PUBLIC LAW 114–285—DEC. 16, 2016 130 STAT. 1453 

Public Law 114–285 

114th Congress 

An Act 

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. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Law Enforcement 

Training Centers Reform and Improvement Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 2. FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTERS. 

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

Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 464) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 884. FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTERS. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall maintain in the 

Department the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers 

(FLETC), headed by a Director, who shall report to the Secretary. 

‘‘(b) POSITION.—The Director shall occupy a career-reserved 

position within the Senior Executive Service. 

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

‘‘(1) develop training goals and establish strategic and tactical organizational program plan and priorities; 

‘‘(2) provide direction and management for FLETC’s 

training facilities, programs, and support activities while 

ensuring that organizational program goals and priorities are 

executed in an effective and efficient manner; 

‘‘(3) develop homeland security and law enforcement 

training curricula, including curricula related to domestic 

preparedness and response to threats or acts of terrorism, 

for Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, and international 

law enforcement and security agencies and private sector security agencies; 

‘‘(4) monitor progress toward strategic and tactical FLETC 

plans regarding training curricula, including curricula related 

to domestic preparedness and response to threats or acts of 

terrorism, and facilities; 

‘‘(5) ensure the timely dissemination of homeland security 

information as necessary to Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement and security agencies 

and the private sector to achieve the training goals for such 

entities, in accordance with paragraph (1); 

‘‘(6) carry out delegated acquisition responsibilities in a 

manner that— 

6 USC 101 note. 

Federal Law 

Enforcement 

Training Centers 

Reform and 

Improvement Act 

of 2015. 

Dec. 16, 2016 

[H.R. 3842] 


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130 STAT. 1454 PUBLIC LAW 114–285—DEC. 16, 2016 

‘‘(A) fully complies with— 

‘‘(i) Federal law; 

‘‘(ii) the Federal Acquisition Regulation, including 

requirements regarding agency obligations to contract 

only with responsible prospective contractors; and 

‘‘(iii) Department acquisition management directives; and 

‘‘(B) maximizes opportunities for small business participation; 

‘‘(7) coordinate and share information with the heads of 

relevant components and offices on digital learning and training 

resources, as appropriate; 

‘‘(8) advise the Secretary on matters relating to executive 

level policy and program administration of Federal, State, local, 

tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement and security training activities and private sector security agency 

training activities, including training activities related to 

domestic preparedness and response to threats or acts of terrorism; 

‘‘(9) collaborate with the Secretary and relevant officials 

at other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, 

to improve international instructional development, training, 

and technical assistance provided by the Federal Government 

to foreign law enforcement; and 

‘‘(10) carry out such other functions as the Secretary determines are appropriate. 

‘‘(d) TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES.— 

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

training to employees of Federal agencies who are engaged, 

directly or indirectly, in homeland security operations or Federal law enforcement activities, including such operations or 

activities related to domestic preparedness and response to 

threats or acts of terrorism. In carrying out such training, 

the Director shall— 

‘‘(A) evaluate best practices of law enforcement training 

methods and curriculum content to maintain state-of-theart expertise in adult learning methodology; 

‘‘(B) provide expertise and technical assistance, 

including on domestic preparedness and response to threats 

or acts of terrorism, to Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement and security 

agencies and private sector security agencies; and 

‘‘(C) maintain a performance evaluation process for 

students. 

‘‘(2) RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.— 

The Director shall consult with relevant law enforcement and 

security agencies in the development and delivery of FLETC’s 

training programs. 

‘‘(3) TRAINING DELIVERY LOCATIONS.—The training required 

under paragraph (1) may be conducted at FLETC facilities, 

at appropriate off-site locations, or by distributed learning. 

‘‘(4) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director may— 

‘‘(i) execute strategic partnerships with State and 

local law enforcement to provide such law enforcement 

with specific training, including maritime law enforcement training; and 

Consultation. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–285—DEC. 16, 2016 130 STAT. 1455 

‘‘(ii) coordinate with the Under Secretary responsible for overseeing critical infrastructure protection, 

cybersecurity, and other related programs of the 

Department and with private sector stakeholders, 

including critical infrastructure owners and operators, 

to provide training pertinent to improving coordination, 

security, and resiliency of critical infrastructure. 

‘‘(B) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—The Director shall 

provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 

Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, upon 

request, information on activities undertaken in the previous year pursuant to subparagraph (A). 

