115th US Congress Update February 2017

Mar 6, 2017

NEW BILLS of INTEREST

HR 964 Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act

This bill would bring enforcement officers from several federal agencies under Law Enforcement Retirement

Intro: 2/7/2017 Rep. King (NY-2) Status: Government Reform

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 1039 Probation Officer Protection Act (S367)

This bill would give probation officers power of arrest

Intro: 2/14/2017 Rep. Reichert (WA-8) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 1124 State/Local Pensions Accountability and Security Act

This bill would prevent the Federal government from bailing out any insolvent state/local retirement program

Intro: 2/16/2017 Rep. Babin (TX-36) Status: Education & Workforce

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 1213 “Laquan McDonald” Camera Act

This bill would require agency policy for camera use

Intro: 2/21/2017 Rep. Rush (Il-1) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 367 Probation Officer Protection Act (H1039)

This bill would give probation officers power of arrest

Intro: 2/14/2017 Sen. Hatch (UT) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Tillis (NC)

S 411 ERRPA (Eliminate Religious Racial Profiling Act)

This bill would prohibit racial and religious profiling

Intro: 2/16/2017 Sen. Cardin (MD) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Kaine (VA)

Republicans: none

New Firearm Bills

House

810 Stop Illegal Firearm Trafficking

1137 Protection of Collectable Firearms

1181 Veterans 2^nd Amendment Protection

Senate

394 Protection of Military Family 2^nd Amendment Rights

446 Concealed Carry Reciprocity

BILL UPDATES (Changes in Red)

Labor

HR 509 ATF Elimination Act

This bill would disband the ATF

Intro: 1/12/2017 Rep. Sensenbrenner (WI-5) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

Work Conditions

HR 47 Kalief’s Law

This bill would require officer training on handling of youth (<21) and other issues

Intro: 1/3/2017 Rep. Lee (TX-18) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 158 Corey Jones Act

This bill would prohibit vehicle stops by plainclothes officers

Intro: 1/3/2017 Rep. Hastings (FL-20) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 514 HELD Act

This bill would prohibit state or local restrictions on law enforcement immigration enforcement.

Intro: 1/13/2017 Rep. Calvert (CA-42) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

Benefits

HR 99 Honor Fallen TSA

This bill would provide officer federal death benefits to TSA

Intro: 1/3/2017 Rep. Brownley (CA-26) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Thompson (MS-2)

Republicans: none

HR 139 Protecting Employees from Municipal Bankruptcies

This bill would protect municipal employee’s retirement benefits from employer bankruptcy

Intro: 1/3/2017 Rep. Conyers (MI-13) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Cohen (TN-9), Johnson (GA-4)

Republicans: none

HR 320 Delay Mandatory Retirement US Capitol Police

This bill would give US Capitol Police the option to delay retirement.

Intro: 1/5/2017 Rep. Capuano (MA-7) Status: Oversight & Government Reform

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

Firearms

House Bills:

38 Concealed Carry Reciprocity

163 Prevent manufacturer liability

256 Protect military family 2^nd amendment

358 Clarify interstate transportation of firearms

Senate Bills:

162 Restore DC gun rights

To read text of listed bills click on the Library of Congress link below then enter bill #.

http://thomas.loc.gov/

Southern States PBA News

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Alabama Scholarship Winner Puts One Foot in Front of the Other

April 22, 2026

Jackson Patterson is a freshman at the University of South Alabama with several big ambitions. He's just not sure which ones he will follow yet. "Right now, my biggest challenge is deciding what I want my future to look like," he told me. He's studying engineering, and it's possible that he chooses to go straight into building a career in the aerospace industry after college. But it's also possible that he takes an even more interesting path ? he's interested in traveling the world and performing on stage, for example ? because if one thing's for sure about Jackson, it's that he's willing to branch out and try new things that he finds exciting ? even if they're unconventional.

Children of LEO veteran killed in crash awarded PBF memorial scholarships

April 15, 2026

South Fulton County police Capt. Helio A. Garcia III was born with the calling to law enforcement, a 15-year career he devoted his life to after serving his country as a U.S. Marine.

Threat of incarceration of MDOC commissioner compels department to pay judgment owed to PBA member

February 17, 2026

On January 23, 2026, the County Court of Hinds County, Miss. issued an order of civil contempt against the Mississippi Department of Corrections in a case filed on behalf of PBA member Mary Hoyt.