Source: https://www.everycrsreport.com/changes/20170123_RL34413_10505a3f41446a128a4159e2700096fa9f9fbbae__20180112_RL34413_3a509888f2dfd834f93a74e7082bf99830f81d6e.html
Timestamp: 2020-02-22 21:28:11
Document Index: 598054480

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1491', '§3796', '§3796', '§3796', '§3796', '§3796', '§3796', '§32', '§379610281', '§8101', '§3796', '§379610281', '§3796', '§3796', '§32', '§3796', '§3796', '§378734', '§10302', '§10302', '§10302', '§10225', '§ 3344']

Changes in Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program: In Brief from January 23, 2017 to January 12, 2018 - EveryCRSReport.com
Changes from January 23, 2017 to January 12, 2018
Updated January 23, 201712, 2018 (RL34413)
3an individual serving a public agency54 in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer,65 firefighter,76 or a chaplain;87
a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew98 who, as authorized or licensed by law and by the applicable agency or entity, is engaging in rescue activities or providing emergency medical services.
The PSOB program provides a death benefit to eligible survivors of a public safety officer whose death is the direct and proximate result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty or certain work-related heart attacks or strokes.10 To receive a death benefit, the claimant must produce sufficient evidence to showestablish that the public safety officer died as the direct and proximate result of an injury sustained in the line of duty.119 Under the program, it is presumed that a public safety officer who dies from a heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture while engaged in, on duty after, or within 24 hours of participating in a non-routine stressful or strenuous physical law enforcement, fire suppression, rescue, hazardous material response, emergency medical services, prison security, disaster relief, or other emergency response activity or a training exercise involving non-routine stressful or strenuous physical activity, has died in the line of duty for death benefit purposes. However, the statutory presumption can be overcome with competent medical evidence to the contrary.12
The PSOB program pays a one-time lump sum death benefit to eligible survivors of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty. The amount paid to the officer's survivors is the amount authorized to be paid on the date that the officer died, not the amount authorized to be paid on the date that the claim is approved.1311 The current death benefit is $343,589350,079.
Why Are There Different Eligibility Dates for Death and Disability Benefits?
Over the years, Congress has expanded the scope of benefits provided under the PSOB program (for example, by adding a disability benefit), the definition of who is considered a "public safety officer" for the purpose of receiving benefits, and what is considered to be a line of duty death. Public safety officers, or their survivors, are eligible to receive these benefits when the law that amended the PSOB program is enacted, unless Congress makes eligibility for benefits retroactive to a certain date. For example, the Mychal Judge Police and Fire Chaplains Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-196) expanded the definition of a public safety officer to include certain chaplains, and it made the effective date of the amendments retroactive to September 11, 2001.
If the officer is survived by a spouse and children, 50% of the death benefit goes to the spouse and the remaining 50% is distributed equally among the officer's children.14
If the officer is survived by neither a spouse, nor eligible children, nor parents, and the officer did not have a designation of beneficiary or a life insurance policy on file at the time of his or her death, the benefit is paid to surviving adult, non-dependent, children of the officer.15
13PSOB Disability Benefit
Title XIII of P.L. 101-647 expanded the scope of the PSOB program to provide a disability benefit to public safety officers who have been permanently and totally disabled as the direct and proximate result of a catastrophic injury1614 sustained in the line of duty, if the injury permanently prevents the officer from performing any gainful work.17 The claimant is responsible for producing sufficient evidence to proveestablishing that he or she suffered a permanent and total disability as the direct and proximate result of a catastrophican injury sustained in the line of duty.1815 Like the PSOB death benefit program, the disability benefit program pays a one-time lump sum disability benefit to public safety officers disabled in the line of duty. The current disability benefit is $343,589350,079.
with respect to any individual employed in a capacity other than a civilian capacity.19
When making a determination about whether a death or disability benefit is to be paid, the PSOB Office is required to presume that none of the above conditions applied in the case of the officer's death or disability. In addition, the PSOB Office shall not determine that the above conditions applied absent clear and convincing evidence.
