Bill Summary
The **Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act** aims to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a grant program that supports law enforcement agencies in utilizing retired officers for civilian law enforcement tasks.
**Key Provisions:**
1. **Grant Program Establishment**: The Act creates a new section within the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, allowing the Attorney General to award grants to state, local, Tribal, or territorial law enforcement agencies. These grants are intended for hiring retired law enforcement personnel to assist in non-enforcement roles.
2. **Civilian Law Enforcement Tasks**: The legislation defines "civilian law enforcement tasks" to include activities such as assisting in investigations (e.g., homicide, carjacking, financial crimes), reviewing camera footage, crime scene analysis, and providing technological expertise. Importantly, these tasks do not include the authority to make arrests or use force.
3. **Eligibility and Training**: Eligible entities must ensure that retired personnel hired with grant funds have current training or will participate in continuing education programs related to the tasks they will perform.
4. **Accountability Measures**: The Act includes requirements for auditing grant recipients to prevent misuse of funds. Agencies with unresolved audit findings will be ineligible for future grants for two fiscal years. Additionally, priority for grants is given to those with a clean audit history.
5. **Annual Certifications**: The Attorney General is required to report annually on the completion of audits and any exclusions from grant eligibility due to unresolved findings.
Overall, the Act aims to leverage the expertise of retired law enforcement officers to assist agencies in civilian capacities, enhancing their operational efficiency while maintaining accountability in the use of federal funds.
Possible Impacts
The "Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act" establishes a grant program aimed at enhancing the capacity of law enforcement agencies through the hiring of retired law enforcement personnel. Here are three examples of how this legislation could affect people:
1. **Improved Community Safety and Crime Resolution**: By allowing law enforcement agencies to hire retired officers to assist in civilian law enforcement tasks such as homicide investigations, financial crimes, and crime scene analysis, the legislation could lead to more effective crime resolution. This can enhance public safety and community trust in law enforcement as investigations are handled more proficiently, potentially resulting in lower crime rates and quicker justice for victims.
2. **Employment Opportunities for Retired Officers**: The grant program enables retired law enforcement officers to remain active in the workforce while applying their skills and experience. This could provide meaningful job opportunities for veterans of law enforcement who may face challenges in transitioning to civilian employment. It allows them to continue contributing to their communities and maintain a sense of purpose, which can be beneficial for their mental health and well-being.
3. **Increased Accountability and Transparency in Law Enforcement**: The legislation includes provisions for accountability, such as mandatory audits of grant recipients and a requirement to check for disciplinary records before hiring retired officers. This could lead to improved transparency in how law enforcement agencies operate and utilize grant funds, fostering public confidence in these agencies. Citizens may feel more secure knowing that there are checks in place to prevent misuse of funds and ensure that experienced personnel are brought back into service in a responsible manner.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1563 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 83
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1563
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
establish a grant program to help law enforcement agencies with
civilian law enforcement tasks, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 1, 2025
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Durbin, and Ms. Hirono)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
May 20, 2025
Reported by Mr. Grassley, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
establish a grant program to help law enforcement agencies with
civilian law enforcement tasks, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Retired Law Enforcement
Officers Continuing Service Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act
of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``PART PP--CIVIL LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK GRANTS</DELETED>
<DELETED>``SEC. 3061. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``In this part:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) Civilian law enforcement task.--The term
`civilian law enforcement task' includes--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) assisting in homicide
investigations;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) assisting in carjacking
investigations;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) assisting in financial crimes
investigations;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) reviewing camera footage;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(E) crime scene analysis;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(F) forensics analysis; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(G) providing expertise in computers,
computer networks, information technology, or the
internet.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity'
means a State, local, Tribal, or territorial law enforcement
agency.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``SEC. 3062. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``The Attorney General may award grants to eligible
entities for the purpose of hiring retired personnel from law
enforcement agencies to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) train civilian employees of the eligible
entity on civilian law enforcement tasks that can be performed
on behalf of a law enforcement agency; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) perform civilian law enforcement tasks on
behalf of the eligible entity.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``SEC. 3063. ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(a) In General.--A grant awarded under this part shall
be subject to the accountability requirements of this
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(b) Audit Requirement.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term
`unresolved audit finding' means a finding in a final audit
report of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice
that an audited grantee has used grant funds for an
unauthorized expenditure or otherwise unallowable cost that is
not closed or resolved within 12 months from the date when the
final audit report is issued.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Audits.--Beginning in the first fiscal year
beginning after the date of enactment of the Retired Law
Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act, and in each fiscal
year thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department of
Justice shall conduct audits of recipients of grants under this
part to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds by grantees.
