What does Preamble of S 3897 do?

This bill aims to revise administrative procedures related to death benefits for public safety officers. The bill's stated purpose is to revise administrative procedures and includes 'other purposes'.

What does ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER BENEFITS. of S 3897 do?

This section amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish timelines for notifying claimants of missing information and benefit determinations. It introduces interim benefit payments if the Bureau fails to make a determination within 270 calendar days of receiving a complete claim, with certain conditions and rescission provisions. The Bureau is required to conduct ongoing outreach efforts to public safety officers and agencies regarding the program. The Comptroller General will conduct annual audits of backlogged claims to identify programmatic challenges and review the Bureau’s efforts to improve claims processing. The Bureau is given authority to issue subpoenas to public agencies for necessary information to adjudicate claims. The definition of 'complete claim' is added, requiring all necessary documents and a claim number. The definition of 'gainful work' is incorporated from Title 20, Code of Federal Regulations.

What does BENEFITS FOR PERMANENT AND PARTIAL DISABILITY. of S 3897 do?

This section amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish benefits for public safety officers who experience permanent, but not total, disabilities resulting from a line-of-duty injury. If a public safety officer's impairment progresses to permanent and total disability within three years, they may apply for benefits under the existing total disability provisions. If a public safety officer receiving partial disability benefits dies from the same line-of-duty injury, any death benefit is reduced by the amount of partial disability benefits previously paid. The Bureau may make interim benefit payments of up to $6,000 to public safety officers demonstrating need, pending a final determination. Numerous technical and conforming amendments are made throughout the referenced sections of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, primarily updating cross-references and adjusting calculation methods. Amendments are also made to the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022, the Dale Long Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Improvements Act of 2012, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, updating references to sections within the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act.

What does EXPEDITED PAYMENT FOR VCF OR WTCHP DETERMINATIONS. of S 3897 do?

This section amends Section 1205(b) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The amendment establishes a presumption in favor of approving claims. The Bureau shall approve a claim unless there is 'clear and convincing evidence to the contrary,' as determined by the Bureau. Certifications from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) or the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) are considered in making determinations. The VCF certification indicates eligibility for death benefits under the Victim Compensation Fund. The WTCHP certification indicates the cause of death is a WTCHP-related condition.

What does IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN GAO RECOMMENDATIONS. of S 3897 do?

This section requires the Attorney General to ensure the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance implements recommendations from a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The GAO report is titled ``Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program: Transparency, Claims Assistance, and Program Management Improvements Needed'' (GAO-24-105549). The implementation must occur within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

What does EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS. of S 3897 do?

This section clarifies that the Act does not expand or alter existing benefits for dependents. The referenced benefits are those available under subpart 2 of part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.

Back to bills

A bill to revise administrative procedures relating to public safety officers' death benefits, and for other purposes. — S. 3897

Q: What does SHORT TITLE. of S 3897 do?

This bill is formally titled the Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act of 2026.

Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act of 2026

Last updated: 2/24/2026 · Introduced: 2/24/2026

Author: Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes timelines for notifying claimants and making determinations regarding public safety officers' death benefits, and allows for interim benefit payments if the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) fails to meet those timelines.
The bill expands benefits to public safety officers experiencing permanent, but not total, disabilities resulting from a line-of-duty injury, and allows for interim payments to officers demonstrating need.
For claims related to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) or the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), the bill establishes a presumption in favor of approving claims unless there is clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

Verified Votes

No verified votes yet.

Community Votes

No community votes yet. Be the first!

Voting as guest · Sign in for verified votes

Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 5 more.

7 sections

Click "Show details" to explore individual sections. Use the community vote above or visit All Sections to vote per section.

Read official text

Want the full experience?

Create a free account to cast verified votes on each section, get a personalized summary, and track your voting history.

Create Free Account