Equity in Law Enforcement Act of 2015

To extend the same Federal benefits to law enforcement officers serving private institutions of higher education and rail carriers that apply to law enforcement officers serving units of State and local government. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equity in Law Enforcement Act of 2015 2. Line-of-duty death and disability benefits (a) Amendments Section 1204(9) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 42 U.S.C. 3796b(9) (1) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking or (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (E) an individual who is— (i) serving a private institution of higher education in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer; and (ii) sworn, licensed, or certified under the laws of a State for the purposes of law enforcement (and trained to meet the training standards for law enforcement officers established by the relevant governmental appointing authority); or (F) a rail police officer who is— (i) employed by a rail carrier; and (ii) sworn, licensed, or certified under the laws of a State for the purposes of law enforcement (and trained to meet the training standards for law enforcement officers established by the relevant governmental appointing authority). . (b) Applicability of amendments The amendments made by this section shall apply to a personal injury sustained in the line of duty by an individual described in subparagraph (E) or (F) of section 1204(9) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 42 U.S.C. 3796b(9) 3. Law enforcement armor vests (a) Grant Program Section 2501 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 42 U.S.C. 3796ll (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking and Indian tribes Indian tribes, private institutions of higher education, and rail carriers (B) by inserting before the period at the end the following: and law enforcement officers serving private institutions of higher education and rail carriers who are sworn, licensed, or certified under the laws of a State for the purposes of law enforcement (and trained to meet the training standards for law enforcement officers established by the relevant governmental appointing authority) (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking or Indian tribe Indian tribe, private institution of higher education, or rail carrier (3) in subsection (e), by striking or Indian tribe Indian tribe, private institution of higher education, or rail carrier (b) Applications Section 2502 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 42 U.S.C. 3796ll–1 (1) in subsection (a), by striking or Indian tribe Indian tribe, private institution of higher education, or rail carrier (2) in subsection (b), by striking and Indian tribes Indian tribes, private institutions of higher education, and rail carriers (c) Definitions Section 2503(6) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 42 U.S.C. 3796ll–2(6) or Indian tribe Indian tribe, private institution of higher education, or rail carrier 4. Byrne grants Section 501(b)(2) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 42 U.S.C. 3751(b)(2) units of local government , private institutions of higher education, and rail carriers

Summary: Equity in Law Enforcement Act of 2015 Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: (1) expand the definition of "public service officer," for purposes of provisions concerning public safety officer death benefits, to include a law enforcement officer serving a private institution of higher education in an official capacity, or a rail police officer employed by a rail carrier, who is sworn, licensed, or certified under the laws of a state for the purposes of law enforcement (applicable to a personal injury sustained in the line of duty by a public safety officer on or after April 15, 2013); (2) authorize the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make grants to such institutions and carriers for the purchase of armor vests for such officers; and (3) include such institutions and carriers among entities eligible for contracts or subawards under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.