S. 2944 · 114th Congress
Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016
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Passed the Senate without a recorded vote, then expired. It passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record how each member voted, but didn't become law before the 114th Congress ended.
R
GrassleySponsor6 cosponsors · 3 D, 3 R
1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
- Senate Introduced May 18, 2016
- Senate Passed Nov 29, 2016
It authorizes the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to establish PSOB program rules, regulations, and procedures based on standards developed by another federal agency.
What it does: CRS summary · Passed Senate amended · Nov 29, 2016
Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to revise requirements for the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. (The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty.)
It authorizes the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to establish PSOB program rules, regulations, and procedures based on standards developed by another federal agency.
In determining a claimant's eligibility for death or disability benefits, the BJA must give substantial weight to evidence and facts presented by a state, local, or federal agency.
The BJA must also publish and update information on pending claims and report to Congress on submitted claims for death, disability, and educational benefits.
(Sec. 3) This section extends the age limitation for a PSOB claim for death, disability, or education benefits that is approved more than one year after the date on which it was filed.
(Sec. 4) The BJA must attempt to obtain necessary documentation to determine a claimant's eligibility for death, disability, or education benefits. If it cannot determine eligibility due to a lack of documentation from a third party (e.g., a public agency), then the BJA may abandon the claim only after it utilizes investigative tools, including subpoenas, to obtain the information.
(Sec. 5) The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that a public safety officer acted properly at the time of injury or death and that no specified limitation (e.g., voluntary intoxication at the time of injury or death) bars the payment of death or disability benefits. The BJA may rebut the presumption by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.
(Sec. 6) This bill's provisions apply to a claim that is pending on or submitted on or after enactment.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016
Latest action (Dec 22, 2016): Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement · Origin: Senate · Introduced: May 18, 2016
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
- Senate Introduced May 18, 2016
- Senate Passed Nov 29, 2016
No recorded floor vote found.