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Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016

Introduced: May 18, 2016 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 13 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 22, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Nov 30, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 30, 2016
Received in the House.
Nov 30, 2016
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 29, 2016
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 29, 2016
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 29, 2016
The committee amendments withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6573)
Nov 29, 2016
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6571-6573; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S6571-6572)
Jun 9, 2016
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 513.
Jun 9, 2016
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with amendments. Without written report.
Jun 9, 2016
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
May 18, 2016
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2976-2977)
May 18, 2016
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 2

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

2 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 5,114 Grassley, Chuck To amend the title. Agreed to Nov 29, 2016
SAMDT 5,113 Grassley, Chuck In the nature of a substitute. Agreed to Nov 29, 2016
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now December 22, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 5743 Related bill Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Jun 6, 2016
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Jun 6, 2016
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · May 18, 2016
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2944: Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-2944/
MLA
"S. 2944: Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-2944/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2944, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-2944/.
Markdown link
[S. 2944: Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2016](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-2944/)
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