This bill reforms the federal Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, which provides death, disability, and educational benefits to police officers, firefighters, and other public safety personnel injured or killed in the line of duty, along with their families. It sets firm deadlines for the Bureau of Justice Assistance, requiring notification of missing claim information within 90 days and a final eligibility determination within 270 days after receiving complete documentation, with interim benefit payments required if that deadline is missed. The bill strengthens the Bureau's ability to obtain records from uncooperative public agencies by requiring subpoenas when requested information is not provided within 30 days, and it streamlines approval for claims already certified through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund or World Trade Center Health Program. It also mandates ongoing outreach to public safety officers and underserved agencies, annual audits by the Government Accountability Office of claims pending more than a year, and requires the Attorney General to implement prior GAO recommendations on program transparency and management within 180 days of enactment. Overall, the legislation aims to reduce lengthy claim backlogs and improve fairness and speed for officers and families awaiting benefits.
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