This bill reauthorizes federal grant funding for the National Police Athletic/Activities League, a nonprofit organization that operates youth programs in partnership with law enforcement agencies. The legislation directs the Department of Justice to award grants to establish 250 new PAL chapters in distressed areas and public housing projects and expand existing chapters nationwide from 2028 through 2032, targeting youth ages 5 to 18 who are at risk of crime, substance abuse, or dropping out of school. Each PAL chapter must offer at least two after-school programs that include mentorship, academics, athletics, technology training, character development, drug prevention, health counseling, job skills, and conflict resolution training led by law enforcement personnel and community volunteers. The bill authorizes $16 million annually for five years to fund these efforts, with the goal of reaching a total of 500 PAL chapters by January 1, 2032, and requires the National PAL organization and the Department of Justice to report regularly to Congress on program effectiveness and progress in reducing juvenile crime and school dropout rates.
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