S. 419Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)Enacted

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:03 PM UTC

The Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2017 updates the rules for the federal program that provides death, disability and education benefits to public safety officers and their families. It adds new reporting and transparency requirements for the Bureau of Justice Assistance, strengthens the Bureau’s duty to pursue missing information, and makes it easier for claimants to receive benefits when approvals are delayed.

Key Provisions

Requires the Bureau to post weekly updates on its website about all pending death, disability, and education assistance claims, including basic claim details and the number of claims older than one year.
Mandates a detailed report every 180 days covering numbers of claims processed, processing times, reasons for delays, outcomes, and specific data on 9/11‑related claims.
The Bureau must give substantial weight to eligibility findings from state, local, or federal agencies and may adopt their certified facts if supported by substantial evidence.
Extends the age limit for children receiving education assistance or death/disability benefits when a claim is approved more than one year after filing, adding the delay period to the age limit.
Adds a due‑diligence rule that the Bureau must actively seek needed information from third parties and may not abandon a claim unless all investigative tools, including subpoenas, have been used.
Creates a presumption that none of the statutory limitations on benefits apply unless clear and convincing evidence shows otherwise.

Legislative Activity

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19 earlier actions

SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.

Judiciary Committee

January 17, 2018

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 16, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 16, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Judiciary Committee

March 9, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.

Judiciary Committee

March 9, 2017

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.

March 9, 2017

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2954)

May 16, 2017

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

May 16, 2017

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

May 17, 2017

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

May 17, 2017 • 12:38 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

May 17, 2017 • 2:04 PM

HouseFloor

Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

May 17, 2017 • 2:18 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4248-4251)

May 17, 2017 • 2:18 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 419.

May 17, 2017 • 2:18 PM

SenateFloor

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 • 2:30 PM

HouseFloor

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

May 17, 2017 • 2:30 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

May 17, 2017 • 2:30 PM

President

Presented to President.

May 22, 2017

Became Law

Signed by President.

June 2, 2017

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 115-36.

June 2, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.

Judiciary Committee

January 17, 2018

Floor Debate

4 members

What members said about S. 419 on the floor

2 Republicans2 Democrats

Rep. John Conyers, Jr.D-MI-13 · May 17, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today also in strong support of S. 419, the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act, a bill which was just…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today also in strong support of S. 419, the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act, a bill which was just passed by the Senate yesterday.

Each day, public safety officers put their lives on the line for the greater good of those whom they have taken an oath to serve and protect. Unfortunately, for some of these brave men and women, the ultimate sacrifice is made, and they will die while in the line of duty.

The Public Safety Officers' Benefits program, which is administered by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance, was established in 1976 to provide certain benefits to the families of these officers as well as to officers who are disabled as a result of their service.

The death benefit is provided to eligible survivors of public safety officers whose deaths are a direct and proximate result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty or death from certain heart attacks, strokes, and vascular ruptures sustained while on duty.

An education benefit is provided to spouses and children of public safety officers killed or disabled while on duty. The program provides disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty.

Mr. Speaker, I support S. 419 because it will significantly improve in several respects how benefits claims of fallen and injured officers are processed under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program. To begin with, the bill responds to the fact that, all too often, these officers and their families, after experiencing a loss of life or traumatic injury, must then endure months, sometimes years, of uncertainty and delay concerning their benefit claims.

S. 419 requires the Bureau to give substantial weight to evidence and facts presented by a Federal, State, or local agency when determining eligibility for death or disability benefits. In addition, the measure authorizes the Bureau of Justice Assistance to establish rules based on standards for the Benefits program. These two requirements will help facilitate and expedite the Benefits program claims processed and, thereby, reduce the backlog of families awaiting a decision on their benefit claims.

S. 419 also increases transparency of the Bureau's claims processing. It requires, for example, the Bureau to publish and update a report with information on the status of pending claims regarding death, disability, and educational claims submitted, which will increase transparency.

As we all know, transparency often leads to accountability, and this bill will make the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Department of Justice more accountable to the families of fallen and traumatically injured officers, Congress, and the public as well. By requiring that updates or pending benefit claims be posted on public websites, Congress and the public will be able to evaluate the performance of the Bureau in timely processing pending claims.

