Promoting Police Leadership Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8849
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-05T02:27:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to enhance the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) program under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 by developing specialized training for command-level law enforcement personnel to improve leadership, management, and operational effectiveness.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Adds a definition of "command-level personnel" as officers who manage, direct, or oversee law enforcement operations in a geographic subunit.
- Training Curricula Development: Directs the Attorney General to develop or identify curricula within 180 days covering leadership, critical incident response, risk management, officer wellness, data analysis, evidence-based decision making, and community trust. Curricula must emphasize in-person instruction, peer-to-peer learning, a practical problem-solving component, and pre/post assessments.
- Certification Process: Requires the Attorney General to certify qualifying training programs and courses, terminate non-compliant certifications, and establish criteria for collaboration with educational institutions.
- Public List: Mandates publication of a list of participating law enforcement agencies, including agency size and completion numbers.
- Reporting Requirements: Requires the Attorney General to submit reports to Congress for three years on implementation, assessments, recommendations, and barriers; the GAO must conduct an independent review after three years.
- State Authority Preservation: Explicitly states that the Act does not preempt or replace state or local training standards.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 901(a) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to add the command-level personnel definition.
- Adds a new subsection (q) to Section 1701, creating mandatory federal involvement in command-level training curricula and certification under the COPS program.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Justice and Attorney General gain new responsibilities for curriculum development, certification, and reporting; state, local, and Tribal agencies may access certified training but face no mandates.
- Citizens: Improved leadership training could enhance policing practices, though outcomes depend on voluntary participation.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies (Attorney General, DOJ).
- State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies and their command-level personnel.
- Educational institutions partnering on curricula.
- Congress and the GAO for oversight.
- Peace Officer Standards and Training entities at state and local levels.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Emphasizes federalism by preserving state and local authority over certification standards.
- Involves no apparent constitutional conflicts, focusing instead on voluntary program enhancements and intergovernmental consultation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Promoting Police Leadership Act — issued 2026-05-15 — PDF (9 pages)