BILLS INTRODUCED, 110th CONGRESS

Collective Bargaining
H.R.980, introduced by Congressman Kildee, would provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or local governments. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 980 by a bipartisan vote of 314 to 97 on July 17, 2007. The "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007" guarantees the rights of law enforcement officers in all 50 states to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

Firearms
S. 376, introduced by Senator Leahy, passed the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on September 5, 2007.  This legislation would give retired officers more flexibility in obtaining certification and reduces from 15 to 10 the years of service required for a retired officer to qualify under the law. S. 376 would ensure that a State or agency cannot refuse to provide a retired officer a document or the opportunity to obtain that document.  The legislation would provide that a “certified firearms instructor” could conduct and qualify retired law enforcement officers using the active duty standards for qualification in firearms training.  It would take away the requirement under existing law that a retired officer is receiving retirement benefits.  To read Senator Leahy's statement on this legislation, Click Here.  To read the Senate report on this measure, Click Here. 

H.R.226, introduced by Congressman Stearns, would provide a national standard in accordance with which nonresidents of a State may carry concealed firearms in the State. 

Gangs
S. 456,introduced by Senator Feinstein, passed the Senate on September 24, 2007 and has been referred to the House of Representatives. This legislation would increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent gang crime, to protect law-abiding citizens and communities from violent criminals, to revise and enhance criminal penalties for violent crimes, to expand and improve gang prevention programs, and for other purposes.  i

Grant Programs
S. 231 introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein.  This legislation would authorize the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program at fiscal year 2006 levels through 2012.

Homeland Security
S.345, introduced by Senator Joseph Biden.  This legislation would establish a Homeland Security and Neighborhood Safety Trust Fund and refocus Federal priorities toward securing the Homeland.

Honoring Law Enforcement Officers
H.R. 146, the Law Enforcement Officers Flag Memorial Act introduced by Congressman Gene Green.  This legislation would allow the family of a deceased law enforcement officer to request, and the Attorney General to provide, a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol in honor of the officer, to be supplied by the Architect of the Capitol.

Housing
H.R.172, introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee.  This legislation would assist teachers and public safety officers in obtaining affordable housing.

Identification
S.276, introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein.  This legislation would strengthen the consequences of the fraudulent use of United States or foreign passports and for other purposes.  

Inmates
H.R. 178, introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee.  This legislation would require the Attorney General to allow community organizations to distribute condoms and engage in sexually transmitted infection counseling in federal correctional facilities.  The bill prohibits a federal correctional facility from taking adverse action against a prisoner who possesses or uses a condom.  H.R. 178 expresses the sense of Congress that states should allow for the legal distribution of sexual barrier protection devices in their correctional facilities.

Officer Privacy
S. 238 introduced by Senator Feinstein.  This measure includes a provision advocated by ALADS to prevent state and local governments from allowing inmates to have access to social security numbers.

H.R. 3046, introduced by Congressman McNulty, passed the House Committee on Ways and Means on September 24, 2007.  This legislation includes a provision that would prevent state and local inmates from having access to social security numbers, as strongly supported by ALADS.  Click Here for more information.

Officers Bill of Rights
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez introduced H.R. 3440, the Law Enforcement Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act of 2007, as supported by ALADS.  This legislation would provide standards and procedures to guide both State and local law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers during internal investigations, interrogation of law enforcement officers, and administrative disciplinary hearings, to ensure accountability of law enforcement officers, to guarantee the due process rights of law enforcement officers, and to require States to enact law enforcement discipline, accountability, and due process laws. This bill would ensure that officers traveling across state lines would have the same rights in other states that they currently have in California.

H.R.688, introduced by Congressman Jim Ramstad.  This legislation would provide standards and procedures to guide both State and local law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers during internal investigations, interrogation of law enforcement officers, and administrative disciplinary hearings, to ensure accountability of law enforcement officers, to guarantee the due process rights of law enforcement officers, and to require States to enact law enforcement discipline, accountability, and due process laws.

S.449 introduced by Senator Joseph Biden.  This legislation would  provide standards and procedures to guide both State and local law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers during internal investigations, interrogation of law enforcement officers, and administrative disciplinary hearings, to ensure accountability of law enforcement officers, to guarantee the due process rights of law enforcement officers, and to require States to enact law enforcement discipline, accountability, and due process laws.  Cosponsors

Prison Privatization
H.R. 1889, introduced by Congressman Tim Holden on April 17, 2007.  This legislation would require prisons and other correctional facilities holding Federal prisoners under a contract with the Federal Government to make the same information available to the public that Federal prisons and correctional facilities are required to do by law.  This legislation has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R. 1890, introduced by Congressman Tim Holden on April 17, 2007.  This legislation would prohibit federal funds to be used by local and state governments for prison privatization.

Senator Lieberman reintroduced S. 2010, the Private Prison Information Act of 2007, as supported by ALADS.  This legislation would  require prisons and other detention facilities holding Federal prisoners or detainees under a contract with the Federal Government to make the same information available to the public that Federal prisons and detention facilities are required to do by law.  For more information on prison privatization, Click Here.

Retirement
S. 206, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2007, introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein.  This legislation would repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions that affect social security retirement income. 

H.R. 82, introduced by Congressman Howard Berman, is the House companion bill to S. 206.

H.R. 726, introduced by Congressman Barney Frank.  This legislation would restrict the application of the windfall elimination provision to individuals whose combined monthly income from benefits under such title and other monthly periodic payments exceeds a minimum COLA-adjusted amount of $2,500 and to provide for a graduated implementation of such provision on amounts above such minimum amount.

S.47, introduced by Senator John Ensign. This legislation would establish a Law Enforcement Assistance Force in the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the contributions of retired law enforcement officers during major disasters.  Cosponsors

SCAAP
H.R.842, introduced by Congressman Charles Norwood.  This legislation would  provide for enhanced Federal, State, and local assistance in the enforcement of the immigration laws, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act and to authorize appropriations to carry out the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, and for other purposes.