HERO Benefits Reform Act of 2016

To ensure that the United States provides for the families of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other emergency responders who fall in the line of duty. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Honoring Emergency Response Officers Benefits Reform Act of 2016 HERO Benefits Reform Act of 2016 2. Presumption that officer acted properly Section 1202 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796a (1) by striking No benefit (a) In general No benefit ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (b) Presumption In determining whether a benefit is payable under this part, the Bureau shall— (1) presume that none of the limitations under subsection (a) apply; and (2) have the burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that a limitation under subsection (a) applies. . 3. Backlog of claims Subpart 1 of part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796a 1206. Appeals (a) Standard of review Notwithstanding section 706 of title 5, United States Code, or any other provision of law, in any appeal of a determination of the Bureau to deny a claim under this part, including an appeal to a hearing officer of the Bureau, to the Director, or to a court of the United States, the reviewing official or court shall review the determination de novo. (b) Exception to administrative exhaustion requirement (1) In general Notwithstanding section 704 of title 5, United States Code, or any other provision of law, an individual who files a claim for benefits under this part with the Bureau may file a subsequent claim with the United States Court of Federal Claims seeking an award of benefits under this part despite an absence of final agency action with respect to the original claim filed with the Bureau if— (A) the Bureau does not make a determination with respect to the original claim within 1 year of the date on which the claim was filed with the Bureau; (B) (i) the Bureau denies the original claim within 1 year of the date on which the claim was filed with the Bureau; (ii) the individual appeals the denial under clause (i) to a hearing officer; and (iii) the hearing officer does not make a determination with respect to the original claim within 180 days of the date on which the appeal was filed under clause (ii); or (C) (i) the Bureau denies the original claim within 1 year of the date on which the claim was filed with the Bureau; (ii) the individual appeals the denial under clause (i) to a hearing officer; (iii) the hearing officer denies the original claim within 180 days of the date on which the appeal was filed under clause (ii); (iv) the individual appeals the denial under clause (iii) to the Director; and (v) the Director does not make a determination with respect to the original claim within 180 days of the date on which the appeal was filed under clause (iv). (2) Standard of review The United States Court of Federal Claims shall review a claim filed under paragraph (1) without regard to any determination made by the Bureau, including a hearing officer of the Bureau, with respect to the original claim filed with the Bureau. (3) Determination of whether original claim is complete For purposes of determining whether an individual is eligible to file a claim under paragraph (1), the United States Court of Federal Claims shall determine the date on which the original claim was filed with the Bureau without regard to whether the Bureau has deemed the application that forms the basis of the original claim to be incomplete and thus not constitute an official claim. . 4. Transparency Subpart 1 of part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796a 1207. Annual report Not later than 60 days after the last day of each fiscal year, the Bureau shall submit to Congress and publish publically on the website of the Bureau a report that includes— (1) the number of claims filed under this part during the fiscal year, broken down by— (A) the type of benefit sought, meaning death, disability, educational benefit, and any combination thereof; and (B) the type of public safety officer to which each claim pertains; (2) the number of claims filed that were granted during the fiscal year; (3) the number of claims filed that were denied during the fiscal year, broken down by the reason for denial; and (4) the number of claims filed as of the last day of the fiscal year, broken down by— (A) the date on which each claim was filed; and (B) the reason why the Bureau has been unable to render a decision. The Attorney General shall make such report publically available over the Internet. . 5. Extending public safety officer death benefits to fire police and fire investigators (a) In general Section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796b (1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (9) as paragraphs (7) through (11), respectively; (2) in paragraph (11)(A), as so redesignated, by inserting as a fire police officer, fire investigator firefighter, (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) fire police officer (A) is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency; (B) is not a law enforcement officer, a firefighter, a chaplain, or a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew described in paragraph (10)(A); and (C) is officially authorized to provide scene security or direct traffic— (i) in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency; or (ii) at a planned special event; (6) fire investigator (A) is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency; and (B) is officially authorized to conduct, coordinate and complete fire and explosion investigations; . (b) Technical and conforming amendment Section 611(a) of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796c–1(a) (1) by striking section 1204(7)(B) section 1204(8)(B) (2) by striking ( 42 U.S.C. 3796b(7)(B) ( 42 U.S.C. 3796b(8)(B)

Summary: Honoring Emergency Response Officers Benefits Reform Act of 2016 or the HERO Benefits Reform Act of 2016 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish, with respect to a public safety officer's death benefits, a rebuttable presumption that: (1) the officer acted properly at the time of injury or death, and (2) specified limitations on the officer's benefits do not apply. The bill also extends such benefits to fire police officers and fire investigators. In addition, with respect to an appeal of a determination to deny such benefits, the bill: (1) specifies that the standard of review shall be de novo (without deference to the determination), and (2) establishes certain exceptions to administrative exhaustion limitations.