Finally, S. 419 will help ensure that families, who are the ultimate victims of those who sacrifice their lives for our protection, are not deprived of benefits they are due under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program.

We all have a responsibility to take care of surviving family members when a first responder is tragically killed or injured in the line of duty. This bill is a step in the right direction of ensuring that families are not overly burdened and that the public is aware of how the Bureau and the Justice Department are handling claims submitted by family members.

Mr. Speaker, the sacrifice of these first responders should not be taken for granted, and their families should not be unduly burdened when applying for benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program. Accordingly, I support S. 419. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, it is particularly significant to note that S. 419 is being considered in the midst of National Police Week, a period dedicated to honor our Nation's fallen law enforcement heroes.

President John Kennedy, by proclamation signed in 1962, designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week.

S. 419 memorializes our commitment to public safety officers, who daily risk their lives for us, by removing barriers that prevent beneficiaries under the Benefits program from obtaining the benefits they so justly deserve. Families of our first responders deserve timely consideration of benefit claims when their loved ones give the ultimate sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this measure so that it may be sent to the President for signature.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6 · May 17, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 419) to require adequate reporting on the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program, and for other purposes. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 419) to require adequate reporting on the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on S. 419, currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in 1976 Congress passed and the President signed into law the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act. The act was designed to offer peace of mind to men and women seeking careers as public safety officers, namely, that if something happened to them in their dangerous roles, their families would have support.

It shows that America places enormous value on those in our communities who protect and serve, those whose response to danger is to face it head-on and who put others before themselves daily.

The PSOB program, administered by the Department of Justice, provides death benefits in the form of a one-time financial payment to eligible survivors of public safety officers who have died in the line of duty.

The program also provides benefits to public safety officers who are permanently and totally disabled because of injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Finally, the PSOB program provides financial assistance to help pay higher education costs for the spouses and children of public safety officers who have died or been injured in the line of duty.

It is a program that is meant to help the loved ones of fallen officers move forward in the aftermath of tragedies.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the PSOB program has had some incidents of delay, and some families were left in the dark about the status of applications. These families were unable to move forward after their tragic losses, and we recognize that is not acceptable for a family that has sacrificed so much for their communities.

Legislation was introduced in the last Congress, and again this Congress as S. 419, to address these regrettable failings. This bill provides for transparency in the processing of claims in the PSOB program and codifies measures to ensure the system is streamlined and operates in a fair manner.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues for their work and strong support of these law enforcement families. I would especially like to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) for his unwavering support of the families of law enforcement.

In his second inaugural address, President Lincoln reminded the American people: ``To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.'' This legislation is designed to do exactly that for the brave men and women in blue who protect and serve all of us every day.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday this bill passed the Senate unanimously. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time only to say that I very much appreciate the work on both sides of the aisle, particularly the gentleman from Michigan.

This is a good, bipartisan bill which should be passed today. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18 · May 17, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 419, the ``Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2017''. The Public Safety Officers' Benefits program or PSOB Program provides death,…

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 419, the ``Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act of 2017''.

The Public Safety Officers' Benefits program or PSOB Program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and their survivors.

The PSOB Program is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, or BJA, which is a component of the Department of Justice.

Under the Program, the death benefit is provided to eligible survivors of public safety officers whose death was a direct and proximate result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty or certain work-related heart attacks or strokes.

The Program provides a disability benefit to public safety officers who have been permanently and totally disabled as the direct and proximate result of a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty, if that injury permanently prevents the officer from performing any gainful employment.

The education benefit provides assistance to spouses and children of public safety officers killed or disabled in the line of duty who attend an educational program at an eligible education institution.

All too often, these first responders and their families needlessly suffer months and years of uncertainty after experiencing a loss of life or a traumatic injury.

This bill is a show of appreciation for the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the line of duty as well as an expression of appreciation and support to the families of these first responders.

