A bill that would send a $300,000 grant to Bucks County to help complete a county-wide crime information system and $50,000 to a Montgomery County agency that works with child sex abuse victims has made it through the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.

Still, the 2010 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill must be approved by the full Senate, the House of Representatives and President Obama before the money can be distributed.

Bucks County Chief Operating Officer David Sanko said the cash would be used as part of an ongoing effort to install laptops in police cruisers, fire trucks and ambulances throughout the county.

The money would also be used to help complete the construction of a computer network that police, firefighters and emergency responders could access from the laptops to obtain information about the criminal backgrounds of people they come into contact with, said Sanko.

Limited health information about people could be accessible too, but information provided will not violate privacy laws, Sanko said. The network will be secure.

"It's not just an open book. They'll see what they need to for safety purposes," said Sanko.

Providing police and other emergency responders with access to background information while they're in the field at a developing emergency or other situation will help keep citizens and officers safer, officials said.

For example, an officer responding to a domestic violence call could immediately check if the subjects involved have a violent criminal past, useful knowledge when approaching a volatile situation, officials said.

"Information is the key to keeping law enforcement officers and the public safe," said Doylestown Township police Chief Stephen J. White.

The county believes it will cost about $2.4 million to finish outfitting various agencies with laptops and building the network. While pleased to hear $300,000 could be on the way, Sanko said the county had hoped for $ 1 million.

"This is another step in the process," he said.

In Montgomery County, Abbie Newman, executive director of Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, was thrilled her nonprofit organization is in line for a $50,000 grant. "We're very appreciative," she said.

Newman said the money would likely be put toward capital expenditures, operating expenses and paying salaries.

Mission Kids began operating less than two years ago, Newman said. The group works with child victims of sexual abuse and attempts to serve as a bridge between agencies investigating abuse cases.

Pennsylvania's U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey announced the bill allotting the grant money had made it through the appropriations committee late last week.

"This funding will have tremendous impact on local communities by enhancing safety through advanced law enforcement programs," Specter said.

Christopher Ruvo can be reached at 215-345-3147 or cruvo@phillyburbs.com.