Filling Public Safety Vacancies Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4024
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-17: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T08:05:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Filling Public Safety Vacancies Act (H.R. 4024) aims to provide emergency funding to support the hiring and rehiring of additional full-time (career) law enforcement officers. This addresses vacancies in public safety roles to enhance community safety during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.
Key Provisions
- Funding Allocation: Appropriates $162,000,000 from the U.S. Treasury (funds not previously allocated) for grants to hire or rehire law enforcement officers. These grants build on the existing Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program under section 1701 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381), which supports state and local law enforcement initiatives.
- Fund Availability: The funds remain available until fully spent, with no fixed expiration tied to the fiscal year.
- Hiring Requirements: Law enforcement agencies using these funds must:
- Conduct a thorough background check on each new or rehired officer (a review of an individual's criminal history, employment records, and other relevant details to ensure suitability).
- Require a psychological evaluation (an assessment by a qualified professional to evaluate mental fitness for the role).
- Cover the costs of these checks and evaluations using the appropriated funds or the agency's own resources.
- Emergency Status: The funding is classified as an "emergency requirement" under section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, allowing it to bypass certain federal spending limits.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill does not fundamentally alter the underlying Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 but adds supplemental emergency funding to an existing grant program. A key addition is the mandatory background checks and psychological evaluations specifically for officers hired or rehired with these new funds, which may standardize hiring practices beyond what was previously required under the base program.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Provides financial relief to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies facing officer shortages, enabling quicker recruitment without straining regular budgets. The emergency designation could influence broader federal spending priorities by exempting this from sequestration (automatic budget cuts).
- On Citizens: May improve public safety by increasing the number of trained officers on duty, potentially reducing response times to crimes and enhancing community policing. However, it focuses solely on hiring without addressing training or retention beyond recruitment.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill is domestic-focused on U.S. law enforcement.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Law Enforcement Agencies: Primary beneficiaries, including police departments at federal, state, and local levels, which can apply for grants to fill vacancies.
- Law Enforcement Officers: Current and prospective career officers, who gain opportunities for employment or rehiring, subject to new vetting requirements.
- U.S. Taxpayers and Communities: Indirectly affected through funded public safety improvements and the use of federal funds.
- Congressional Committees: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on the Budget for oversight of funding and fiscal implications.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces existing federal grant authority under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act without creating new entitlements. The emergency designation legally exempts the funds from budget enforcement mechanisms, potentially setting a precedent for future crisis-response appropriations.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's enumerated power to appropriate funds (Article I, Section 9) and promote general welfare, with no apparent conflicts.
- Political: Introduced bipartisanship (by Rep. Carbajal, a Democrat, and Rep. Bacon, a Republican) suggests broad support for public safety amid ongoing concerns about law enforcement staffing shortages post-pandemic. As an introduced bill (IH status), it requires further committee review and floor votes to become law, highlighting debates over emergency spending in a divided Congress.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-17: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-06-17: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-06-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Filling Public Safety Vacancies Act — issued 2025-06-17 — PDF (3 pages)