A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the governor's crime commission to assist sheriffs' offices in north carolina in applying for participation in the united states immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program, as codified in 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g).
Whereas, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program is designed to enhance cooperation and communication between ICE and State and local law enforcement agencies and officers; and
Whereas, the 287(g) program allows state and local law enforcement to assist the federal government's efforts to apprehend and deport illegal aliens, many of whom may have committed crimes in North Carolina; and
Whereas, North Carolina's sheriffs operate the jails and detention centers where defendants are confined prior to trial for crimes allegedly committed in North Carolina; and
Whereas, State funding will enable the provision of technical assistance to North Carolina's sheriffs which will in turn allow them to participate in the 287(g) program; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Governor's Crime Commission of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety the sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) for fiscal year 2007‑2008 and the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for fiscal year 2008‑2009 for a grant to the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, to do the following:
(1)	Provide technical assistance and advice to the sheriffs of North Carolina about the program operated pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g), also known as the "287(g) program". 
(2)	Provide technical assistance to sheriffs seeking to negotiate a memorandum of understanding pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g), which is the means by which a state or political subdivision initiates participation in the 287(g) program.
(3)	Enable sheriffs to send adequate personnel to the training required under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g)(2) by reimbursing travel costs for the officers attending the training, as well as reimbursing the sheriff's office for the salary of the officers while attending the 287(g) program. 
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.