I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3842 

To improve homeland security, including domestic preparedness and response 

to terrorism, by reforming Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers 

to provide training to first responders, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 28, 2015 

Mr. CARTER of Georgia (for himself and Mrs. TORRES) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, 

and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To improve homeland security, including domestic preparedness and response to terrorism, by reforming Federal 

Law Enforcement Training Centers to provide training 

to first responders, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Law Enforce5 ment Training Centers Reform and Improvement Act of 

6 2015’’. 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 3842 IH

1 SEC. 2. FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTERS. 

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 884 of the Homeland 

3 Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 464) is amended to read 

4 as follows: 

5 ‘‘SEC. 884. FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CEN6 TERS. 

7 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall main8 tain in the Department the Federal Law Enforcement 

9 Training Centers (FLETC), headed by a Director, who 

10 shall report to the Secretary. 

11 ‘‘(b) POSITION.—The Director shall occupy a career12 reserved position within the Senior Executive Service. 

13 ‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTOR.—The Director 

14 shall— 

15 ‘‘(1) develop training goals and establish stra16 tegic and tactical organizational program plan and 

17 priorities; 

18 ‘‘(2) provide direction and management for 

19 FLETC’s training facilities, programs, and support 

20 activities while ensuring that organizational program 

21 goals and priorities are executed in an effective and 

22 efficient manner; 

23 ‘‘(3) develop homeland security and law en24 forcement training curricula, including curricula re25 lated to domestic preparedness and response to 

26 threats or acts of terrorism, for Federal, State, local, 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 3842 IH

1 tribal, territorial, international, and private sector 

2 law enforcement and security agencies; 

3 ‘‘(4) monitor progress toward strategic and tac4 tical FLETC plans regarding training curricula, in5 cluding curricula related to domestic preparedness 

6 and response to threats or acts of terrorism, and fa7 cilities; 

8 ‘‘(5) ensure the timely dissemination of home9 land security information as necessary to Federal, 

10 State, local, tribal, territorial, and international law 

11 enforcement and security agencies and the private 

12 sector to achieve the training goals for such entities, 

13 in accordance with paragraph (1); 

14 ‘‘(6) coordinate and share information with the 

15 heads of relevant components and offices on digital 

16 learning and training resources, as appropriate; 

17 ‘‘(7) advise the Secretary on matters relating to 

18 executive level policy and program administration of 

19 Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, international, 

20 and private sector law enforcement and security 

21 training activities, including training activities re22 lated to domestic preparedness and response to 

23 threats or acts of terrorism; and 

24 ‘‘(8) carry out such other functions as the Sec25 retary determines are appropriate. 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 3842 IH

1 ‘‘(d) TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES.— 

2 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director is authorized 

3 to provide training to employees of Federal agencies 

4 who are engaged, directly or indirectly, in homeland 

5 security operations or Federal law enforcement ac6 tivities, including such operations or activities re7 lated to domestic preparedness and response to 

8 threats or acts of terrorism. In carrying out such 

9 training, the Director shall— 

10 ‘‘(A) evaluate best practices of law enforce11 ment training methods and curriculum content 

12 to maintain state-of-the-art expertise in adult 

13 learning methodology; 

14 ‘‘(B) provide expertise and technical assist15 ance, including on domestic preparedness and 

16 response to threats or acts of terrorism, to Fed17 eral, State, local, tribal, territorial, international 

18 and private sector law enforcement and security 

19 agencies; and 

20 ‘‘(C) maintain a performance evaluation 

21 process for students. 

22 ‘‘(2) RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT

23 AGENCIES.—The Director shall consult with relevant 

24 law enforcement and security agencies in the devel25 opment and delivery of FLETC’s training programs. 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 3842 IH

1 ‘‘(3) TRAINING DELIVERY LOCATIONS.—The 

2 training required under paragraph (1) may be con3 ducted at FLETC facilities, at appropriate off-site 

4 locations, or by distributed learning. 

5 ‘‘(4) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.—The Director 

6 may execute strategic partnerships with State and 

7 local law enforcement to provide such law enforce8 ment with specific training, including maritime law 

9 enforcement training. 

10 ‘‘(5) DETAIL OF INSTRUCTORS TO FLETC.— 

11 Partner organizations that wish to participate in 

12 FLETC training programs shall assign non-reim13 bursable detailed instructors to FLETC for des14 ignated time periods to support all training pro15 grams at FLETC, as appropriate. The Director 

16 shall determine the number of detailed instructors 

17 that is proportional to the number of training hours 

18 requested by each partner organization scheduled by 

19 FLETC for each fiscal year. If a partner organiza20 tion is unable to provide a proportional number of 

21 detailed instructors, such partner organization shall 

22 reimburse FLETC for the salary equivalent for such 

23 detailed instructors, as appropriate. 

