This bill would create a new program called the Public Safety Officer Education Assistance Program. The Attorney General would run the program to give direct education payments to eligible public safety officers or, if the officer chooses, to the officer's child. To qualify, an officer must have worked as a public safety officer for at least 8 years for the same employer and agree to stay with that employer for 4 more years. Payments would be limited to no more than 45 months of full-time education (or the part-time equivalent). A child cannot receive payments after their 27th birthday. The bill says payment amounts will be computed using the method in section 3532 of title 38, United States Code, and payments may be reduced under rules about financial need. The Attorney General may write rules, approve or deny applications for listed reasons, and stop payments if a student does not make satisfactory academic progress.
The bill authorizes whatever funding is needed by saying "such sums as may be necessary." There is no publicly available information on estimated total cost or how much funding would be provided in a given year.
The bill states its purpose is to improve recruitment and retention of public safety officers by providing education assistance and career opportunities.
No publicly available information.