Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7718
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:08:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, titled the "Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026," aims to improve and expand the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. The program provides financial support to public safety officers (such as police, firefighters, and emergency responders) who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty, as well as to their families. The legislation focuses on streamlining claim processing, adding benefits for partial disabilities, enhancing oversight, and ensuring faster access to support.
Key Provisions
- Claim Processing Timelines and Notices:
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) must notify claimants or agencies of missing information within 90 days of receiving a claim.
- BJA must issue a determination on eligibility within 270 days of receiving a complete claim (a claim with all required documents and an assigned claim number).
- If delayed beyond 270 days, BJA must provide interim benefits (a one-time payment) to undisputed eligible claimants or hold funds in escrow until resolved.
- Interim Benefits Rules:
- Interim payments are capped at $6,000 (adjusted for inflation) and are credited against final benefits.
- They cannot be recouped except in cases of fraud, and they do not guarantee final eligibility.
- This applies to death, total disability, and new partial disability claims.
- Subpoena Authority:
- BJA must issue subpoenas to public agencies that fail to provide necessary information within 30 days of a request (with possible 60-day extensions).
- This ensures agencies cooperate in investigations for claims.
- Outreach and Reporting:
- BJA must conduct ongoing outreach to public safety officers, underserved agencies, disabled officers, and families of fallen officers, including regular communication with national organizations.
- BJA must report on backlogged claims (those delayed over specified periods) to congressional Judiciary Committees within 30 days of internal reports.
- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must annually audit claims pending over one year, reviewing delays, subpoena use, outreach effectiveness, and BJA's claims manual for consistency.
- Expanded Disability Benefits:
- Introduces benefits for permanent but partial disabilities that prevent an officer from performing any "gainful work" (defined as substantial, paid employment, similar to Social Security rules) as a public safety officer, including if medically retired.
- Payment is half the full death benefit amount (adjusted for inflation), payable if the officer is alive at determination.
- If the disability worsens to total within three years, officers can upgrade to full benefits, minus prior payments.
- If the officer dies from the same injury, death benefits are reduced by any partial disability payments received.
- This does not affect temporary disabilities or full death/total disability benefits.
- Expedited Approvals:
- Claims related to September 11th events are fast-tracked if certified by the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) or World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) as eligible for death benefits or related conditions, unless clear evidence contradicts it.
- Implementation of Recommendations:
- Within 180 days of enactment, the Attorney General must direct BJA to adopt GAO suggestions from a 2024 report on improving transparency, claims assistance, and program management.
- No Impact on Educational Benefits:
- The bill clarifies it does not change existing educational assistance for dependents under the PSOB program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amendments to the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281 et seq.):
- Adds new definitions for "complete claim" and "gainful work" to clarify processing and eligibility.
- Introduces partial disability benefits (previously limited to death or total permanent disability), expanding coverage without altering full benefits.
- Increases interim payment cap from $3,000 to $6,000 and ties it to partial disabilities.
- Mandates stricter timelines, automatic interim payments for delays, and subpoena use—previously discretionary or less enforced.
- Requires new outreach, reporting, and GAO audits to address backlogs and inconsistencies.
- Updates cross-references in related laws (e.g., Internal Revenue Code, other acts) for consistency.
- Technical Fixes:
- Corrects minor errors (e.g., "parapalegic" to "paraplegic") and adjusts subsection numbering.
These changes build on prior expansions (e.g., from the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022) by focusing on administrative efficiency rather than benefit amounts.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies:
- BJA will face increased workload for faster processing, outreach, subpoenas, and reporting, potentially requiring more staff or resources to reduce backlogs (e.g., claims over one year old).
- Public agencies must respond quicker to information requests or face subpoenas, improving cooperation but adding administrative pressure.
- GAO audits may lead to ongoing program improvements, enhancing accountability.
- On Citizens:
- Families of fallen or disabled officers could receive benefits faster, reducing financial stress during investigations (e.g., via interim payments).
- Expanded partial disability coverage helps officers unable to return to their roles but not fully disabled, providing half-benefits (around $175,000 base, adjusted) for medical retirement or job loss.
- Outreach targets underserved groups, like disabled officers or small agencies, increasing awareness and access.
- On International Relations:
- No direct impact; the bill is domestic, focused on U.S. public safety programs.
Overall, it could process claims more efficiently, benefiting thousands of officers and families annually while minimizing erroneous payments through fraud protections.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Public Safety Officers and Families: Primary beneficiaries, gaining faster access to death, disability, and interim payments; partial disability option aids those medically retired.
- Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA): Administers the program; must implement timelines, outreach, and audits, affecting operations.
- Public Safety Agencies: Required to provide timely information; subpoenas enforce compliance, but outreach improves support.
- National Organizations: Groups for officers, disabled veterans, and families will partner on outreach.
- Congressional Committees: Judiciary Committees receive reports; GAO conducts audits.
- Related Programs: VCF and WTCHP see indirect ties for expedited 9/11-related claims.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications:
- Strengthens administrative due process by mandating timelines and notices, reducing arbitrary delays without limiting BJA's denial authority for ineligible claims.
- Subpoena expansions enhance enforcement but include safeguards (e.g., extensions), avoiding overreach; fraud exceptions protect against abuse.
- No expansion of educational benefits avoids unintended fiscal or eligibility conflicts.
- Constitutional Implications:
- Aligns with due process under the Fifth Amendment by ensuring timely decisions and interim relief for probable claims, preventing undue hardship.
- No First Amendment or equal protection issues; outreach promotes equity for underserved groups without favoring any.
- Political Implications:
- Honors specific officers (Barnes and Ansbro), signaling bipartisan support for law enforcement amid public safety debates.
- Addresses GAO critiques, promoting transparency and efficiency, which could build trust in federal programs without significant new spending (focuses on procedures).
- May set precedent for similar reforms in other benefit programs, emphasizing victim support post-tragedies like 9/11.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
Cosponsors (10)
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-25 — PDF (16 pages)