LLEBG - Program Requirements
The following requirements must be met prior to the obligation of LLEBG Program funds and prior to the Request for Drawdown (RFD) of funds. The RFD must be completed within 90 days of the posting of awards, or the funds will be redistributed in the following fiscal year.
Advisory Board. Each jurisdiction must establish or designate an advisory board to review the application. The board must be designated to make nonbinding recommendations for the proposed use of funds received under this program. The advisory board must include a member from each of the following local organizations:
- law enforcement agency
- prosecutor's office
- court system
- school system
- nonprofit group (e.g., educational, religious, community) active in crime prevention or drug-use prevention or treatment
Louisiana Advisory Board: Only in Louisiana must the established or designated advisory board make binding recommendations for the proposed use of funds received under this program.
Public Hearing. Each jurisdiction must hold at least one public hearing regarding the proposed use of funds prior to the obligation of funds. Jurisdictions should encourage public attendance and participation.
Matching Funds. Each jurisdiction is responsible for a local cash match. Under the LLEBG Program, a jurisdiction's LLEBG funds may not exceed 90 percent of the total program costs. A jurisdiction's local cash match requirement is 1/9 of the federal LLEBG funds expended. All jurisdictions must maintain records that clearly track the source, amount, and timing of matching contributions. Allowable sources of match under the LLEBG Program are as follows:
- Funds from States and units of local government.
- Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.
- Appalachian Regional Development Act.
- Equitable Sharing Program, a Federal asset forfeiture distribution program to State and local officials.
- Private funds.
Trust Fund. Each jurisdiction must establish a trust fund for the deposit of LLEBG Program funds. The trust fund does not have to be an interest-bearing fund. The trust fund account must include the following four characteristics:
- The account may earn interest, but any earned interest (on federal funds) must be used for LLEBG Program purposes;
- The recipient must be able to account for the federal award amount;
- The recipient must be able to account for the local match amount; and
- The recipient must be able to account for the interest earned, if any.
If the four requirements are met with the jurisdiction's existing system, a separate system does not have to be established. The CEO of the unit of local government (e.g., City manager, Mayor, or County Commissioner, County Judge), not the implementing or law enforcement agency, should establish and maintain the trust fund. There is no requirement that matching funds be deposited in a trust fund account.
Expenditure Period. All federal funds, including interest, revenue, dividend, and match must be spent within 2 years (24 months) from the date the grant payment is made to the jurisdiction. There are no extensions of the expenditure period. Please note that the award period (Box #6 of the award document) and expenditure period (Box #14 of the Grant Adjustment Notice (GAN)) are different. A GAN will indicate the appropriate 24 month expenditure period of an award.
