FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

AUTHORIZATION:

Highway Safety Act of 1998, as amended, 23 U.S.C. 410.

To encourage States to adopt effective programs to reduce crashes resulting from persons driving while under the influence of alcohol and other controlled substances.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Incentive grant funds are available to States to implement effective programs to reduce drunk and drugged driving, in compliance with established criteria.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   States, and the District of Columbia.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   State Highway Safety Agency.

Credentials/Documentation:   State submits certification and application that it meets eligibility requirements; after being informed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it is eligible for a grant, State submits to the agency a plan that describes the programs the State will implement using the funds.

Pre-application Coordination:   NHTSA Regional Administrator coordinates qualification process with Office of State and Community Services. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   State submits certification and application that it meets eligibility requirements; after being informed that it is eligible for a grant, State submits to the agency a plan that describes the programs the State will implement using the funds.

Award Procedure:   Awards are made by the NHTSA Regional Administrator.

Deadlines:   Awards must be made within the fiscal year that funds are appropriated.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Program plan should be submitted within 120 days of application for eligibility being approved.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   States are eligible for funding for up to 65 years under the 410 program. Certification and plan must be approved each year.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Under 410 program, basic grant is up to 25 percent of State's Section 402 apportionment for fiscal year 1997; supplemental 410 grants may not exceed 10 percent of the funds made available for each of the 410 program criteria. The Federal share shall not exceed 75 percent in the first and second years, 50 percent in the third and fourth years, and 25 percent in the fifth and sixth years.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers covering costs incurred. All participants have converted to the Electronic Transfer of Funds method. Funds placed in obligation are available until expended.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Annual program plan for next year's funding must include a progress report on the prior year's program and accomplishments.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Records relating to the program shall be retained for a period not less than 3 years from the date of submission of final financial report.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   69-8020-0-7-401.

Obligations:   (Incentive Grants) FY 01 $35,921,000; FY 02 est $38,000,000; and FY 03 est $40,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$262,000 to $4,500,000.

Information not available.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

23 CFR 1309 and 1313.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regional office addresses.

Headquarters Office:   Adele Derby, Associate Administrator for State and Community Services, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2121.

Web Site Address:  
http://www.nhts/whatsup/fedassist/index.html

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) prevention programs with special emphasis on law enforcement of drunk driving laws and public education about such laws; purchase of breath testing devices and the training of law enforcement personnel in their proper use; police training in a variety of drunk and impaired driving issues; and overtime pay for police personnel doing selective traffic enforcement programs related to alcohol and drug impaired driving.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

States must meet criteria established by statute and regulation including, for example, prompt license suspension for drunk driving, mandatory sentencing for repeat drunk driving offenders and self-sustaining drunk driving prevention programs.