Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund and Grant Program; established.

Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund andGrant Program; firearm and ammunition tax. Establishes the ViolenceIntervention and Prevention Fund (the Fund), to be administered bythe Department of Criminal Justice Services (the Department), to distribute grants to localities and organizations for the purposeof improving public health and safety by supporting effective violencereduction initiatives in communities that are disproportionatelyimpacted by violence, particularly homicides, shootings, and aggravatedassaults. Funds may also be used to finance the hiring of counselorsin public elementary and secondary schools and research initiativesthat have the objective of reducing gun violence. Thebill provides that the Department shall issue grants on a competitivebasis. As a condition of receiving a grant, a locality or organizationmust commit a cash or in-kind contribution equivalent to the amountof the grant, with waivers allowed for good cause, and report onits progress toward achieving the grant's objectives. The bill requiresthe Department to provide public access to such reports. The bill imposes a 15 percent tax on the saleof any firearm or ammunition, with all revenue from the tax accruingto the Fund. Sales to state or local agencies or law-enforcementofficers are exempt from the tax.