What does SHORT TITLE. of Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026

What does DEFINITIONS. of Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 do?

This section defines terms used throughout the Act. The term 'Advisory Board' refers to the board established under section 5(a). A 'corrections officer' is an officer or employee of a detention facility, including prisons and jails, who provides custody for incarcerated individuals. An 'eligible detention center' includes prisons and jails administered by the Bureau of Prisons or a State, and jails administered by a State or locality. The definitions of 'jail' and 'prison' align with section 10 of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003. A 'jail or prison administrator' is an individual appointed to a supervisory position in a jail or prison by a federal, state, or local government. A 'law enforcement officer' is an officer of an entity primarily focused on preventing and detecting crime and enforcing criminal laws. A 'locality' is defined as a city, county, or other general-purpose political subdivision of a State. A 'mental health care center' is a facility where at least one mental health care provider offers mental health services. A 'mental health care provider' is a licensed professional who diagnoses and treats mental health conditions, and operates near an eligible detention center. A 'mental health screening survey' is a survey developed and administered by a State or locality under section 3(d)(1). A 'mental illness' is defined as a disorder causing serious functional impairment and substantially limiting major life activities. The term 'State' includes various U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

What does GRANT PROGRAM. of Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes a grant program for States and localities to implement mental health screenings for corrections officers. The grant program aims to award grants for implementing and administering mental health screenings and referring corrections officers to mental health care providers. Eligible projects include developing and administering the mental health screening survey, hiring necessary staff, and establishing an outreach team. The mental health screening survey must be anonymous and confidential, and seek to identify mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. The survey must be administered by a trained staff member, and referrals will be made to local mental health care providers for further assessment and outreach.

What does BUREAU OF PRISONS. of Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 do?

This section concerns the Bureau of Prisons. The Director of the Bureau of Prisons must establish a program within 90 days of the Act's enactment to develop and administer mental health surveys for corrections officers. The surveys must meet the requirements outlined in section 2(d)(1). The Director must also establish and maintain a mental health outreach team, as defined in section 2(e), to refer corrections officers to mental health care providers. The Director is required to submit a plan for implementing the mental health survey program to the Advisory Board.

What does ADVISORY BOARD ON PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. of Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes an Advisory Board on Program Implementation within 60 days of the Act's enactment. The Attorney General is responsible for establishing the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board's duties include evaluating and approving state and local plans, ensuring grant funds are used appropriately, and monitoring the Bureau of Prisons' compliance. The Board will provide technical assistance to states, localities, and the Bureau of Prisons regarding mental health screening and referral programs. It will create a working group of mental health professionals, administrators, and law enforcement to share best practices. The Board will coordinate with mental health outreach teams and determine if states or localities are complying with grant requirements. The Board can mandate changes and reduce grant funding for non-compliant states and localities. The Advisory Board members must have expertise in employee mental health screenings, mental health care within correctional facilities, or program evaluation using statistical methods. The Attorney General must appoint at least three members to the Board and may appoint additional members as deemed appropriate.

What does SAFE HARBOR. of Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes a safe harbor for corrections officers experiencing mental health issues. States and localities receiving grants under section 3, as well as the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, are responsible for ensuring this safe harbor. Corrections officers should not face adverse employment outcomes, including fitness for duty evaluations, while seeking and receiving mental health treatment. The determination of the proper course of treatment should be made in conjunction with the corrections officer's mental health care provider.

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Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026

Q: What does Preamble of Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 do?

This bill aims to provide funding for mental health screenings Funding is intended for the Bureau of Prisons, States, and localities The goal is to provide referrals to mental health care providers for corrections officers

Q: What does FUNDING. of Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 do?

This section authorizes appropriations to the Attorney General for carrying out the Act. A total of $300,000,000 is authorized over five fiscal years: $50,000,000 for 2026, $55,000,000 for 2027, $60,000,000 for 2028, $65,000,000 for 2029, and $70,000,000 for 2030. Ninety percent of the funds are to be used to carry out sections 3 and 4 of the Act. Within the 90 percent allocated to sections 3 and 4, 20 percent is designated for the Bureau of Prisons to carry out section 4. Within the 90 percent allocated to sections 3 and 4, 20 percent is designated for grants to States under section 3. Within the 90 percent allocated to sections 3 and 4, 50 percent is designated for grants to localities under section 3. Five percent of the funds are allocated to the Advisory Board for carrying out section 5(a)(2). Five percent of the funds are allocated to the Advisory Board for carrying out section 5(b).

Last updated: 5/13/2026 · Introduced: 5/13/2026

Author: Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes a grant program providing funding to states and localities for mental health screenings of corrections officers.
The Bureau of Prisons is required to develop and administer mental health surveys for its corrections officers, mirroring the requirements for state and local screenings.
An Advisory Board will be created to oversee program implementation, approve state and local plans, and ensure proper use of grant funds.
The Act provides a 'safe harbor' protecting corrections officers from adverse employment actions when seeking and receiving mental health treatment.
A total of $300 million is authorized over five years to fund the grant program, Bureau of Prisons initiatives, and the Advisory Board’s activities.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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