The Inspector General of the Department of Justice shall
determine the appropriate number of grantees to be audited each
year.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) Mandatory exclusion.--A recipient of grant
funds under this part that is found to have an unresolved audit
finding shall not be eligible to receive grant funds under this
part during the first 2 fiscal years beginning after the end of
the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) Priority.--In awarding grants under this
part, the Attorney General shall give priority to eligible
entities that did not have an unresolved audit finding during
the 3 fiscal years before submitting an application for a grant
under this part.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(c) Annual Certification.--Beginning in the fiscal year
during which audits commence under subsection (b)(2), the Attorney
General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on the
Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives an annual certification--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) indicating whether--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) all audits issued by the Office of
the Inspector General of the Department of Justice
under subsection (b) have been completed and reviewed
by the appropriate Assistant Attorney General or
Director; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) all mandatory exclusions required
under subsection (b)(3) have been issued; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) that includes a list of any grant recipients
excluded under subsection (b)(3) from the previous
year.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(d) Preventing Duplicative Grants.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) In general.--Before the Attorney General
awards a grant to an eligible entity under this part, the
Attorney General shall compare potential grant awards with
other grants awarded by the Attorney General to determine if
grant awards are or have been awarded for a similar
purpose.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Report.--If the Attorney General awards
grants to the same applicant for a similar purpose, the
Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary
of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House
of Representatives a report that includes--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) a list of all such grants awarded,
including the total dollar amount of any such grants
awarded; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) the reason the Attorney General
awarded multiple grants to the same applicant for a
similar purpose.''.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Retired Law Enforcement Officers
Continuing Service Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.
Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968
(34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``PART PP--CIVIL LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK GRANTS
``SEC. 3061. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) Civilian law enforcement task.--The term `civilian
law enforcement task'--
``(A) includes--
``(i) assisting in homicide investigations;
``(ii) assisting in carjacking
investigations;
``(iii) assisting in financial crimes
investigations;
``(iv) assisting in compliance with
reporting requirements;
``(v) reviewing camera footage;
``(vi) crime scene analysis;
``(vii) forensics analysis; and
``(viii) providing expertise in computers,
computer networks, information technology, or
the internet; and
``(B) does not include the ability to make arrests
or use force under the color of law.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
State, local, Tribal, or territorial law enforcement agency
that certifies that retired law enforcement personnel hired
using amounts from a grant under this part--
``(A) have appropriate and reasonably current
training and experience to effectively carry out the
tasks described in section 3062(a); or
``(B) will participate in appropriate continuing
education programs to satisfy subparagraph (A).
``SEC. 3062. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
``(a) In General.--The Attorney General may award grants to
eligible entities for the purpose of hiring retired personnel from law
enforcement agencies to--
``(1) train civilian employees of the eligible entity on
civilian law enforcement tasks that can be performed on behalf
of a law enforcement agency; and
``(2) perform civilian law enforcement tasks on behalf of
the eligible entity.
``(b) Disciplinary Records.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a grant
under subsection (a) shall make a good faith effort to
determine whether a retired law enforcement officer seeking to
be hired by the eligible entity using amounts from a grant
under this part has a disciplinary record or an internal
investigation record by--
``(A) conducting a search of the National
Decertification Index; or
``(B) requesting the personnel record of the
retired law enforcement officer from each law
enforcement agency that employed the retired law
enforcement officer.
``(2) Hiring determinations.--Before making any hiring
determination, the highest ranking law enforcement officer of
an eligible entity receiving a grant under subsection (a) or a
designee of that law enforcement officer shall review any
findings of misconduct that arise as a result of a search or
request conducted pursuant to paragraph (1).
``SEC. 3063. ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS.
``(a) In General.--A grant awarded under this part shall be subject
to the accountability requirements of this section.
``(b) Audit Requirement.--
``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `unresolved
audit finding' means a finding in a final audit report of the
Inspector General of the Department of Justice that an audited
grantee has used grant funds for an unauthorized expenditure or
otherwise unallowable cost that is not closed or resolved
within 12 months from the date when the final audit report is
issued.
``(2) Audits.--Beginning in the first fiscal year beginning
after the date of enactment of the Retired Law Enforcement
Officers Continuing Service Act, and in each fiscal year
thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice
shall conduct audits of recipients of grants under this part to
prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds by grantees. The
Inspector General of the Department of Justice shall determine
the appropriate number of grantees to be audited each year.
``(3) Mandatory exclusion.--A recipient of grant funds
under this part that is found to have an unresolved audit
finding shall not be eligible to receive grant funds under this
part during the first 2 fiscal years beginning after the end of
the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).
``(4) Priority.--In awarding grants under this part, the
Attorney General shall give priority to eligible entities that
did not have an unresolved audit finding during the 3 fiscal
years before submitting an application for a grant under this
part.
``(c) Annual Certification.--Beginning in the fiscal year during
which audits commence under subsection (b)(2), the Attorney General
shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives an annual
certification--
``(1) indicating whether--
``(A) all audits issued by the Office of the
Inspector General of the Department of Justice under
subsection (b) have been completed and reviewed by the
appropriate Assistant Attorney General or Director; and
``(B) all mandatory exclusions required under
subsection (b)(3) have been issued; and
``(2) that includes a list of any grant recipients excluded
under subsection (b)(3) from the previous year.
``(d) Preventing Duplicative Grants.--
``(1) In general.--Before the Attorney General awards a
grant to an eligible entity under this part, the Attorney
General shall compare potential grant awards with other grants
awarded by the Attorney General to determine if grant awards
are or have been awarded for a similar purpose.
``(2) Report.--If the Attorney General awards grants to the
same applicant for a similar purpose, the Attorney General
shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives a report that includes--
``(A) a list of all such grants awarded, including
the total dollar amount of any such grants awarded; and
``(B) the reason the Attorney General awarded
multiple grants to the same applicant for a similar
purpose.''.
Calendar No. 83
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1563
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
establish a grant program to help law enforcement agencies with
civilian law enforcement tasks, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 20, 2025
Reported with an amendment