S. 419 improves how the Department of Justice processes claims under the PSOB Program.

The measure authorizes the Bureau of Justice Assistance to establish rules based on standards for the PSOB Program and it requires the Bureau of Justice Assistance to give substantial weight to evidence and facts

presented by a federal, state, or local agency when determining eligibility for death or disability benefits.

These two requirements will decrease the time in which claims are processed, thereby reducing the backlog of families awaiting a decision on their benefits claim.

S. 419 also increases the level of transparency regarding claims processed by requiring the Bureau of Justice Assistance to publish and update information on the status of pending claims.

By requiring that updates on pending benefits claims be posted on public websites, the public will be able to evaluate the performance of the Bureau of Justice Assistance in timely processing claims.

As we honor our fallen heroes this week during National Police Week, I think now is as greater a time as any to ensure that we remove barriers that hinder their families from obtaining benefits we promised them when we enacted the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act.

Accordingly, I strongly support S. 419.

Sen. Lamar AlexanderR-TN · May 16, 2017

Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 10, S. 419. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the…

Bill Text

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America

1st Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the third day of January, two thousand and seventeen

S. 419

AN ACT

To require adequate reporting on the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2017.

Reports

Section 1205 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796c) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by inserting Rules, regulations, and procedures issued under this part may include regulations based on standards developed by another Federal agency for programs related to public safety officer death or disability claims. before the last sentence;

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

by inserting (1) before In making; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

In making a determination under section 1201, the Bureau shall give substantial weight to the evidence and all findings of fact presented by a State, local, or Federal administrative or investigative agency regarding eligibility for death or disability benefits.

(3)

If the head of a State, local, or Federal administrative or investigative agency, in consultation with the principal legal officer of the agency, provides a certification of facts regarding eligibility for death or disability benefits, the Bureau shall adopt the factual findings, if the factual findings are supported by substantial evidence.

; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(e)

(1)

(A)

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Bureau shall make available on the public website of the Bureau information on all death, disability, and educational assistance claims submitted under this part that are pending as of the date on which the information is made available.

(B)

Not less frequently than once per week, the Bureau shall make available on the public website of the Bureau updated information with respect to all death, disability, and educational assistance claims submitted under this part that are pending as of the date on which the information is made available.

(C)

The information made available under this paragraph shall include—

(i)

for each pending claim—

(I)

the date on which the claim was submitted to the Bureau;

(II)

the State of residence of the claimant;

(III)

an anonymized, identifying claim number; and

(IV)

the nature of the claim; and

(ii)

the total number of pending claims that were submitted to the Bureau more than 1 year before the date on which the information is made available.

(2)

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Bureau shall publish on the public website of the Bureau a report, and shall update such report on such website not less than once every 180 days thereafter, containing—

(A)

the total number of claims for which a final determination has been made during the 180-day period preceding the report;

(B)

the amount of time required to process each claim for which a final determination has been made during the 180-day period preceding the report;

(C)

as of the last day of the 180-day period preceding the report, the total number of claims submitted to the Bureau on or before that date for which a final determination has not been made;

(D)

as of the last day of the 180-day period preceding the report, the total number of claims submitted to the Bureau on or before the date that is 1 year before that date for which a final determination has not been made;

(E)

for each claim described in subparagraph (D), a detailed description of the basis for delay;

(F)

as of the last day of the 180-day period preceding the report, the total number of claims submitted to the Bureau on or before that date relating to exposure due to the September 11th, 2001, terrorism attacks for which a final determination has not been made;

(G)

as of the last day of the 180-day period preceding the report, the total number of claims submitted to the Bureau on or before the date that is 1 year before that date relating to exposure due to the September 11th, 2001, terrorism attacks for which a final determination has not been made;

(H)

for each claim described in subparagraph (G), a detailed description of the basis for delay;

(I)

the total number of claims submitted to the Bureau relating to exposure due to the September 11th, 2001, terrorism attacks for which a final determination was made during the 180-day period preceding the report, and the average award amount for any such claims that were approved;

(J)

the result of each claim for which a final determination was made during the 180-day period preceding the report, including the number of claims rejected and the basis for any denial of benefits;

(K)

the number of final determinations which were appealed during the 180-day period preceding the report, regardless of when the final determination was first made;

