H.R. 6509House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed House

Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act of 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:58 AM UTC

The Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act of 2020 changes federal law so that public safety officers—such as police, firefighters, and other first responders—who die or become permanently disabled from COVID‑19 can receive death and disability benefits. The bill creates a legal presumption that COVID‑19 is a line‑of‑duty injury if the officer was on duty within 45 days before testing positive, covering cases from Jan. 20, 2020 through Jan. 20, 2022. It also extends benefits to officers who were previously injured in the 9/11 attacks and later die or are disabled because of COVID‑19.

Key Provisions

Adds a new subsection to the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act defining COVID‑19 (or its complications) as a personal injury sustained in the line of duty for public safety officers.
Creates a presumption that COVID‑19 is a line‑of‑duty injury if the officer was on duty within the 45‑day period before a positive test or diagnosis.
Allows the Attorney General to accept death and disability claims—including supplemental claims—from officers who were injured in the 9/11 attacks and later die or become permanently disabled due to COVID‑19, applying the same presumption of causation.
Specifies that the presumption applies to COVID‑19 diagnoses occurring between Jan. 20, 2020 and Jan. 20, 2022.
Defines COVID‑19 as the disease caused by the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus.
Sets the standard for determining a “catastrophic injury” as permanent inability to perform any gainful work as a public safety officer.

Legislative Activity

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8 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 1, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 14, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

April 14, 2020

HouseFloor

Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

May 27, 2020 • 8:27 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2316-2319)

May 27, 2020 • 8:28 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6509.

May 27, 2020 • 8:28 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

May 27, 2020 • 8:53 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2316)

May 27, 2020 • 8:53 PM

HouseFloor

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

May 27, 2020 • 8:53 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 1, 2020

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued June 1, 2020

IIB

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6509

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 1, 2020

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

AN ACT

To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide public safety officer death and disability benefits for certain public safety officers who contract COVID-19, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act of 2020.

Death and disability benefits for public safety officers impacted by COVID-19

Section 1201 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(o)

For purposes of this part:

(1)

COVID–19 (or complications therefrom) shall be presumed to constitute a personal injury within the meaning of subsection (a), sustained in the line of duty by a public safety officer and directly and proximately resulting in death, in the case of a public safety officer who was diagnosed with, who received a positive test for, or for whom evidence indicated that the officer was infected with, COVID–19, unless such officer was not on duty during the 45-day period prior to being diagnosed with or having positive test for COVID–19.

(2)

The Attorney General shall accept claims, including supplemental claims, under this section from an individual who—

(A)

was serving as a public safety officer and was injured or disabled in the line of duty as a result of the terrorist attacks on the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001, or in the aftermath of such attacks developed a condition described in section 3312(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300mm–22(a)); and

(B)

was diagnosed with COVID–19 during the period described in paragraph (3), which, in combination with the injury or disability described in subparagraph (A), permanently and totally disabled or directly and proximately resulted in the death of the individual.

In assessing a claim under this paragraph, the presumption of causation described in paragraph (1) shall apply.

(3)

The presumption described in paragraph (1) and standard in subsection (p) shall apply with respect to a diagnosis of COVID–19 (or complications therefrom) beginning on January 20, 2020, and ending on January 20, 2022.

(4)

The term COVID–19 means a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS–CoV–2).

(p)

In determining whether the personal injury under subsection (b) resulting from COVID-19 (or complications therefrom) was a catastrophic injury, the Attorney General’s inquiry shall apply the presumption in subsection (o) and be limited to whether the individual is permanently prevented from performing any gainful work as a public safety officer.

Determination of Budgetary Effects

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation or this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Passed the House of Representatives May 27, 2020.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk.