Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998

Bulletproof Vest Partnership Act of 1998 - Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to: (1) make grants to States, local governments, and Indian tribes to purchase armor vests for use by State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers; and (2) give preferential consideration to applications from jurisdictions that have a violent crime rate at or above the national average and that have not been providing each law enforcement officer assigned to patrol or other hazardous duties with body armor. Sets forth provisions regarding matching funds and allocation of funds, applications, and reimbursement of funds. Provides that a qualifying State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe may not receive more than five percent of the total amount appropriated in each fiscal year for such grants, except that a State, together with grantees within the State, may not receive more than 20 percent of the total amount appropriated in each fiscal year for such grants. Prohibits any State, local government, or Indian tribe that receives financial assistance made available by this Act from purchasing equipment or products manufactured using prison inmate labor. Expresses the sense of the Congress that entities receiving assistance under this Act should, in expending such assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and products. Authorizes appropriations.

Congressional Research Service · 1998-02-26