Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7718 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7718

To revise administrative procedures relating to public safety officers'
                death benefits, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 25, 2026

 Mr. Weber of Texas (for himself and Mr. Min) introduced the following
       bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To revise administrative procedures relating to public safety officers'
                death benefits, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Officer John Barnes and Chief
Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Expansion Act
of 2026''.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER BENEFITS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1205 of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10285) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (e)(2)(E), by inserting ``, including
        whether the delay is due to the inaction of the claimant or the
        failure to cooperate of an agency from which information is
        required'' after ``basis for delay''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Notice and Interim Benefits.--
            ``(1) Notice of missing information.--Not later than 90
        calendar days after receiving a claim filed under this subpart,
        the Bureau shall notify the claimant or the relevant agency of
        any missing information required to process the claim.
            ``(2) Notice of determination.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 270 calendar days
                after receiving a complete claim, the Bureau shall
                inform the claimant of the Bureau's determination as to
                the claimant's benefit eligibility.
                    ``(B) Interim benefits as notice.--Provision of
                interim benefits under section 1201(d) shall be deemed
                to be notice under subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Interim benefits.--
                    ``(A) Entitlement.--If the Bureau fails to inform a
                claimant of the Bureau's determination on or before the
                date that is 270 calendar days after receiving a
                complete claim, the Bureau shall issue a single interim
                benefit payment with respect to the claim, payable only
                to--
                            ``(i) a claimant whose status as an
                        eligible beneficiary is undisputed; or
                            ``(ii) if beneficiary status remains
                        unresolved, an escrow or fiduciary account,
                        pending final determination under section 1201.
                    ``(B) Rescission or repayment.--Any interim
                benefits paid under this subsection--
                            ``(i) shall be credited against any final
                        benefit determination made under section 1201;
                            ``(ii) shall not be subject to recoupment
                        or affirmative repayment by the Bureau, except
                        in cases of fraud or material
                        misrepresentation; and
                            ``(iii) shall not be construed to create an
                        entitlement to benefits if the claimant or
                        decedent is determined to be ineligible under
                        this part.
            ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
        shall be construed to--
                    ``(A) limit the Bureau's authority to deny a claim
                for failure to meet statutory eligibility requirements;
                    ``(B) alter the determination of eligible
                beneficiaries under section 1201; or
                    ``(C) require payment of interim benefits to
                multiple claimants if the statute authorizes payment to
                only 1 or more mutually exclusive beneficiaries.
    ``(g) Outreach.--The Bureau shall--
            ``(1) conduct outreach efforts on an ongoing basis to
        ensure that public safety officers and underserved public
        agencies are aware of the program under this part, including
        outreach efforts for disabled public safety officers; and
            ``(2) include in the outreach efforts under paragraph (1)
        regular communications with national public safety
        organizations, public safety agencies, and organizations
        supporting disabled public safety officers and the families of
        fallen officers.
    ``(h) Summary of Backlogged Claims.--Not later than 30 days after
publishing the report required under subsection (e)(2), the Bureau
shall submit a summary of the information required to be reported under
subsection (e)(2)(E) to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
    ``(i) Audit of Backlogged Claims.--On an annual basis, the
Comptroller General shall conduct an audit of any pending claims under
this part that were submitted to the Bureau more than 1 year before the
date on which the audit is commenced, to identify programmatic
challenges to the timely processing of death, disability, and
educational assistance claims. As part of the audit, the Comptroller
General shall also review--
            ``(1) where the claim is in the determination process;
            ``(2) the reasons for delay, including any processes, such
        as legal review, that prevent timely processing of claims;
            ``(3) whether the agency has used its subpoena authority
        for the claims;
            ``(4) the frequency of outreach to the claimant and efforts
        to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of outreach and
        claims assistance efforts;
            ``(5) the efforts of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to
        implement a claims processing manual to ensure consistency
        across staff in determining claims; and
            ``(6) efforts to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of
        outreach and claims assistance efforts.''.
    (b) Subpoena Requirement.--Section 1206(b) of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10288(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) with respect to information or documentation in the
        possession of a public agency that the Bureau has determined is
        necessary to adjudicate the claim that the public agency has
        failed to provide by the date that is 30 days after the date of
        the Bureau's or the claimant's request to provide the
        information or documentation, shall issue a subpoena to the
        public agency to obtain the information or documentation,
        unless the Bureau has approved an extension not exceeding 60
        days.''.
    (c) Definitions.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control
        and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
                        (A), by inserting ``or gainful work as a public
                        safety officer'' after ``including sedentary
                        work'' each place it appears; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking
                        ``parapalegic'' and inserting ``paraplegic'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8)
                and paragraphs (8) through (14) as paragraphs (10)
                through (16), respectively;
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) `complete claim' means any claim that--
                    ``(A) contains all required documents from the
                claimant and the relevant agency for processing; and
                    ``(B) has been assigned a claim number by the
                Bureau;''; and
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (8), as so
                redesignated, the following:
            ``(9) `gainful work' means gainful work activity, as
        defined in section 416.972 of title 20, Code of Federal
        Regulations, or successor regulation;''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Internal revenue code.--Section 402(l)(4)(C) of
                the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by
                striking ``(9)(A)'' each place it appears.
                    (B) Title 28.--Section 1863(b)(5)(B) of title 28,
                United States Code, is amended by striking ``section
                1203(6)'' and inserting ``section 1204''.

