Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act

Summary#

This bill adds a new part to the public safety officers' death benefits program in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (section 1201). It defines a "retired law enforcement officer" as someone who left official law enforcement service in good standing at a public agency, with or without pay. The bill makes a retired officer eligible for a benefit if the officer dies or becomes permanently and totally disabled as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury from a targeted attack because of their service as a law enforcement officer.

The bill also sets how the change takes effect. The amendments take effect on the date the bill becomes law and apply to matters pending before the Bureau of Justice Assistance or filed or accruing after enactment. There is one stated exception: the amendment will apply to any action taken against a described retired officer on or after January 1, 2012.

What it means for you#

• Retired law enforcement officers (those who left in good standing from a public agency) may now qualify for death or permanent-total-disability benefits under the public safety officers' death benefits program if they were targeted because of their prior service and the injury was the direct and proximate cause of death or permanent disability.
• The change is effective when the bill becomes law and can cover some claims or matters that were pending or filed at that time. It also reaches actions taken on or after January 1, 2012, for the officers described in the new subsection.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The sponsors introduced the bill to amend section 1201 of 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, and they included retroactive provisions for specified earlier actions.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.