GovernmentExecutive.com

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., wants to arm state and local law enforcement officials with tools to fight cybercrime through a new $25 million federal grant program.

S. 1314 would establish a Justice Department-administered grant program that would let states tap into federal funds to provide training to help enforce state cybercrime laws. States would be allowed to choose from private training programs or administer their own.

The Computer Crime Enforcement Act, introduced July 1, also would fund education and enforcement of computer crimes. Issues range from training law enforcement how to collect online evidence to educating the public about secure networks.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Francisco-based Computer Security Institute found that 62 percent of information security officials reported computer security breaches during the past year. These break-ins, from inside and outside of the companies surveyed, resulted in $123 million in losses from fraud, information theft, sabotage, computer viruses and stolen laptops.

The survey also found that companies are reporting cybercrimes to the police more often, creating the need for new police training. Of those surveyed, 32 percent said they reported serious incidents, up from 17 percent in prior studies.

Sens. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and Chuck Robb, D-Va., also have signed on to the bill, which has been sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review.