1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promoting Fair and Effective Policing Through Research Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Despite the pivotal role police officers play in preventing and controlling crime, there are significant gaps in research on the fairness and efficacy of policing policies and practices, including those related to use of force. (2) The lack of accurate and comprehensive data on police use of force is often cited as one of the most significant barriers to identifying and understanding patterns of police use of excessive force against civilians. (3) The best available evidence reveals increased likelihood of police use of force against people of color, people with disabilities, LGBT people, people with mental health conditions, people with low incomes, and those at the intersections of these groups. (4) Biases in advanced policing technologies, including biometric identification systems, have the potential to exacerbate such disparities. (5) Along with better data, more social and behavioral research is needed to improve our understanding of the potential factors that influence excessive use of force as well as the related psychological and social effects of such incidents on individuals and communities. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Community-based organization The term community-based organization means a grassroots organization that monitors the issue of police misconduct and that has a national presence and membership, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Council of La Raza, the National Urban League, the National Congress of American Indians, and the National Asian Pacific Legal Consortium (NAPALC). (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 ). (3) Law enforcement agency The term law enforcement agency means any Federal, State, or