The Federal Law Enforcement Dependents Assistance Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-238) authorized the Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance (PSOEA) program. PSOEA provides assistance to spouses and children of public safety officers killed or disabled in the line of duty who attend a program of higher education2017 at an eligible educational institution.2118 PSOEA funds may be used to defray expenses associated with attending college, including tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and education-related fees.22
The spouse of a deceased or disabled public safety officer is eligible to receive education benefits under PSOEA anytime during his or her lifetime. However, the child of a deceased or disabled public safety officer is no longer eligible for assistance after his or her 27th birthday.23, absent a finding of extraordinary circumstances.20 However, the age limitation can be extended for certain circumstances related to delays in approving a claim for benefits.21 A spouse or child of a deceased or disabled public safety officer cannot receive PSOEA funds for more than 45 months of full-time education or a proportionate period of part-time education.2422 Currently, the amount of the PSOB educational benefit is $1,024041 per month of full-time college attendance.
Claimants are allowed to appeal claims that are denied by the PSOB Office. A claimant has 33 days after being served with a notice of denial to request a determination by a hearing officer.2523 The claimant may file supporting evidence or legal arguments along with the request for a hearing officer determination.26 The supporting evidence and legal arguments24 After the appeal is assigned to a hearing officer, the claimant is notified that any supporting evidence and legal arguments he or she wishes to provide must be filed with both the hearing officer and the PSOB Office. The claim is assigned to a hearing officer, who reviews the claim de novo—meaning that the hearing officer reviews the entire claim anew rather than reviewing the finding, determinations, decisions, judgments, rulings, or other actions of the PSOB Office—and makes a determination.27
A claimant appealing the denial of a death or disability benefit can request that the hearing officer hold a hearing.2826 A request for a hearing will not be granted if the claimant does not request a hearing within 90 days of the claim being assigned to a hearing officer, unless, for good cause shown, the Director of BJA (the Director) extends the filing deadline. The purpose of the hearing is to allow the hearing officer. The hearing provides the hearing officer with the opportunity to collect evidence from the claimant and his witnesses and any other evidence the hearing officer may decide is necessary or useful.2927 At the hearing, the hearing officer may exclude evidence whose probative value is substantially outweighed by undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.3028 Witnesses (other than the claimant and anyone who the claimant has shown to be essential to the presentation of the claim) are prevented from hearing the testimony of other witnesses at the hearing.31
If a claim is denied by the hearing officer, the claimant can appeal to the Director of BJA (the Director). If the denied claim is not appealed to the Director, the hearing officer's determination is considered the final agency determination of the claim.3230 A claimant has 33 days after being notified by the hearing officer that the claim has been denied to file an appeal with the Director, unless, for good cause shown, the Director extends the filing deadline.31.33 Like the request for a hearing officer determination, the claimant may file supporting evidence or legal arguments along with the request for an appeal. If the Director denies the claim, the claimant can appeal the denial in the United States Court of Federal Claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a).3432 However, to petition the court to review the denial of a claim, the claimant must exhaust the administrative remedies available, meaning that the claimant must have asked for both a hearing officer determination and a Director review. The Director's determination constitutes the final agency determination of the claim.3533
[author name scrubbed]Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
Testimony of BJABureau of Justice Assistance Director Domingo S. Herraiz, U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Justice Denied? Implementation of the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act, hearing, 110th Cong., 1st sess., October 4, 2007, at http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=2972&wit_id=6703 (hereinafter "Testimony of D.S. Herraiz").
4234 U.S.C. §3796b10284(9).
A "public agency" is defined as the United States, any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any territory or possession of the United States, or any unit of local government, department, agency, or instrumentality of any of the foregoing. 4234 U.S.C. §3796b10284(8).
A "law enforcement officer" is defined as an individual who is involved in crime and juvenile delinquency control or reduction, or enforcement of the criminal laws (including juvenile delinquency), including, but not limited to, police, corrections, probation, parole, and judicial officers. 4234 U.S.C. §3796b10284(6).
