Bill > S1563

This bill establishes a new grant program to help law enforcement agencies hire retired law enforcement officers to perform specific civilian law enforcement tasks that do not involve making arrests or using force. These tasks include assisting with homicide, carjacking, and financial crime investigations, reviewing camera footage, conducting crime scene and forensics analysis, and providing expertise in technology. To be eligible for the grant, law enforcement agencies must ensure that hired retired officers have current training or will participate in continuing education. The bill requires agencies to conduct background checks on potential hires by searching the National Decertification Index and requesting personnel records to review any past misconduct. The Attorney General will oversee the grant program, with the Department of Justice's Inspector General conducting annual audits to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Agencies with unresolved audit findings will be ineligible for grants for two subsequent fiscal years, and the Attorney General must submit annual certifications to congressional committees detailing the audit results and any excluded grant recipients. The goal is to leverage the experience of retired law enforcement professionals to support civilian law enforcement tasks while maintaining accountability and transparency.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1563/all-info