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116th US Congress Update March 2019

Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc.

Governmental Affairs

 

116th US Congress Update

March 2019

 

 

NEW BILLS of INTEREST

 

HR 1646 Hero Act 

This bill would improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers.

Intro: 3/8/2019 Rep. Bera (CA-7) Status: Energy and Commerce

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

S 664 Freedom to Organize Act

This bill would amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the requirements for meeting the definition of the term “employee.”

Intro: 3/5/2019 Sen. Brown (OH) Status: Health, Ed., and Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

S 710 Social Security Fairness for Officers

This bill would exempt firefighters and police officers from the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provisions under the Social Security Act.

Intro: 3/7/2019 Sen. Toomey (PA) Status: Finance

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

New Firearm Bills

 

House

1501 Allow Officers Carry Concealed on School Property

1531 Deny Firearms to Dangerous Terrorists

1670 Prevent Gun Trafficking

1671 Background Denial Notification

1705 Prevent Purchase of Ammunition by Prohibited Persons

1745 Prohibit Firearm Possession by Certain Persons

 

Senate

730 Prevent Gun Tafficking

 

BILL UPDATES (Changes in Red)

 

Labor

 

HR 1154 ** COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS

This bill would provide for collective bargaining by local/state officers. 

Intro: 2/13/2019 Rep. Kildee (MI-5) Status: Education and Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Cohen (TN-9), Scott (VA-3)

Republicans: none

 

S 525 Free Choice

This bill would preserve employee free choice to join labor organization or not.

Intro: 2/14/2019 Sen. Paul (KY) Status: Education & Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Wicker (MS), Hyde-Smith (MS), Blackburn (TN), Cotton (AR), Scott (SC), Purdue (GA), Boozman (AR)

 

 

Working Conditions

 

HR 119 Attorney General to Collect Info on Law Enforcement Deadly Force 

This bill would require the Attorney general to collect and compile info on law enforcement use of deadly force.

Intro: 1/3/2019 Rep. Cohen (TN-9) Status: Judiciary 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Sponsor Cohen, Connolly (VA-11), Johnson (GA-4)

Republicans: none

 

HR 125 Sensitivity Training and Independent Investigation of Deadly force

This bill would provide grants to states that require law enforcement officer sensitivity training and independent investigation and prosecution of use of deadly force by officers

Intro: 1/3/2019 Rep. Cohen (TN-9) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Sponsor Cohen, Scott (VA-3), Thompson (MS-3), Johnson (GA-4), Scott (GA-13), McEachin (VA-4), Richmond (LA-2), Sewell (AL-7), Yamuth (KY-3), Cooper (TN-5)

Republicans: none

 

HR 608 School Resource Officer Federal Training Guidelines

This bill would establish federal Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers 

Intro: 1/16/2019 Rep. Higgins (LA-3) Status: Education & Labor 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Higgins 

Benefits

 

HR 141 Repeal Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination

This bill would repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provision.

Intro: 1/3/2019 Rep. Davis (IL-13) Status: Ways and Means 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Price (NC-4), Connolly (VA-11), Cohen (TN-9), Yarmuth (KY-3), Bishop (GA-2), Richmond (LA-2), Scott (VA-3)

Republicans: Massie (KY-4), Graves (LA-6), Comer (KY-1), Rogers (KY-5), Abraham (LA-5), Higgins (LA-3), McKinley (WV-1), Johnson (LA-4), Guthrie (KY-2), Barr (KY-6)

 

HR 372 Provide Public Safety Death Benefits to TSA Employees

This bill would provide TSA employees the public safety officers death benefits 

Intro: 1/9/2019 Rep. Brownley (CA-26) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Beyer (VA-8), Johnson (GA-4), McEachin (VA-4), Cohen (TN-9)

Republicans: Brooks (AL-5)

 

HR 816 Death Benefits to Campus Police

This bill would provide federal death/disability benefits to campus police officers

Intro: 1/28/2019 Rep. King (NY-2) Status: Judiciary 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Cohen (TN-9)

Republicans: none

 

HR 983 Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger Act

This bill would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to provide leave because of the death of a son or daughter.

