Officer John Barnes Act
Public Safety Benefits: Faster Decision Deadlines
The Officer John Barnes Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently introduced in the Senate and sent to the Committee on the Judiciary for review. The bill is actively moving forward as it awaits further consideration by the committee.
Legislative Progress
The bill is sponsored by members of the majority party and focuses on a popular issue, but it is still in the very early stages of the lawmaking process.
Key Points
- This bill sets a strict 270 day deadline for the government to decide if a first responder or their family qualifies for federal benefits. This applies to officers who are killed or permanently disabled while serving their communities.
- The change aims to help families get financial help much faster. Currently, there is no specific time limit, which can leave families waiting for months or even years without knowing if they will receive support.
- The bill is named after Officer John Barnes, a hero who was injured during a school shooting. It focuses on making the system more predictable for people facing major life changes after a tragedy.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Officer John Barnes Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(4)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.