[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4450 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2nd Session
S. 4450
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
provide education assistance to public safety officers, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 4, 2024
Mr. Kelly (for himself and Mr. Hawley) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
provide education assistance to public safety officers, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Educational and Career Opportunities
for Public Safety Act of 2024'' or the ``EdCOPS Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968
(34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``PART PP--PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
``SEC. 3061. PURPOSE.
``The purpose of this part is to improve recruitment and retention
of public safety officers employed by State, local, tribal, and
regional law enforcement agencies by providing assistance for the
pursuit of a program of higher education.
``SEC. 3062. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) Child.--The term `child' means a natural,
illegitimate, or adopted child or stepchild of an eligible
public safety officer.
``(2) Educational institution; program of education.--The
terms `educational institution' and `program of education' have
the meanings given the terms in section 1217.
``(3) Eligible public safety officer.--The term `eligible
public safety officer' means a public safety officer that--
``(A) has served as a public safety officer for not
less than 8 years for a single employer prior to the
date of submission of an application under section
3064; and
``(B) commits to serving as a public safety officer
with the employer described in subparagraph (A) during
the 4-year period following the date of submission of
an application under section 3064.
``(4) Public safety officer.--The term `public safety
officer' has the meaning given the term in section 1204.
``SEC. 3063. BASIC ELIGIBILITY.
``(a) Benefits.--
``(1) In general.--The Attorney General shall provide
financial assistance to a person who attends a program of
education and is--
``(A) an eligible public safety officer; or
``(B) a child of an eligible public safety officer
to whom an eligible public safety officer transfers
eligibility for financial assistance in accordance with
paragraph (4)(A).
``(2) Form and amount.--Except as provided in paragraph
(3), financial assistance under this part shall--
``(A) consist of direct payments to a person
described in paragraph (1); and
``(B) be computed on the basis set forth in section
3532 of title 38, United States Code.
``(3) Reduction.--The financial assistance referred to in
paragraph (2) shall be reduced by the amount, if any,
determined under section 3065(b).
``(4) Transfer of assistance.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible public safety
officer may elect to transfer eligibility for part or
all of the financial assistance for which the eligible
public safety officer is eligible under this part to an
individual described in paragraph (1)(B).
``(B) Approval.--An eligible public safety officer
shall approve the receipt of financial assistance under
this part by a person who is not the eligible public
safety officer.
``(b) Duration of Benefits.--The Attorney General may not provide
financial assistance under this part to a person for a period in excess
of 45 months of full-time education or training or a proportional
period of time for a part-time program.
``(c) Age Limitation for Children.--The Attorney General may not
provide financial assistance under this part to a child of an eligible
public safety officer after the date of the 27th birthday of the child.
``SEC. 3064. APPLICATIONS; APPROVAL.
``(a) Application.--A person seeking assistance under this part
shall submit to the Attorney General an application in such form and
containing such information as the Attorney General reasonably may
require.
``(b) Approval.--The Attorney General shall approve an application
for assistance under this part unless the Attorney General finds that--
``(1) the person is not eligible for, is no longer eligible
for, or is not entitled to the assistance for which application
is made;
``(2) the person's selected educational institution fails
to meet a requirement established in a regulation implementing
this part for eligibility;
``(3) the person's enrollment in or pursuit of the
educational program selected would fail to meet the criteria in
a regulation implementing this part for programs; or
``(4) the person already is qualified by previous education
or training for the educational, professional, or vocational
objective for which the educational program is offered.
``(c) Notification.--The Attorney General shall notify a person
applying for assistance under this part of approval or disapproval of
the application in writing.
``SEC. 3065. REGULATIONS.
``(a) In General.--The Attorney General may promulgate reasonable
and necessary regulations to implement this part.
``(b) Sliding Scale.--Notwithstanding section 3064(b), the Attorney
General shall issue regulations regarding the use of a sliding scale
based on financial need to ensure that a person eligible to receive
financial assistance under this part who is in financial need receives
priority in receiving funds under this part.
``SEC. 3066. DISCONTINUATION FOR UNSATISFACTORY CONDUCT OR PROGRESS.
``The Attorney General may discontinue assistance under this part
to a person if the Attorney General finds that, according to the
regularly prescribed standards and practices of an educational
institution attended by the person, the person fails to maintain
satisfactory progress as described in section 484(c) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(c)).
``SEC. 3067. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
such sums as may be necessary.''.
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