Legis Daily

Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act

USA119th CongressS-1563| Senate 
| Updated: 5/20/2025
Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Senator

Minnesota

Cosponsors (6)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act" amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a new grant program. This program empowers State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to hire retired law enforcement personnel. The primary goal is to leverage their extensive experience and specialized skills for various civilian tasks, thereby enhancing agency capabilities without increasing the number of sworn officers. Grants can be utilized to employ these retired individuals to either train civilian employees on specific duties or to perform these tasks directly. These civilian law enforcement tasks include assisting in complex investigations like homicide, carjacking, and financial crimes, reviewing camera footage, conducting crime scene and forensics analysis, and providing expertise in computer and information technology. Crucially, the bill explicitly states that these roles do not include the authority to make arrests or use force under the color of law. To ensure the quality and integrity of hired personnel, eligible entities must certify that retired individuals possess appropriate and current training or will participate in continuing education programs. Agencies receiving grants are also required to make a good faith effort to check the disciplinary records of prospective retired hires, including searching the National Decertification Index and requesting personnel records from previous employers. Any findings of misconduct must be thoroughly reviewed by the highest-ranking law enforcement officer before a hiring decision is finalized. The bill mandates robust financial oversight and accountability, requiring the Department of Justice Inspector General to conduct annual audits of grant recipients to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds. Grantees found with unresolved audit findings , indicating unauthorized or unallowable expenditures, will be ineligible for new grants for two fiscal years. Additionally, the Attorney General must submit annual certifications to Congress regarding audit completion and mandatory exclusions, and implement measures to prevent duplicative grant awards for similar purposes.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3335
Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act
May 1, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 1, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 15, 2025
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
May 20, 2025
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
May 20, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 83.
Jun 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3846
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3335
    Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act


  • May 1, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 1, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • May 15, 2025
    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • May 20, 2025
    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • May 20, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 83.


  • June 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3846
    Introduced in House

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3846: Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act
Accounting and auditingCongressional oversightEmployee hiringGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementLaw enforcement administration and funding

Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act

USA119th CongressS-1563| Senate 
| Updated: 5/20/2025
The "Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act" amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a new grant program. This program empowers State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to hire retired law enforcement personnel. The primary goal is to leverage their extensive experience and specialized skills for various civilian tasks, thereby enhancing agency capabilities without increasing the number of sworn officers. Grants can be utilized to employ these retired individuals to either train civilian employees on specific duties or to perform these tasks directly. These civilian law enforcement tasks include assisting in complex investigations like homicide, carjacking, and financial crimes, reviewing camera footage, conducting crime scene and forensics analysis, and providing expertise in computer and information technology. Crucially, the bill explicitly states that these roles do not include the authority to make arrests or use force under the color of law. To ensure the quality and integrity of hired personnel, eligible entities must certify that retired individuals possess appropriate and current training or will participate in continuing education programs. Agencies receiving grants are also required to make a good faith effort to check the disciplinary records of prospective retired hires, including searching the National Decertification Index and requesting personnel records from previous employers. Any findings of misconduct must be thoroughly reviewed by the highest-ranking law enforcement officer before a hiring decision is finalized. The bill mandates robust financial oversight and accountability, requiring the Department of Justice Inspector General to conduct annual audits of grant recipients to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds. Grantees found with unresolved audit findings , indicating unauthorized or unallowable expenditures, will be ineligible for new grants for two fiscal years. Additionally, the Attorney General must submit annual certifications to Congress regarding audit completion and mandatory exclusions, and implement measures to prevent duplicative grant awards for similar purposes.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3335
Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act
May 1, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 1, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 15, 2025
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
May 20, 2025
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
May 20, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 83.
Jun 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3846
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3335
    Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act


  • May 1, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 1, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • May 15, 2025
    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • May 20, 2025
    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • May 20, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 83.


  • June 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3846
    Introduced in House
Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Senator

Minnesota

Cosponsors (6)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3846: Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Accounting and auditingCongressional oversightEmployee hiringGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementLaw enforcement administration and funding