Proposed Federal Legislative Priorities, 111th Congress
January, 2009
 

Social Security:  Protecting correctional peace officers
ALADS members have never been required under federal law to pay into the social security system. Such a requirement would impose an additional 6.1 % payroll tax on ALADS members and another 6.1% tax on the State. 

Position: Oppose requiring public sector employees to pay into the social security system; continue to monitor and educate Members of Congress.

Support Flow of Federal Dollars to California
Position:  Support direct aid to the State of California and Counties

Deportable criminals serving time in California’s prison system
The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) provides reimbursement to state and local government for the cost of incarcerating deportable criminals who are serving time in state and local correctional facilities.  

Position:  Support increased funding for this program and making needed improvements to the program, such as requiring the Department of Justice to make timely payments.  Support transfer of deportable criminals to federal facilities to serve their time. 

Safety Equipment For Law Enforcement Officers
The Bulletproof Vest Program provides local and state governments with 50% of the cost of purchasing a protective vest for law enforcement officers. 

Position:  Support full funding for this program; the reauthorization of the program; the elimination of the matching requirement for vest purchases for officers who work in high security areas in prisons and transport inmates; and a waiver of or reduction in the matching funds requirement in the case of fiscal hardship.

Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB)
The PSOB Program provides a one-time financial benefit to the eligible survivors of public safety officers whose deaths are the direct and proximate result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty.  As of October 1, 2008, the current death benefit for officers is $315,746.

Position:  Support full funding for the Public Safety Officers Benefit Program (PSOB) and expansions to the program. 

Prison Privatization
Position:  Support proposals to prohibit states from housing state prisoners in private prisons in other states and the use of federal grant money by states to privatize corrections.  Support legislation that would require private prison companies to disclose the same information to the public as is required of the public sector.  Support legislation to prevent the federal government from contracting with the private sector to house federal inmates.

Protecting Officers Personal Information
Position:  Support legislation that would prevent state and local inmates from having access to social security numbers. 

Federal Peace Officer Bill of Rights
Position:  Support the Law Enforcement Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act, to standardize law enforcement officer rights nationwide using California standard.

Collective Bargaining For Public Safety Officers
Position:  Support collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or local governments nationwide. 

Protecting Officers From Exposure to Transmissible Diseases
Position:  Work against any change to the federal regulation that allows states to disclose medical information of inmates to law enforcement officers is not overturned.