Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 911
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-01: Received in the House.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T19:59:47Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 aims to expand the Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits Program under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. It includes certain retired law enforcement officers who suffer death or permanent total disability from targeted attacks linked to their prior service, providing financial benefits to eligible survivors or the officers themselves.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Retired Law Enforcement Officer: A person who left service in good standing as a law enforcement officer for a public agency, either paid or unpaid.
- Eligibility for Benefits: Retired officers qualify if they die or become permanently and totally disabled (meaning unable to work in any substantial job) due to a direct injury from a targeted attack motivated by their past law enforcement duties.
- Retroactive Application:
- Changes take effect on the date of enactment (July 29, 2025).
- Applies to claims pending with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA, the federal agency that administers the program) or filed afterward.
- Covers incidents against retired officers occurring on or after January 1, 2012, even if they happened before the law's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, the Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits Program (under 34 U.S.C. § 10281) covered only active public safety officers, such as police, firefighters, and similar roles, for deaths or disabilities from line-of-duty injuries.
- This act adds a new subsection (p) to explicitly include retired law enforcement officers, broadening eligibility beyond active service to post-retirement targeted attacks related to prior duties.
- Introduces retroactivity starting from 2012, allowing review of past claims that were previously ineligible.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Retired law enforcement officers and their families may gain access to a one-time payment (typically $389,947 as of recent adjustments, though subject to updates) for qualifying incidents, offering financial support for losses tied to past service. This could affect thousands of retirees nationwide who face ongoing risks.
- On Government Agencies: The BJA will handle an expanded workload, including reviewing retroactive claims from 2012 onward, potentially increasing administrative costs and benefit payouts funded by federal appropriations.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the law focuses on domestic U.S. law enforcement.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Retired Law Enforcement Officers: Primary beneficiaries, gaining protection for post-retirement risks.
- Families and Survivors: Eligible to receive death benefits on behalf of deceased retirees.
- Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA): Responsible for processing and paying claims, facing increased demands.
- Law Enforcement Agencies and Unions: Indirectly affected through support for retirees, potentially influencing recruitment and morale.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Expands statutory eligibility without altering core benefit amounts or processes, but the retroactive clause (from 2012) could lead to litigation over claim denials or interpretations of "targeted attack" (an intentional assault based on past service). Ensures consistency with existing program rules on causation (injury must be direct and proximate).
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; aligns with Congress's spending power to support public safety personnel, respecting due process by applying changes prospectively except for specified retroactive relief.
- Political: Named after Chief Herbert D. Proffitt (likely a fallen officer), it reflects bipartisan support for honoring law enforcement beyond active duty, potentially setting precedent for similar expansions to other retired public safety roles like firefighters.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Cosponsors (9)
Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-01: Received in the House.
- 2025-08-01: Held at the desk.
- 2025-08-01: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2025-07-29: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4796; text: CR S4797)
- 2025-07-29: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-05-20: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 81.
- 2025-05-20: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-05-20: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-05-15: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-03-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-03-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (4 pages)
- Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-10 — PDF (3 pages)
- Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-20 — PDF (4 pages)