A "firefighter" is defined as an individual serving as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized professional or volunteer fire department. 4234 U.S.C. §3796b10284(4).
A "chaplain" is defined as any individual serving as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized volunteer fire department or legally organized police department, or an officially recognized or designated public employee of a legally organized fire or police department who was responding to a fire, rescue, or police emergency. 4234 U.S.C. §3796b10284(2).
A "member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew" is an officially recognized or designated employee or volunteer member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew (including a ground or air ambulance service) that is (1) a public agency; or (2) a nonprofit entity serving the public that is officially authorized or licensed to engage in rescue activity or to provide emergency medical services; and engages in rescue activities or provides emergency medical services as part of an official emergency response system. 4234 U.S.C. §3796b10284(7).
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance "Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program," 81 Federal Register 57349, August 22, 2016 (hereinafter "PSOB: Federal Register").
"Competent medical evidence to the contrary" is defined as "when evidence indicates to a degree of medical probability that circumstances other than any engagement or participation described at 42 U.S.C. 3796(k)(1)extrinsic circumstances, considered in combination (as one circumstance) or alone, were a substantial factor in bringing about the heart attack or stroke." 28 C.F.R. §32.13.
4234 U.S.C. §379610281(i).
An "eligible child" is defined as any "natural, illegitimate, adopted, or posthumous child or stepchild" of the public safety officer who, at the time of the public safety officer's fatal or catastrophic injury, is (1) 18 years of age or under; (2) over 18 years of age and a student as defined in Section 5 U.S.C. §8101; or (3) over 18 years of age and incapable of self-support because of physical or mental disability. 4234 U.S.C. §3796b10284(3).
1834 U.S.C. §379610281(a).
"Catastrophic injury" is defined as an injury that permanently prevents an individual from performing any gainful work. 4234 U.S.C. §3796b10284(1).
PSOB: Federal Register, p. 46028pp. 57349-57350.
4234 U.S.C. §3796a.
10282. Per 28 C.F.R. §32.3, "employment in a civilian capacity" refers to status as a civilian, rather than to the performance of civilian functions.
A "program of education" is defined as any curriculum or any combination of courses or subjects pursued at an eligible educational institution, which generally is accepted as necessary to fulfill requirements for the attainment of a predetermined and identified educational, professional, or vocational objective. It includes course work for the attainment of more than one objective if, in addition to the previous requirements, all the objectives generally are recognized as reasonably related to a single career field. 4234 U.S.C. §3796d-610307(2).
An "eligible educational institution" is defined as an institution described in Section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088), as in effect on October 3, 1996, and eligible to participate in programs under Title IV of the act. 4234 U.S.C. §3796d-610307(3).
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program: Educational Assistance Program, available at https://www.psob.gov/files/PSOB_Educationpsob.bja.ojp.gov/PSOB_Education_Checklist2017.pdf (hereinafter, "PSOB: Educational Assistance Program").
A "hearing officer" is appointed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §378734 U.S.C. §10302(c)(1).
Per 34 U.S.C. §10302(c)(2), if an application for education assistance is approved more than one year after the application is filed, the age restriction for education benefits can be extended for a period that starts on the day after the date that is one year after the application is filed and ends on the day the application is approved. In addition to this extension, an extension can be granted if a claim for death or disability benefits is approved more than one year after the claim was submitted. The extension would be for a period that starts on the day after the date on which the claim was filed and ends on the day the claim is approved.
34 U.S.C. §10302(b).
23. A "hearing officer" is appointed pursuant to 34 U.S.C. §10225, which reads, "The Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics may appoint such hearing examiners or administrative law judges or request the use of such administrative law judges selected by the Office of Personnel Management pursuant to [5 U.S.C. § 3344], as shall be necessary to carry out their respective powers and duties under this chapter. [BJA], [NIJ], and [BJS]The Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics or upon authorization, any member thereof or any hearing examiner or administrative law judge assigned to or employed thereby shall have the power to hold hearings and issue subpoenas, administer oaths, examine witnesses, and receive evidence at any place in the United States they respectively may designate."