24 ‘‘(6) PARTNER ORGANIZATION EXPENSES RE25 QUIREMENTS.— 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 3842 IH

1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Partner organizations 

2 shall be responsible for the following expenses: 

3 ‘‘(i) Salaries, travel expenses, lodging 

4 expenses, and miscellaneous per diem al5 lowances of their personnel attending 

6 training courses at FLETC. 

7 ‘‘(ii) Salaries and travel expenses of 

8 instructors and support personnel involved 

9 in conducting advanced training at 

10 FLETC for partner organization personnel 

11 and the cost of expendable supplies and 

12 special equipment for such training, unless 

13 such supplies and equipment are common 

14 to FLETC-conducted training and have 

15 been included in FLETC’s budget for the 

16 applicable fiscal year. 

17 ‘‘(B) EXCESS BASIC AND ADVANCED FED18 ERAL TRAINING.—All hours of advanced train19 ing and hours of basic training provided in ex20 cess of the training for which appropriations 

21 were made available shall be paid by the part22 ner organizations and provided to FLETC on a 

23 reimbursable basis in accordance with section 

24 4104 of title 5, United States Code. 

25 ‘‘(7) PROVISION OF NON-FEDERAL TRAINING.— 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 3842 IH

1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director is au2 thorized to charge and retain fees that would 

3 pay for its actual costs of the training for the 

4 following: 

5 ‘‘(i) State, local, tribal, and territorial 

6 law enforcement personnel. 

7 ‘‘(ii) Foreign law enforcement offi8 cials, including provision of such training 

9 at the International Law Enforcement 

10 Academies wherever established. 

11 ‘‘(iii) Private sector security officers, 

12 participants in the Federal Flight Deck 

13 Officer program under section 44921 of 

14 title 49, United States Code, and other ap15 propriate private sector individuals. 

16 ‘‘(B) WAIVER.—The Director may waive 

17 the requirement for reimbursement of any cost 

18 under this section and shall maintain records 

19 regarding the reasons for any requirements so 

20 waived. 

21 ‘‘(8) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Director is au22 thorized to reimburse travel or other expenses for 

23 non-Federal personnel who attend activities related 

24 to training sponsored by FLETC, at travel and per 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
8 

•HR 3842 IH

1 diem rates established by the General Services Ad2 ministration. 

3 ‘‘(9) STUDENT SUPPORT.—In furtherance of its 

4 training mission, the Director is authorized to pro5 vide the following support to students: 

6 ‘‘(A) Athletic and related activities. 

7 ‘‘(B) Short-term medical services. 

8 ‘‘(C) Chaplain services. 

9 ‘‘(10) AUTHORITY TO HIRE FEDERAL ANNU10 ITANTS.— 

11 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 

12 other provision of law, the Director is author13 ized to appoint and maintain, as necessary, 

14 Federal annuitants who have expert knowledge 

15 and experience to meet the training responsibil16 ities under this subsection. 

17 ‘‘(B) NO REDUCTION IN RETIREMENT

18 PAY.—A Federal annuitant employed pursuant 

19 to this paragraph shall not be subject to any re20 duction in pay for annuity allocable to the pe21 riod of actual employment under the provisions 

22 of section 8344 or 8468 of title 5, United 

23 States Code, or similar provision of any other 

24 retirement system for employees. 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
9 

•HR 3842 IH

1 ‘‘(C) RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANTS.—A 

2 Federal annuitant employed pursuant to this 

3 paragraph shall not be considered an employee 

4 for purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 or 

5 chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, or 

6 such other retirement system (referred to in 

7 subparagraph (B)) as may apply. 

8 ‘‘(D) COUNTING.—Federal annuitants 

9 shall be counted on a full time equivalent basis. 

10 ‘‘(E) LIMITATION.—No appointment under 

11 this paragraph may be made which would result 

12 in the displacement of any employee. 

13 ‘‘(11) TRAVEL FOR INTERMITTENT EMPLOY14 EES.—The Director is authorized to reimburse inter15 mittent Federal employees traveling from outside a 

16 commuting distance (to be predetermined by the Di17 rector) for travel expenses and to compensate such 

18 employees for time spent traveling from their homes 

19 to work sites. 

20 ‘‘(e) ON-FLETC HOUSING.—Notwithstanding any 

21 other provision of law, individuals attending training at 

22 any FLETC facility shall, to the extent practicable and 

23 in accordance with FLETC policy, reside in on-FLETC 

24 or FLETC-provided housing. 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
10 

•HR 3842 IH

1 ‘‘(f) ADDITIONAL FISCAL AUTHORITIES.—In order to 

2 further the goals and objectives of FLETC, the Director 

3 is authorized to— 

4 ‘‘(1) expend funds for public awareness and to 

5 enhance community support of law enforcement 

6 training, including the advertisement of available law 

7 enforcement training programs; 

8 ‘‘(2) accept and use gifts of property, both real 

9 and personal, and to accept gifts of services, for pur10 poses that promote the functions of the Director 