SEC. 3. BENEFITS FOR PERMANENT AND PARTIAL DISABILITY.

    (a) In General.--Section 1201 of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (q) as
        subsections (d) through (r), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Benefits for Permanent and Partial Disability With Inability
To Continue Previous Work.--
            ``(1) In general.--In accordance with regulations issued
        pursuant to this part, in any case in which the Bureau
        determines that a public safety officer has become permanently,
        but not totally, disabled as the direct and proximate result of
        a personal injury sustained in the line of duty that has caused
        a physical or mental impairment of such severity that the
        public safety officer is prevented from performing any gainful
        work as a public safety officer, including if the individual is
        medically retired by the public safety agency, a benefit shall
        be payable to the public safety officer (if living on the date
        on which the determination is made) of half of the amount that
        would be payable, as of the date such injury was sustained
        (including as adjusted in accordance with subsection (i), and
        calculated in accordance with subsection (j)), if such
        determination were a determination under subsection (a).
            ``(2) Progression of disability.--If, not later than 3
        years after the date of sustaining the injury described in
        paragraph (1), the severity of the impairment of the public
        safety officer progresses to that of permanent and total
        disability, as described in subsection (b), the public safety
        officer may apply for a benefit under that subsection and, if
        the Bureau determines that a permanent and total disability
        exists, the Bureau shall pay the public safety officer a
        benefit in the amount of the benefit to which the public safety
        officer would have been entitled under that subsection, less
        any benefit provided under this subsection.
            ``(3) Offset in the event of death.--If a public safety
        officer who has received a benefit under this subsection
        subsequently dies as a direct and proximate result of the same
        line-of-duty injury, any death benefit payable under subsection
        (a) shall be reduced by the amount of any benefit previously
        paid under this subsection.
            ``(4) Rule of construction.--
                    ``(A) Availability of benefits.--Nothing in this
                subsection shall be construed to affect the
                availability of full benefits under subsection (a) or
                (b), nor shall this subsection apply to temporary
                disabilities or injuries that do not result in
                permanent impairment at the time of filing.
                    ``(B) Determination.--A determination under this
                subsection shall not constitute a final determination
                with respect to eligibility for benefits under
                subsection (b).'';
            (3) by striking subsection (d), and inserting the
        following:
    ``(d) Interim Payment.--Whenever the Bureau determines upon showing
of need and prior to final action that the disability or death of a
public safety officer is one with respect to which a benefit will
probably be paid, the Bureau may make an interim benefit payment not
exceeding $6,000, adjusted in accordance with subsection (i), to the
individual entitled to receive a benefit under subsection (a), (b), or
(c) of this section.''; and
            (4) in subsection (j), as so redesignated, by striking
        ``subsections (a) and (b)'' and inserting ``subsections (a),
        (b), and (c)''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) In general.--Part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime
        Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281 et seq.)
        is amended--
                    (A) in section 1201--
                            (i) in subsection (a), by striking
                        ``adjusted in accordance with subsection (h),
                        and calculated in accordance with subsection
                        (i)'' and inserting ``adjusted in accordance
                        with subsection (i), and calculated in
                        accordance with subsection (j)'';
                            (ii) in subsection (b), by striking
                        ``adjusted in accordance with subsection (h),
                        and calculated in accordance with subsection
                        (i)'' and inserting ``adjusted in accordance
                        with subsection (i), and calculated in
                        accordance with subsection (j)'';
                            (iii) in subsection (d), as so
                        redesignated, by striking ``subsection (h)''
                        and inserting ``subsection (i)'';
                            (iv) in subsection (e), as so redesignated,
                        by striking ``subsection (c)'' and inserting
                        ``subsection (d)'';
                            (v) in subsection (i), as so redesignated--
                                    (I) by striking ``subsection (c)''
                                and inserting ``subsection (d)''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``subsections (a)
                                and (b)'' and inserting ``subsections
                                (a), (b), and (c)'';
