II 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2483 

To establish a Law Enforcement Assistance Force in the Department of 

Homeland Security to facilitate the contributions of retired law enforcement officers during major disasters. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 30, 2006 

Mr. ENSIGN (for himself, Mr. VITTER, and Mr. ISAKSON) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To establish a Law Enforcement Assistance Force in the 

Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the contributions of retired law enforcement officers during 

major disasters. 

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 ‘‘Law Enforcement As5 sistance Force Act of 2005’’ or the ‘‘LEAF Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE FORCE. 

7 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Homeland 

8 Security (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 


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1 establish a Law Enforcement Assistance Force to facili2 tate the contributions of retired law enforcement officers 

3 and agents during major disasters. 

4 (b) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS.—An individual may 

5 participate in the Law Enforcement Assistance Force if 

6 the individual— 

7 (1) has experience working as an officer or 

8 agent for a public law enforcement agency and left 

9 the agency in good standing; 

10 (2) holds current certifications for firearms, 

11 first aid, and such other skills determined necessary 

12 by the Secretary; 

13 (3) submits to the Secretary an application, at 

14 such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 

15 such information as the Secretary may reasonably 

16 require, that authorizes the Secretary to review the 

17 law enforcement service record of the individual; and 

18 (4) meets such other qualifications as the Sec19 retary may require. 

20 (c) LIABILITY; SUPERVISION.—Each participant in 

21 the Law Enforcement Assistance Force shall— 

22 (1) be protected from civil liability to the same 

23 extent as employees of the Department of Homeland 

24 Security; and 


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1 (2) upon acceptance of an assignment under 

2 this section— 

3 (A) be detailed to a Federal, State, or local 

4 government law enforcement agency; 

5 (B) work under the direct supervision of 

6 an officer or agent of such agency; and 

7 (C) notwithstanding any State or local law 

8 requiring specific qualifications for law enforce9 ment officers, be deputized to perform the du10 ties of a law enforcement officer. 

11 (d) MOBILIZATION.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—In the event of a major dis13 aster (as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. 

14 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 

15 Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)) the Secretary, after consulta16 tion with appropriate Federal, State, and local gov17 ernment law enforcement agencies, may request eli18 gible participants to volunteer to assist the efforts of 

19 those agencies responding to such emergency and as20 sign each willing participant to a specific law en21 forcement agency. 

22 (2) ACCEPTANCE.—If the eligible participant 

23 accepts an assignment under this subsection, the 

24 participant shall agree to remain in such assignment 

25 for a period equal to not less than the shorter of— 


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1 (A) the period during which the law en2 forcement agency needs the services of such 

3 participant; or 

4 (B) 30 days. 

5 (3) REFUSAL.—An eligible participant may 

6 refuse an assignment under this subsection without 

7 any adverse consequences. 

8 (e) EXPENSES.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each participant shall be al10 lowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 

11 subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of 

12 agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 

13 United States Code, while carrying out an assign14 ment under subsection (d). 

15 (2) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—Expenses incurred 

16 under paragraph (1) shall be paid from amounts ap17 propriated to the Federal Emergency Management 

18 Agency. 

19 (f) TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE.—The availability 

20 of participants of the Law Enforcement Assistance Force 

21 shall continue for a period equal to the shorter of— 

22 (1) the period of the major disaster (as defined 

23 in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

24 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

25 5122)); or 


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1 (2) 1 year. 

2 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

3 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 

4 necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 

Æ 


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