‘‘(5) FLETC DETAILS TO DHS.—The Director may detail 

employees of FLETC to positions throughout the Department 

in furtherance of improving the effectiveness and quality of 

training provided by the Department and, as appropriate, the 

development of critical departmental programs and initiatives. 

‘‘(6) DETAIL OF INSTRUCTORS TO FLETC.—Partner organizations that wish to participate in FLETC training programs 

shall assign non-reimbursable detailed instructors to FLETC 

for designated time periods to support all training programs 

at FLETC, as appropriate. The Director shall determine the 

number of detailed instructors that is proportional to the 

number of training hours requested by each partner organization scheduled by FLETC for each fiscal year. If a partner 

organization is unable to provide a proportional number of 

detailed instructors, such partner organization shall reimburse 

FLETC for the salary equivalent for such detailed instructors, 

as appropriate. 

‘‘(7) PARTNER ORGANIZATION EXPENSES REQUIREMENTS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Partner organizations shall be 

responsible for the following expenses: 

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

and miscellaneous per diem allowances of their personnel attending training courses at FLETC. 

‘‘(ii) Salaries and travel expenses of instructors 

and support personnel involved in conducting advanced 

training at FLETC for partner organization personnel 

and the cost of expendable supplies and special equipment for such training, unless such supplies and equipment are common to FLETC-conducted training and 

have been included in FLETC’s budget for the 

applicable fiscal year. 

‘‘(B) EXCESS BASIC AND ADVANCED FEDERAL TRAINING.— 

All hours of advanced training and hours of basic training 

provided in excess of the training for which appropriations 

were made available shall be paid by the partner organizations and provided to FLETC on a reimbursable basis 

in accordance with section 4104 of title 5, United States 

Code. 

‘‘(8) PROVISION OF NON-FEDERAL TRAINING.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director is authorized to charge 

and retain fees that would pay for its actual costs of the 

training for the following: 

‘‘(i) State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement personnel. 

Fees. 

Reimbursement. 

Reimbursement. 

Determination. 


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130 STAT. 1456 PUBLIC LAW 114–285—DEC. 16, 2016 

‘‘(ii) Foreign law enforcement officials, including 

provision of such training at the International Law 

Enforcement Academies wherever established. 

‘‘(iii) Private sector security officers, participants 

in the Federal Flight Deck Officer program under section 44921 of title 49, United States Code, and other 

appropriate private sector individuals. 

‘‘(B) WAIVER.—The Director may waive the requirement for reimbursement of any cost under this section 

and shall maintain records regarding the reasons for any 

requirements so waived. 

‘‘(9) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Director is authorized to 

reimburse travel or other expenses for non-Federal personnel 

who attend activities related to training sponsored by FLETC, 

at travel and per diem rates established by the General Services 

Administration. 

‘‘(10) STUDENT SUPPORT.—In furtherance of its training 

mission, the Director is authorized to provide the following 

support to students: 

‘‘(A) Athletic and related activities. 

‘‘(B) Short-term medical services. 

‘‘(C) Chaplain services. 

‘‘(11) AUTHORITY TO HIRE FEDERAL ANNUITANTS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director is authorized to appoint and 

maintain, as necessary, Federal annuitants who have 

expert knowledge and experience to meet the training 

responsibilities under this subsection. 

‘‘(B) NO REDUCTION IN RETIREMENT PAY.—A Federal 

annuitant employed pursuant to this paragraph shall not 

be subject to any reduction in pay for annuity allocable 

to the period of actual employment under the provisions 

of section 8344 or 8468 of title 5, United States Code, 

or similar provision of any other retirement system for 

employees. 

‘‘(C) RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANTS.—A Federal annuitant 

employed pursuant to this paragraph shall not be considered an employee for purposes of subchapter III of chapter 

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

other retirement system (referred to in subparagraph (B)) 

as may apply. 

‘‘(D) COUNTING.—Federal annuitants shall be counted 

on a full time equivalent basis. 

‘‘(E) LIMITATION.—No appointment under this paragraph may be made which would result in the displacement 

of any employee. 

‘‘(12) TRAVEL FOR INTERMITTENT EMPLOYEES.—The Director 

is authorized to reimburse intermittent Federal employees traveling from outside a commuting distance (to be predetermined 

by the Director) for travel expenses. 

‘‘(e) ON-FLETC HOUSING.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, individuals attending training at any FLETC facility 

shall, to the extent practicable and in accordance with FLETC 

policy, reside in on-FLETC or FLETC-provided housing. 