                            (vi) in subsection (j), as so redesignated,
                        by striking ``and total'' after ``death or
                        permanent'';
                            (vii) in subsection (m), as so
                        redesignated, by striking ``subsection (k)''
                        and inserting ``subsection (l)'';
                            (viii) in subsection (n), as so
                        redesignated, by striking ``subsection (a),
                        (b), or (c)'' and inserting ``subsection (a),
                        (b), (c), or (d)'';
                            (ix) in subsection (p)(3), as so
                        redesignated--
                                    (I) in the paragraph heading, by
                                striking ``and total disability'' and
                                inserting ``or permanent disability'';
                                    (II) in the matter preceding
                                subparagraph (A), by striking
                                ``subsection (a) or (b)'' and inserting
                                ``subsection (a), (b), or (c)'';
                                    (III) in subparagraph (A), by
                                striking ``and total'' after ``death or
                                permanent''; and
                                    (IV) in subparagraph (B), by
                                striking ``and total'' after ``death or
                                permanent''; and
                            (x) in subsection (r)(2)(A), as so
                        redesignated--
                                    (I) by striking ``subsection (a) or
                                (b)'' and inserting ``subsection (a),
                                (b), or (c)''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``and total'' each
                                place it appears; and
                    (B) in section 1205(e)--
                            (i) in paragraph (2), by striking
                        ``(f)(3)'' and inserting ``(g)(3)''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking
                        ``(f)(3)'' and inserting ``(g)(3)''.
            (2) Other amendments.--
                    (A) Public safety officer support act.--Section
                3(b)(2) of the Public Safety Officer Support Act of
                2022 (34 U.S.C. 10281 note; Public Law 117-172; 136
                Stat. 2101) is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``section 1201(o)'' and
                        inserting ``section 1201(p)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``January 1, 2019'' and
                        inserting ``January 1, 2018''.
                    (B) Dale long public safety officers' benefits
                improvements act of 2012.--Section 1086(d)(2)(B) of the
                National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
                (Public Law 112-239; 126 Stat. 1969) is amended by
                striking ``Section 1201(k)'' and inserting ``Section
                1201(l)''.
                    (C) USA patriot act of 2001.--Section 611(a) of the
                Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
                Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct
                Terrorism Act of 2001 (34 U.S.C. 10286(a)) is amended
                by striking ``and total'' after ``producing
                permanent''.
                    (D) NDAA fy26.--Section 8204(b)(2) of the National
                Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (Public
                Law 119-60) is amended by striking ``section 1201(p)''
                and inserting ``section 1201(q)''.

SEC. 4. EXPEDITED PAYMENT FOR VCF OR WTCHP DETERMINATIONS.

    Section 1205(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10285(b)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
            ``(4) In making determinations under section 1201(a), the
        Bureau shall, absent clear and convincing evidence to the
        contrary, as determined by the Bureau, approve any claim if the
        September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 (49 U.S.C.
        40101 note; Public Law 107-42) (commonly referred to as the
        `VCF') or the World Trade Center Health Program under title
        XXXIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300mm et
        seq.) provides a certification of facts that--
                    ``(A) the claim is eligible for death benefits
                under the Victim Compensation Fund; or
                    ``(B) the cause of claimant's death is a World
                Trade Center Health Program-related condition.''.

SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN GAO RECOMMENDATIONS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Attorney General shall ensure that the Director of the Bureau of
Justice Assistance implements the recommendations provided in the
report of the Government Accountability Office entitled ``Public Safety
Officers' Benefits Program: Transparency, Claims Assistance, and
Program Management Improvements Needed'' (GAO-24-105549), published on
September 27, 2024.

SEC. 6. EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS.

    Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act shall be
construed as expanding or altering any benefits available to dependents
under subpart 2 of part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281 et seq.).
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