Intro: 2/5/2019 Rep. Schneider (IL-10) Status: Education & Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Beyer (VA-8)

Republicans: Riggleman (VA-5)

 

HR 1210 Reforms to Public Safety Officers Benefits Program

This bill would make changes to the federal benefits program

Intro: 2/13/2019 Rep. Ruiz (CA-36) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Wexton (VA-10)

Republicans: none

 

HR 1256 Disabled Officers Retirement Benefits 

This bill would permit disabled officers to receive retirement benefits as if they were not disabled.

Intro: 2/14/2019 Rep. Connolly (VA-11) Status: Intelligence 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Sponsor Connolly

Republicans: none

 

HR 1325 Punish Offenses Targeting Law Enforcement

This bill would enhance punishment for officer targeted offenses.

Intro: 2/22/2019 Rep. Rutherford (FL-4) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Guthrie (KY-2), Barr (KY-6)

 

S 413 Law Enforcement Training in Behavior Crisis Response

This bill would require law enforcement training in behavior crisis response.

Intro: 2/7/2019 Sen. Klobucher (MN) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

S 465 Reforms to Public Safety Officers Benefits Program

This bill would make changes to the federal benefits program

Intro: 2/12/2019 Sen. Duckworth (IL) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

S 531 Disabled Officers Retirement Benefits 

This bill would permit disabled officers to receive retirement benefits as if they were not disabled.

Intro: 2/14/2019 Sen. Tester (MT) Status: Homeland Security

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

S 572 Amend Family Medical Leave Act to include Death of Child

This bill would make changes to the FMLA to include leave for child death.

Intro: 2/26/2019 Sen. Tester (MT) Status: Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

 

Firearm Bills

 

House

8 Background Check for All Firearm Sales

33 Gun Trafficking Prohibition

38 Conceal Carry Reciprocity

155 Amen IRS Code to Remove Silencers from Firearm Definition

167 Prohibit Transfer of Firearm at Gun Show by Unlicensed Dealer

282 Sensible Reform to Firearm Regulations

569 Protect Stalking Victims from Firearm Violence

686 Regulation of Ammunition

687 National Handgun Registration & License

717 Restrict firearm sales to 21 Year Olds and Above

820 Background Checks for Gun Show Purchases

822 Require Liability Insurance to Purchase Firearm

869 Undetectable Firearms Act Revisions

930 Firearm Identity Markings and Stolen Reporting Required

952 Regulate Armor Piercing Ammo

971 Bill to Avert Future Gun Violence

1072 Limit States to Regulate Rifles/Shotguns

1112 Strengthen Background Checks

1115 Include Firearms in Consumer Product Safety

1116 Prohibit Firearms by “High-Risk” Individuals

1156 Law Enforcement Concealed Carry

1186 Regulate Large-Feed Magazines

1236 States Authority to Regulate Firearms

1262 Raise Age for Rifle/Shotgun Purchase

1263 Semi-Auto Rifle with Magazine Feed Under Fed Firearms Act

1266 Firearm Assembly Kits Regulated as Firearms

1279 BJA Grants for Gun Buy-Back Programs

1296 2nd Amend not Unlimited

1297 Armor Piercing Ammo in Fed Firearms Act

1339 Create Mass Violence Prevention Center

1454 3-Day Wait to Receive a Firearm

 

Senate

7 Extreme Risk Protection Order and Violence Prevention Act of 2019

42 Background Check for All Firearm Sales

66 Regulate Assault Weapons

69 Conceal Carry Reciprocity

320 Securing Firearms Act

443 Redefine Antique Firearms

447 Regulate Large capacity Magazines

459 Regulate “Ghost” guns

506 Remove Firearms from Dangerous Individuals

 

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

http://thomas.loc.gov/

 

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