Originally from Dispute Resolution Journal

The Dispute Resolution Act of 1979 became law upon signature of President Carter on February 12, 1980. The legislation will establish a Dispute Resolution Resource Center and a Dispute Resolution Advisory Board within the Department of Justice as a part of a comprehensive program concerned with consumer and minor disputes. The legislation also authorizes annual appropriations of $1 million for five years for the Resource Center and $10 million for four years, 1981-1984, for grants to states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to fund new and experimental dispute resolution programs and to improve existing mechanisms. A bill for such an appropriation will be submitted to the next Congress.

Immediately, $1 million for first-year funding has been made available from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration for implementation and for initial grants and contracts to meet the goals of the Dispute Resolution Resource Center.