(a) Mission.--The mission of the Office shall be--
(1) to serve as the national focal point for work
on law enforcement technology; and
(2) to carry out programs that, through the
provision of equipment, training, and technical
assistance, improve the safety and effectiveness of law
enforcement technology and improve access to such
technology by Federal, State, and local law enforcement
agencies.
(b) Duties.--In carrying out its mission, the Office shall
have the following duties:
(1) To provide recommendations and advice to the
Attorney General.
(2) To establish and maintain advisory groups
(which shall be exempt from the provisions of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)) to
assess the law enforcement technology needs of Federal,
State, and local law enforcement agencies.
(3) To establish and maintain performance standards
in accordance with the National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-113) for, and
test and evaluate law enforcement technologies that may
be used by, Federal, State, and local law enforcement
agencies.
(4) To establish and maintain a program to certify,
validate, and mark or otherwise recognize law
enforcement technology products that conform to
standards established and maintained by the Office in
accordance with the National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-113). The
program may, at the discretion of the Office, allow for
supplier's declaration of conformity with such
standards.
(5) To work with other entities within the
Department of Justice, other Federal agencies, and the
executive office of the President to establish a
coordinated Federal approach on issues related to law
enforcement technology.
(6) To carry out research, development, testing,
evaluation, and cost-benefit analyses in fields that
would improve the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency
of law enforcement technologies used by Federal, State,
and local law enforcement agencies, including, but not
limited to--
(A) weapons capable of preventing use by
unauthorized persons, including personalized
guns;
(B) protective apparel;
(C) bullet-resistant and explosion-
resistant glass;
(D) monitoring systems and alarm systems
capable of providing precise location
information;
(E) wire and wireless interoperable
communication technologies;
(F) tools and techniques that facilitate
investigative and forensic work, including
computer forensics;
(G) equipment for particular use in
counterterrorism, including devices and
technologies to disable terrorist devices;
(H) guides to assist State and local law
enforcement agencies;
(I) DNA identification technologies; and
(J) tools and techniques that facilitate
investigations of computer crime.
(7) To administer a program of research,
development, testing, and demonstration to improve the
interoperability of voice and data public safety
communications.
(8) To serve on the Technical Support Working Group
of the Department of Defense, and on other relevant
interagency panels, as requested.
(9) To develop, and disseminate to State and local
law enforcement agencies, technical assistance and
training materials for law enforcement personnel,
including prosecutors.
(10) To operate the regional National Law
Enforcement and Corrections Technology Centers and, to
the extent necessary, establish additional centers
through a competitive process.
(11) To administer a program of acquisition,
research, development, and dissemination of advanced
investigative analysis and forensic tools to assist
State and local law enforcement agencies in combating
cybercrime.
(12) To support research fellowships in support of
its mission.
(13) To serve as a clearinghouse for information on
law enforcement technologies.
(14) To represent the United States and State and
local law enforcement agencies, as requested, in
international activities concerning law enforcement
technology.
(15) To enter into contracts and cooperative
agreements and provide grants, which may require in-
kind or cash matches from the recipient, as necessary
to carry out its mission.
(16) To carry out other duties assigned by the
Attorney General to accomplish the mission of the
Office.
(c) Competition Required.--Except as otherwise expressly
provided by law, all research and development carried out by or
through the Office shall be carried out on a competitive basis.
(d) Information From Federal Agencies.--Federal agencies
shall, upon request from the Office and in accordance with
Federal law, provide the Office with any data, reports, or
other information requested, unless compliance with such
request is otherwise prohibited by law.
(e) Publications.--Decisions concerning publications issued
by the Office shall rest solely with the Director of the
Office.
(f) Transfer of Funds.--The Office may transfer funds to
other Federal agencies or provide funding to non-Federal
entities through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts
to carry out its duties under this section: Provided, That any
such transfer or provision of funding shall be carried out in
accordance with section 605 of Public Law 107-77.
(g) Annual Report.--The Director of the Office shall
include with the budget justification materials submitted to
Congress in support of the Department of Justice budget for
each fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of the President
under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code) a report
on the activities of the Office. Each such report shall include
the following:
(1) For the period of 5 fiscal years beginning with
the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted--
(A) the Director's assessment of the needs
of Federal, State, and local law enforcement
agencies for assistance with respect to law
enforcement technology and other matters
consistent with the mission of the Office; and
(B) a strategic plan for meeting such needs
of such law enforcement agencies.
(2) For the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year
for which such budget is submitted, a description of
the activities carried out by the Office and an
evaluation of the extent to which those activities
successfully meet the needs assessed under paragraph
(1)(A) in previous reports.