Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
This bill, the Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026, aims to improve the process for awarding death and disability benefits to public safety officers and their families. It focuses on speeding up claim processing, providing clearer communication to claimants, and addressing backlogs in the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The bill also includes provisions to clarify eligibility criteria and streamline the determination of benefits, particularly for permanent and partial disabilities.
Key provisions
- Expedited claim processing with clear timelines for notification and determination.
- Interim benefit payments to claimants awaiting final determination, potentially up to $6,000.
- Clarified definitions of ‘complete claim’ and ‘gainful work’ to improve eligibility assessments.
- Enhanced outreach efforts to ensure public safety officers and underserved agencies are aware of the benefits program.
- Increased subpoena authority for the Bureau to obtain necessary information from public agencies.
- Streamlined determination process for claims related to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program.
- Modifications to benefit calculations for permanent and partial disabilities, including a provision for half benefits in cases of partial disability.
- Implementation of GAO recommendations to improve program transparency and management.
Who is affected
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