Bills · S 571
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 571Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementLaw enforcement officers
Officer John Barnes Act
INTRO FEB 13· LAST ACTION FEB 13
READING
1MIN
COSPONSORS
4
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it addresses a critical need for timeliness and certainty for families facing immense hardship. When a public safety officer dies or is seriously injured, their family often faces immediate financial challenges on top of their grief. Federal benefits are designed to provide a safety net, but delays in determining eligibility can prolong financial insecurity and add to a family's distress.
If this bill becomes law, families would have a clearer expectation of when they will receive a decision, allowing them to plan their finances and future more effectively. Without this bill, the government agency could continue to take an unspecified amount of time to process claims, potentially leaving grieving families in limbo for extended periods. This bill aims to bring greater efficiency and compassion to a vital federal program.
KEY PROVISIONS
2AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the federal agency (Bureau of Justice Assistance) to inform claimants of their benefit eligibility determination within 270 calendar days of receiving a claim.
This sets a specific, legally binding timeframe for agencies to process and decide on critical public safety officer benefit claims.
PROVISION 02
Amends Section 1205 of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which governs federal benefits for public safety officers.
It targets an existing framework for public safety officer benefits, ensuring the new deadline applies directly to those specific programs.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 4
R· Texas
YRS IN OFFICE
13
BILLS LED
133
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 4 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 13
Introduced in Senate
FEB 13
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 571
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 13, 2025
Last actionFeb 13, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 13, 2025
Senate BillS 571Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementLaw enforcement officers
Officer John Barnes Act
INTRODUCED FEB 13, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 13, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
1 min
COSPONSORS
4
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
