House Bill 2936
117th Congress(2021-2022)
Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House on Apr 30, 2021
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
2936
Congress
117
Policy Area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime and Law Enforcement
Primary focus of measure is criminal offenses, investigation and prosecution, procedure and sentencing; corrections and imprisonment; juvenile crime; law enforcement administration. Measures concerning terrorism may fall under Emergency Management or International Affairs policy areas.
Bill Pascrell
grade
New Jersey
Arizona
California
California
California
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Florida
Florida
Georgia
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey
New York
New York
New York
New York
New York
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Tennessee
No House votes have been held for this bill.
Summary
Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021
This bill makes changes to the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty or permanently disabled as a result of catastrophic injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Among the changes, the bill
- expands the public safety officers eligible for coverage under the PSOB program to include firefighters whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic and cadets or trainees in candidate-officer training;
- extends coverage under the PSOB program to certain public safety officers responding outside their jurisdiction;
- increases the interim benefit amount payable on a claim for death benefits and requires the interim amount to be adjusted annually for inflation;
- increases the benefit amount payable on a death or disability claim that has been pending for more than 365 days on the date of the final determination;
- allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to use investigative tools, including subpoenas, to expedite the processing of claims and obtain information or documentation from third parties (e.g., public agencies);
- specifies that an injury resulting from a neurocognitive disorder qualifies as a catastrophic injury for the purposes of disability benefits;
- requires (currently, authorizes) DOJ to provide retroactive education benefits to qualifying children and spouses;
- specifies that hearing officers appointed to review claims are special government employees (i.e., employees who perform temporary duties for a limited period of time) and are authorized to conduct examinations; and
- allows responders to the World Trade Center or their surviving family members to file claims for death or disability benefits in certain circumstances.
April 30, 2021
11/09/2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
04/30/2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
04/30/2021
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:48:31 PM