Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2944
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2016-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Justice
Disability assistance
Employee benefits and pensions
Evidence and witnesses
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Law enforcement officers
Student aid and college costs
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: 

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to revise administrative requirements for the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program.
 
Specifically, it authorizes the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to establish PSOB program rules, regulations, and procedures based on standards developed by another federal agency.
 
In determining eligibility for death or disability benefits, the BJA must give substantial weight to evidence and facts presented by a state, local, or federal agency.
 
Additionally, the BJA must publish and update information on pending claims and report to Congress on submitted claims for death, disability, and educational benefits.

action_date: 2016-11-29
text: 

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to revise requirements for the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. (The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty.) 
 
It authorizes the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to establish PSOB program rules, regulations, and procedures based on standards developed by another federal agency. 
 
In determining a claimant's eligibility for death or disability benefits, the BJA must give substantial weight to evidence and facts presented by a state, local, or federal agency. 
 
The BJA must also publish and update information on pending claims and report to Congress on submitted claims for death, disability, and educational benefits.
 
(Sec. 3) This section extends the age limitation for a PSOB claim for death, disability, or education benefits that is approved more than one year after the date on which it was filed. 
 
(Sec. 4) The BJA must attempt to obtain necessary documentation to determine a claimant's eligibility for death, disability, or education benefits. If it cannot determine eligibility due to a lack of documentation from a third party (e.g., a public agency), then the BJA may abandon the claim only after it utilizes investigative tools, including subpoenas, to obtain the information. 
 
(Sec. 5) The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that a public safety officer acted properly at the time of injury or death and that no specified limitation (e.g., voluntary intoxication at the time of injury or death) bars the payment of death or disability benefits. The BJA may rebut the presumption by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.
 
(Sec. 6) This bill's provisions apply to a claim that is pending on or submitted on or after enactment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: The committee amendments withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6573)
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6571-6573; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S6571-6572)
action_date: 2016-06-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 513.
action_date: 2016-06-09
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-06-09
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-06-09
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2976-2977)
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate