S. 1208 · 116th Congress
Protecting America’s First Responders Act
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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 116th Congress ended.
R
GrassleySponsor15 cosponsors · 9 D, 6 R
D
Gillibrand
RB
D
Blumenthal
JT
D
Tester
KC
R
Cramer
AK
D
Klobuchar
MB
R
Blackburn
CC
D
Coons
TC
R
Cruz
RD
D
Durbin
SD
R
Daines
MH
D
Hirono
PL
D
Leahy
TT
R
Tillis
SW
D
Whitehouse
MC
R
Crapo1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
- Senate Introduced Apr 11, 2019
- Senate Passed May 16, 2019
This bill revises the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program. The program provides disability benefits to public safety officers who are injured in the line of duty and provides death and education benefits to survivors of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty.
What it does: CRS summary · Passed Senate · May 16, 2019
Protecting America's First Responders Act
This bill revises the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program. The program provides disability benefits to public safety officers who are injured in the line of duty and provides death and education benefits to survivors of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty.
Specifically, the bill revises the payment amount of disability benefits for claims pending for more than one year. The amount must be based on the date of the adjudication of such claim rather than the date of the injury. The bill also increases the interim benefit payment amount and adjusts it based on the Consumer Price Index.
Additionally, the payment amount of death benefits must be the greater of (1) the amount payable as of the date of the public safety officer's death, or (2) the amount payable based on the date of the adjudication of the claim. Currently, such amount is based only on the date of death.
Next, the bill includes within the definition of firefighter for purposes of benefits an individual whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic.
Further, the bill allows applicants who were denied benefits in the previous three years to reapply for benefits.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) must use all available investigative tools, including subpoenas, to (1) expedite the processing of a claimant's eligibility for a death, disability, or education benefit; and (2) obtain necessary information from third parties (e.g., public agencies).
DOJ must provide retroactive educational assistance to eligible survivors of public safety officers.
In addition, DOJ must collect data on law enforcement officers who were killed or permanently disabled while on duty.
The Government Accountability Office must report on the average medical costs incurred by a disabled law enforcement officer over the officer's lifetime.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Protecting America's First Responders Act
Latest action (May 31, 2019): Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Apr 11, 2019
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
- Senate Introduced Apr 11, 2019
- Senate Passed May 16, 2019
No recorded floor vote found.