11 pursuant to subsection (c) and the training respon12 sibilities of the Director under subsection (d); 

13 ‘‘(3) accept reimbursement from other Federal 

14 agencies for the construction or renovation of train15 ing and support facilities and the use of equipment 

16 and technology on government-owned property; 

17 ‘‘(4) obligate funds in anticipation of reim18 bursements from agencies receiving training at 

19 FLETC, except that total obligations at the end of 

20 a fiscal year may not exceed total budgetary re21 sources available at the end of such fiscal year; 

22 ‘‘(5) in accordance with the purchasing author23 ity provided under section 505 of the Department of 

24 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2004 (Pub25 lic Law 108–90; 6 U.S.C. 453a)— 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
11 

•HR 3842 IH

1 ‘‘(A) purchase employee and student uni2 forms; and 

3 ‘‘(B) purchase and lease passenger motor 

4 vehicles, including vehicles for police-type use; 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(6) provide room and board for student in7 terns. 

8 ‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

9 ‘‘(1) BASIC TRAINING.—The term ‘basic train10 ing’ means the entry-level training required to instill 

11 in new Federal law enforcement personnel funda12 mental knowledge of criminal laws, law enforcement 

13 and investigative techniques, laws and rules of evi14 dence, rules of criminal procedure, constitutional 

15 rights, search and seizure, and related issues. 

16 ‘‘(2) DETAILED INSTRUCTORS.—The term ‘de17 tailed instructors’ means personnel who are assigned 

18 to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers 

19 for a period of time to serve as instructors for the 

20 purpose of conducting basic and advanced training. 

21 ‘‘(3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘Director’ means 

22 the Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Train23 ing Centers. 

24 ‘‘(4) DISTRIBUTED LEARNING.—The term ‘dis25 tributed learning’ means education in which students 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
12 

•HR 3842 IH

1 take academic courses by accessing information and 

2 communicating with the instructor, from various lo3 cations, on an individual basis, over a computer net4 work or via other technologies. 

5 ‘‘(5) EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘employee’ has the 

6 meaning given such term in section 2105 of title 5, 

7 United States Code. 

8 ‘‘(6) FEDERAL AGENCY.—The term ‘Federal 

9 agency’ means— 

10 ‘‘(A) an Executive Department as defined 

11 in section 101 of title 5, United States Code; 

12 ‘‘(B) an independent establishment as de13 fined in section 104 of title 5, United States 

14 Code; 

15 ‘‘(C) a Government corporation as defined 

16 in section 9101 of title 31, United States Code; 

17 ‘‘(D) the Government Publishing Office; 

18 ‘‘(E) the United States Capitol Police; 

19 ‘‘(F) the United States Supreme Court Po20 lice; and 

21 ‘‘(G) Government agencies with law en22 forcement related duties. 

23 ‘‘(7) LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.—The 

24 term ‘law enforcement personnel’ means an indi25 vidual, including criminal investigators (commonly 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
13 

•HR 3842 IH

1 known as ‘agents’) and uniformed police (commonly 

2 known as ‘officers’), who has statutory authority to 

3 search, seize, make arrests, or to carry firearms. 

4 ‘‘(8) LOCAL.—The term ‘local’ means— 

5 ‘‘(A) of or pertaining to any county, par6 ish, municipality, city, town, township, rural 

7 community, unincorporated town or village, 

8 local public authority, educational institution, 

9 special district, intrastate district, council of 

10 governments (regardless of whether the council 

11 of governments is incorporated as a nonprofit 

12 corporation under State law), regional or inter13 state government entity, any agency or instru14 mentality of a local government, or any other 

15 political subdivision of a State; and 

16 ‘‘(B) an Indian tribe or authorized tribal 

17 organization, or in Alaska a Native village or 

18 Alaska Regional Native Corporation. 

19 ‘‘(9) PARTNER ORGANIZATION.—The term 

20 ‘partner organization’ means any Federal agency 

21 participating in FLETC’s training programs under 

22 a formal memorandum of understanding. 

23 ‘‘(10) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means any 

24 State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 

25 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin IsVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:40 Oct 29, 2015 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3842.IH H3842

smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
14 

•HR 3842 IH

1 lands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth 

2 of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any possession 

3 of the United States. 

4 ‘‘(11) STUDENT INTERN.—The term ‘student 

5 intern’ means any eligible baccalaureate or graduate 

6 degree student participating in FLETC’s College In7 tern Program. 

8 ‘‘(h) PROHIBITION ON NEW FUNDING.—No funds 

9 are authorized to carry out this section. This section shall 

10 be carried out using amounts otherwise appropriated or 

11 made available for such purpose.’’. 

12 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

13 in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 

14 amended by amending the item relating to section 884 to 

15 read as follows: 

‘‘Sec. 884. Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers.’’. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS