The City was notified that it is eligible for an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Grant for 2015 in the amount of $248,323.  This will be the ninth year that the City will receive the grant.  This grant financially supports the Billings Police Department and twelve affiliated agencies in the education, investigation, and prosecution of on-line child exploitation and pornography cases.  This grant is for the twelve (12) month period of July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016 and will provide funding for the salary and benefits of the program manager, overtime for the Montana affiliate task force officers, training, equipment, and supplies.  City Council is being asked to approve submitting the continuation grant application, to accept the grant award in the amount of $248,323 and to authorize the Mayor to sign the necessary grant documents.

The City Council may:

• Approve application submittal and finalization of the 2015 ICAC Continuation Grant; or
• Not approve application submittal and finalization of the 2015 ICAC Continuation Grant, which would result in less resources to investigate internet based child exploitation and pornography cases.

One officer from the Billings Police Department is assigned to the grant to investigate internet based child exploitation and pornography cases.  This position is already budgeted in the Detectives Division however, overtime and operational costs related to on-going investigations will be reimbursed by the grant.  There will be City dollars spent, but these expenditures will be reimbursed through quarterly draws. 

This grant also supports twelve affiliated agencies.  Expenses submitted to the Billings Police Department will be reimbursed after funds are received from the federal granting agency.

Staff recommends that City Council approve submitting the 2015 ICAC Continuation Grant application, accept the grant award in the amount of $248,323, and authorize the Mayor to sign grant documents.