Internet Crimes Against Children Grant Program for local law enforcement affiliates to protect children.

(1) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Affiliate” means a local law enforcement agency in this state which has a current memorandum of understanding with an established Internet crimes against children task force or which has been designated by the department as being in good standing.

(b) “Good standing” means a local law enforcement agency in this state that receives CyberTips from one of the task forces and follows Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program standards in its investigation of Internet crimes against children.

(c) “Internet crimes against children task force” means an Internet crimes against children task force located in this state which is recognized by the United States Department of Justice.

(2) There is created within the department the Internet Crimes Against Children Grant Program to award grants to local law enforcement affiliates to support their work to combat online child exploitation and to target individuals online preying upon children or attempting to do so.

(3) The department shall annually award to local law enforcement affiliates any funds specifically appropriated for the grant program to cover expenses related to their work to combat Internet crimes against children. The funds may be awarded to cover overtime pay, travel, investigative or digital forensics training, hardware, or software. Grants must be provided to local law enforcement agencies if funds are appropriated for that purpose by law. The total amount of grants awarded may not exceed funding appropriated for the grant program.

(4) The department may establish criteria and set specific time periods for the acceptance of applications and for the selection process for awarding grant funds.