116th US Congress Update March 2019
Apr 3, 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 #.
May 1, 2024
The Southern States Police Benevolent Association is committed to keeping you informed of federal legislation that may affect your work-life, pay and benefits.
moreApril 2, 2024
The Southern States Police Benevolent Association is committed to keeping you informed of federal legislation that may affect your work-life, pay and benefits.
more