H.R. 1236House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025

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Updated November 24, 2025 at 2:43 AM UTC

The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 changes the 1968 Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to extend death‑benefit coverage to certain retired police officers. It lets retirees whose deaths or total disabilities result from attacks linked to their former service receive the same benefits as active officers. The law takes effect right away and can be applied retroactively to relevant cases dating back to 2012.

Key Provisions

Adds a new category (p) to the public safety officers' death benefits program, allowing retired law‑enforcement officers to receive benefits if they die or become permanently disabled from a targeted attack tied to their service.
Defines a “retired law‑enforcement officer” as anyone who left a public‑agency law‑enforcement job in good standing, whether or not they were still receiving pay.
Makes the amendment effective immediately upon enactment and applies it to any pending or future cases, with a special rule that it also covers actions against retired officers that occurred on or after August 28, 2012.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 12, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 12, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 12, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 12, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1236

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 12, 2025

Mr. Barr (for himself and Mr. Goldman of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include certain retired law enforcement officers in the public safety officers’ death benefits program.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025.

Inclusion of certain retired public safety officers in the public safety officers' death benefits program

(a)

In general

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:

(p)

Personal injury to retired law enforcement officer

(1)

In general

A retired law enforcement officer shall be eligible for a benefit under this part if the officer died or become permanently and totally disabled as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury resulting from a targeted attack because of the retired law enforcement officer’s service as a law enforcement officer.

(2)

Retired law enforcement officer defined

In this subsection, the term retired law enforcement officer means an individual who separated from service, in good standing, as a law enforcement officer, in an official capacity at a public agency, with or without compensation.

(b)

Retroactive applicability

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall—

(A)

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

(B)

apply to any matter pending, before the Bureau of Justice Assistance or otherwise, on the date of enactment of this Act, or filed (consistent with pre-existing effective dates) or accruing after that date.

(2)

Exceptions

The amendments made by this section shall apply to any action taken against a retired law enforcement officer described in section 1201(p) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (as added by this Act) that occurred on or after August 28, 2012.