Legis Daily

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2017

USA115th CongressS-419| Senate 
| Updated: 1/17/2018
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (16)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Orrin G. Hatch (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Roy Blunt (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Ted Cruz (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)Al Franken (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on May 16, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2017 (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. If a state, local, or federal agency provides a certification of facts regarding eligibility for death or disability benefits, then BJA must adopt the factual findings, if they are supported by substantial evidence. The BJA must also publish and update information on pending claims and 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), and such information is not readily available to the claimant, 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 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 must not determine that a limitation applies, absent clear and convincing evidence. (Sec. 6) This bill's provisions apply to a claim that is pending on or submitted on or after enactment.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
Feb 16, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Feb 16, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 9, 2017
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Mar 9, 2017
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
Mar 9, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.
May 16, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
May 16, 2017
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
May 16, 2017
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2954)
May 17, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 17, 2017
Received in the House.
May 17, 2017
Held at the desk.
May 17, 2017
Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
May 17, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4248-4251)
May 17, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 419.
May 17, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4248-4249)
May 17, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4248-4249)
May 17, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 22, 2017
Presented to President.
Jun 2, 2017
Signed by President.
Jun 2, 2017
Became Public Law No: 115-36.
Jan 17, 2018
Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
  • February 16, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 16, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • March 9, 2017
    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • March 9, 2017
    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.


  • March 9, 2017
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.


  • May 16, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • May 16, 2017
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • May 16, 2017
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2954)


  • May 17, 2017
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • May 17, 2017
    Received in the House.


  • May 17, 2017
    Held at the desk.


  • May 17, 2017
    Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • May 17, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4248-4251)


  • May 17, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 419.


  • May 17, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4248-4249)


  • May 17, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4248-4249)


  • May 17, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • May 22, 2017
    Presented to President.


  • June 2, 2017
    Signed by President.


  • June 2, 2017
    Became Public Law No: 115-36.


  • January 17, 2018
    Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesCongressional oversightDepartment of JusticeDisability assistanceEmployee benefits and pensionsEvidence and witnessesFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLaw enforcement officersStudent aid and college costsTerrorism

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2017

USA115th CongressS-419| Senate 
| Updated: 1/17/2018
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on May 16, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2017 (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. If a state, local, or federal agency provides a certification of facts regarding eligibility for death or disability benefits, then BJA must adopt the factual findings, if they are supported by substantial evidence. The BJA must also publish and update information on pending claims and 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), and such information is not readily available to the claimant, 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 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 must not determine that a limitation applies, absent clear and convincing evidence. (Sec. 6) This bill's provisions apply to a claim that is pending on or submitted on or after enactment.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Feb 16, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Feb 16, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 9, 2017
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Mar 9, 2017
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
Mar 9, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.
May 16, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
May 16, 2017
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
May 16, 2017
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2954)
May 17, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 17, 2017
Received in the House.
May 17, 2017
Held at the desk.
May 17, 2017
Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
May 17, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4248-4251)
May 17, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 419.
May 17, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4248-4249)
May 17, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4248-4249)
May 17, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 22, 2017
Presented to President.
Jun 2, 2017
Signed by President.
Jun 2, 2017
Became Public Law No: 115-36.
Jan 17, 2018
Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
  • February 16, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 16, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • March 9, 2017
    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • March 9, 2017
    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.


  • March 9, 2017
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.


  • May 16, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • May 16, 2017
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • May 16, 2017
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2954)


  • May 17, 2017
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • May 17, 2017
    Received in the House.


  • May 17, 2017
    Held at the desk.


  • May 17, 2017
    Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • May 17, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4248-4251)


  • May 17, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 419.


  • May 17, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4248-4249)


  • May 17, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4248-4249)


  • May 17, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • May 22, 2017
    Presented to President.


  • June 2, 2017
    Signed by President.


  • June 2, 2017
    Became Public Law No: 115-36.


  • January 17, 2018
    Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (16)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Orrin G. Hatch (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Roy Blunt (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Ted Cruz (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)Al Franken (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesCongressional oversightDepartment of JusticeDisability assistanceEmployee benefits and pensionsEvidence and witnessesFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLaw enforcement officersStudent aid and college costsTerrorism