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

goals and objectives of FLETC, the Director is authorized to— 

Reimbursement. 

Records. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–285—DEC. 16, 2016 130 STAT. 1457 

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

community support of law enforcement training, including the 

advertisement of available law enforcement training programs; 

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

and to accept gifts of services, for purposes that promote the 

functions of the Director pursuant to subsection (c) and the 

training responsibilities of the Director under subsection (d); 

‘‘(3) accept reimbursement from other Federal agencies for 

the construction or renovation of training and support facilities 

and the use of equipment and technology on government ownedproperty; 

‘‘(4) obligate funds in anticipation of reimbursements from 

agencies receiving training at FLETC, except that total obligations at the end of a fiscal year may not exceed total budgetary 

resources available at the end of such fiscal year; 

‘‘(5) in accordance with the purchasing authority provided 

under section 505 of the Department of Homeland Security 

Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law 108–90; 6 U.S.C. 453a)— 

‘‘(A) purchase employee and student uniforms; and 

‘‘(B) purchase and lease passenger motor vehicles, 

including vehicles for police-type use; 

‘‘(6) provide room and board for student interns; and 

‘‘(7) expend funds each fiscal year to honor and memorialize 

FLETC graduates who have died in the line of duty. 

‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) BASIC TRAINING.—The term ‘basic training’ means the 

entry-level training required to instill in new Federal law 

enforcement personnel fundamental knowledge of criminal 

laws, law enforcement and investigative techniques, laws and 

rules of evidence, rules of criminal procedure, constitutional 

rights, search and seizure, and related issues. 

‘‘(2) DETAILED INSTRUCTORS.—The term ‘detailed instructors’ means personnel who are assigned to the Federal Law 

Enforcement Training Centers for a period of time to serve 

as instructors for the purpose of conducting basic and advanced 

training. 

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

of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers. 

‘‘(4) DISTRIBUTED LEARNING.—The term ‘distributed 

learning’ means education in which students take academic 

courses by accessing information and communicating with the 

instructor, from various locations, on an individual basis, over 

a computer network or via other technologies. 

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

given such term in section 2105 of title 5, United States Code. 

‘‘(6) FEDERAL AGENCY.—The term ‘Federal agency’ means— 

‘‘(A) an Executive Department as defined in section 

101 of title 5, United States Code; 

‘‘(B) an independent establishment as defined in section 

104 of title 5, United States Code; 

‘‘(C) a Government corporation as defined in section 

9101 of title 31, United States Code; 

‘‘(D) the Government Printing Office; 

‘‘(E) the United States Capitol Police; 

‘‘(F) the United States Supreme Court Police; and 

‘‘(G) Government agencies with law enforcement 

related duties. 

Reimbursement. 


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130 STAT. 1458 PUBLIC LAW 114–285—DEC. 16, 2016 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3842 (S. 2781): 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114–343, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Homeland Security). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 

Vol. 161 (2015): Dec. 8, considered and passed House. 

Vol. 162 (2016): Dec. 9, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

Dec. 13, House concurred in Senate amendments. 

Æ 

‘‘(7) LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.—The term ‘law 

enforcement personnel’ means an individual, including criminal 

investigators (commonly known as ‘agents’) and uniformed 

police (commonly known as ‘officers’), who has statutory 

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

‘‘(8) LOCAL.—The term ‘local’ means— 

‘‘(A) of or pertaining to any county, parish, municipality, city, town, township, rural community, unincorporated town or village, local public authority, educational 

institution, special district, intrastate district, council of 

governments (regardless of whether the council of governments is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under 

State law), regional or interstate government entity, any 

agency or instrumentality of a local government, or any 

other political subdivision of a State; and 

‘‘(B) an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, 

or in Alaska a Native village or Alaska Regional Native 

Corporation. 

‘‘(9) PARTNER ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘partner organization’ means any Federal agency participating in FLETC’s 

training programs under a formal memorandum of understanding. 

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

United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 

of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 

the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any 

possession of the United States. 

‘‘(11) STUDENT INTERN.—The term ‘student intern’ means 

any eligible baccalaureate or graduate degree student participating in FLETC’s College Intern Program. 

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

to carry out this section. This section shall be carried out using 

amounts otherwise appropriated or made available for such purpose.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in section 

1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by amending 

the item relating to section 884 to read as follows: 

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

Approved December 16, 2016. 


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