(L)

the average number of claims processed per reviewer of the Bureau during the 180-day period preceding the report;

(M)

for any claim submitted to the Bureau that required the submission of additional information from a public agency, and for which the public agency completed providing all of the required information during the 180-day period preceding the report, the average length of the period beginning on the date the public agency was contacted by the Bureau and ending on the date on which the public agency submitted all required information to the Bureau;

(N)

for any claim submitted to the Bureau for which the Bureau issued a subpoena to a public agency during the 180-day period preceding the report in order to obtain information or documentation necessary to determine the claim, the name of the public agency, the date on which the subpoena was issued, and the dates on which the public agency was contacted by the Bureau before the issuance of the subpoena; and

(O)

information on the compliance of the Bureau with the obligation to offset award amounts under section 1201(f)(3), including—

(i)

the number of claims that are eligible for compensation under both this part and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note; Public Law 107–42) (commonly referred to as the VCF);

(ii)

for each claim described in clause (i) for which compensation has been paid under the VCF, the amount of compensation paid under the VCF;

(iii)

the number of claims described in clause (i) for which the Bureau has made a final determination; and

(iv)

the number of claims described in clause (i) for which the Bureau has not made a final determination.

(3)

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, and 2 years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—

(A)

conduct a study on the compliance of the Bureau with the obligation to offset award amounts under section 1201(f)(3); and

(B)

submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subparagraph (A) that includes an assessment of whether the Bureau has provided the information required under subparagraph (B)(ix) of paragraph (2) of this subsection in each report required under that paragraph.

(4)

In this subsection, the term nature of the claim means whether the claim is a claim for—

(A)

benefits under this subpart with respect to the death of a public safety officer;

(B)

benefits under this subpart with respect to the disability of a public safety officer; or

(C)

education assistance under subpart 2.

Age limitation for children

Section 1212(c) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796d–1(c)) is amended—

(1)

by striking No child and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (2), no child

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Delayed approvals

(A)

Educational assistance application

If a claim for assistance under this subpart is approved more than 1 year after the date on which the application for such assistance is filed with the Attorney General, the age limitation under this subsection shall be extended by the length of the period—

(i)

beginning on the day after the date that is 1 year after the date on which the application is filed; and

(ii)

ending on the date on which the application is approved.

(B)

Claim for benefits for death or permanent and total disability

In addition to an extension under subparagraph (A), if any, for an application for assistance under this subpart that relates to a claim for benefits under subpart 1 that was approved more than 1 year after the date on which the claim was filed with the Attorney General, the age limitation under this subsection shall be extended by the length of the period—

(i)

beginning on the day after the date that is 1 year after the date on which the claim for benefits is submitted; and

(ii)

ending on the date on which the claim for benefits is approved.

Due diligence in paying benefit claims

Subpart 1 of part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

1206.

Due diligence in paying benefit claims

(a)

In general

The Bureau, with all due diligence, shall expeditiously attempt to obtain the information and documentation necessary to adjudicate a benefit claim filed under this part, including a claim for financial assistance under subpart 2.

(b)

Sufficient information unavailable

If a benefit claim filed under this part, including a claim for financial assistance under subpart 2, is unable to be adjudicated by the Bureau because of a lack of information or documentation from a third party, such as a public agency, and such information is not readily available to the claimant, the Bureau may not abandon the benefit claim unless the Bureau has utilized the investigative tools available to the Bureau to obtain the necessary information or documentation, including subpoenas.

Presumption that officer acted properly

Section 1202 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796a) is amended—

(1)

by striking No benefit and inserting the following:

(a)

In general

No benefit

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(b)

Presumption

In determining whether a benefit is payable under this part, the Bureau—

(1)

shall presume that none of the limitations described in subsection (a) apply; and

(2)

shall not determine that a limitation described in subsection (a) applies, absent clear and convincing evidence.

Effective date; applicability

The amendments made by this Act shall—

(1)

take effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and

(2)

apply to any benefit claim or application under part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796 et seq.) that is—

(A)

pending before the Bureau of Justice Assistance on the date of enactment; or

(B)

received by the Bureau on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate