State has implemented a relief from disabilities program.” (Id.) For the purpose of this solicitation, a “relief from disabilities program” is a program that permits persons who have been adjudicated a mental defective or committed to a mental institution to obtain relief from the firearms disabilities imposed by law as a result of such adjudication or commitment. This relief must be based on a finding, in accordance with principles of due process, by a state court, board, commission, or other lawful authority, that the circumstances of the disability and the person’s record and reputation are such that the person will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to the public safety and that the granting of relief would not be contrary to the public interest. The certification form is available on the ATF website at www.atf.gov/files/forms/download/atf-f-3210-12.pdf. For further information, please visit NICS Improvement Act Questions and Answers on the BJS website at www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=49#q_and_a 05/12/2014 This program does not have cost sharing or matching requirements. Cathy Maston
Management and Program Analyst
Phone 2023075992 http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/narip14sol.pdf cathy.maston@usdoj.gov $12,000,000.00