VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act

Bill: 117-hr-2429
Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2021-04-08 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal justice information and records
Evidence and witnesses
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Law enforcement officers
Photography and imaging

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: 

VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish policies and procedures related to the accountability and staffing of its police force.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the VA to publish specified summaries, statistics, and contact information related to the activities of VA police officers from the previous five-year period. The VA must ensure that each of its police forces is able to provide VA employees and members of the public who contact the force with contact information to directly contact the police force regarding the arrest, ticketing, detainment, use of force, or other police matters pertaining to the individual.
 
The bill requires VA police officers to wear body cameras that record and store audio and video. Additionally, the VA's guidance on the use of body cameras must be made publicly available.
 
Under the bill, the VA is required to track and analyze the following information regarding its police force:
 
 
arrests made and tickets issued;
 
prosecutions, ticketing, and other actions relating to such arrests;
 
the use of force and weapon discharges; and
 
complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions.
 
 
The VA must ensure each incident of the use of force is promptly reported to the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for operations, preparedness, security, and law enforcement functions. The Assistant Secretary must review and investigate each incident (including allegations) of the use of force by a VA police officer, including such situations where any person receives medical attention.
 
The VA must develop a plan that establishes minimum standards for police staffing at its facilities.

action_date: 2021-06-15
text: 

VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish policies and procedures related to the accountability and staffing of its police force.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the VA to publish specified summaries, statistics, and contact information related to the activities of VA police officers from the previous five-year period. The VA must ensure that each of its police forces is able to provide VA employees and members of the public who contact the force with contact information to directly contact the police force regarding the arrest, ticketing, detainment, use of force, or other police matters pertaining to the individual.
 
The bill requires VA police officers to wear body cameras that record and store audio and video. Additionally, the VA's guidance on the use of body cameras must be made publicly available.
 
Under the bill, the VA is required to track and analyze the following information regarding its police force:
 
 
arrests made and tickets issued;
 
prosecutions, ticketing, and other actions relating to such arrests;
 
the use of force and weapon discharges; and
 
complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions.
 
 
The VA must ensure each incident of the use of force is promptly reported to the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for operations, preparedness, security, and law enforcement functions. The Assistant Secretary must review and investigate each incident (including allegations) of the use of force by a VA police officer, including such situations where any person receives medical attention.
 
The VA must develop a plan that establishes minimum standards for police staffing at its facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-16
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2777-2778)
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2777-2778)
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2429.
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2777-2778)
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2021-05-04
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 6.
action_date: 2021-05-04
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-05-04
text: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Discharged.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Introduced in House