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United States Code (Last Updated: May 24, 2014) |
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Title 42. THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE |
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Chapter 46. JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT |
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SubChapter XII. PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS’ DEATH BENEFITS |
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Part A. Death Benefits |
§ 3796. Payment of death benefits
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(a) Amount; recipients In any case in which the Bureau of Justice Assistance (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Bureau”) determines, under regulations issued pursuant to this subchapter, that a public safety officer has died as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty, the Bureau shall pay a benefit of $250,000, adjusted in accordance with subsection (h) of this section, as follows (if the payee indicated is living on the date on which the determination is made)— (1) if there is no child who survived the public safety officer, to the surviving spouse of the public safety officer; (2) if there is at least 1 child who survived the public safety officer and a surviving spouse of the public safety officer, 50 percent to the surviving child (or children, in equal shares) and 50 percent to the surviving spouse; (3) if there is no surviving spouse of the public safety officer, to the surviving child (or children, in equal shares); (4) if there is no surviving spouse of the public safety officer and no surviving child— (A) to the surviving individual (or individuals, in shares per the designation, or, otherwise, in equal shares) designated by the public safety officer to receive benefits under this subsection in the most recently executed designation of beneficiary of the public safety officer on file at the time of death with the public safety agency, organization, or unit; or (B) if there is no individual qualifying under subparagraph (A), to the surviving individual (or individuals, in equal shares) designated by the public safety officer to receive benefits under the most recently executed life insurance policy of the public safety officer on file at the time of death with the public safety agency, organization, or unit; (5) if there is no individual qualifying under paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4), to the surviving parent (or parents, in equal shares) of the public safety officer; or (6) if there is no individual qualifying under paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), to the surviving individual (or individuals, in equal shares) who would qualify under the definition of the term “child” under section 3796b of this title but for age. (b) Benefits for permanent and total disability In accordance with regulations issued pursuant to this subchapter, in any case in which the Bureau determines that a public safety officer has become permanently and totally disabled as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty, the Bureau shall pay the same benefit to the public safety officer (if living on the date on which the determination is made) that is payable under subsection (a) of this section with respect to the date on which the catastrophic injury occurred, as adjusted in accordance with subsection (h) of this section: Provided, That for the purposes of making these benefit payments, there are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary: Provided further, That the amount payable under this subsection shall be the amount payable as of the date of catastrophic injury of such public safety officer.
(c) Interim benefit payment Whenever the Bureau determines upon showing of need and prior to final action that the death of a public safety officer is one with respect to which a benefit will probably be paid, the Bureau may make an interim benefit payment not exceeding $3,000 to the individual entitled to receive a benefit under subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Deduction of interim payment The amount of an interim payment under subsection (c) of this section shall be deducted from the amount of any final benefit paid to such individual.
(e) Repayment of interim payment; waiver Where there is no final benefit paid, the recipient of any interim payment under subsection (c) of this section shall be liable for repayment of such amount. The Bureau may waive all or part of such repayment, considering for this purpose the hardship which would result from such repayment.
(f) Reductions from final benefit payment The benefit payable under this subchapter shall be in addition to any other benefit that may be due from any other source, except— (1) payments authorized by section 12(k) of the Act of September 1, 1916; (2) benefits authorized by section 8191 of title 5, such that beneficiaries shall receive only such benefits under such section 8191 as are in excess of the benefits received under this subchapter; or (3) payments under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note; Public Law 107–42). (g) Execution or attachment prohibited No benefit paid under this subchapter shall be subject to execution or attachment.
(h) Consumer Price Index adjustment On October 1 of each fiscal year beginning after
June 1, 1988 , the Bureau shall adjust the level of the benefit payable immediately before such October 1 under subsection (a) of this section, to reflect the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occurring in the 1-year period ending on June 1 immediately preceding such October 1.(i) Amount payable determined as of date of death The amount payable under subsection (a) of this section with respect to the death of a public safety officer shall be the amount payable under subsection (a) of this section as of the date of death of such officer.
(j) Limitations on benefits (1) No benefit is payable under this subchapter with respect to the death of a public safety officer if a benefit is paid under this subchapter with respect to the disability of such officer. (2) No benefit is payable under this subchapter with respect to the disability of a public safety officer if a benefit is payable under this subchapter with respect to the death of such public safety officer. (k) Death by heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture; presumption As determined by the Bureau, a heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture suffered by a public safety officer shall be presumed to constitute a personal injury within the meaning of subsection (a), sustained in the line of duty by the officer and directly and proximately resulting in death, if— (1) the public safety officer, while on duty— (A) engages in a situation involving nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical law enforcement, fire suppression, rescue, hazardous material response, emergency medical services, prison security, disaster relief, or other emergency response activity; or (B) participates in a training exercise involving nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activity; (2) the heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture commences— (A) while the officer is engaged or participating as described in paragraph (1); (B) while the officer remains on that duty after being engaged or participating as described in paragraph (1); or (C) not later than 24 hours after the officer is engaged or participating as described in paragraph (1); and (3) the heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture directly and proximately results in the death of the public safety officer, unless competent medical evidence establishes that the heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture was unrelated to the engagement or participation or was directly and proximately caused by something other than the mere presence of cardiovascular-disease risk factors. (l) Definition For purposes of subsection (k) of this section, “nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical” excludes actions of a clerical, administrative, or nonmanual nature.
(m) Suspension or end of collection action The Bureau may suspend or end collection action on an amount disbursed pursuant to a statute enacted retroactively or otherwise disbursed in error under subsection (a) or (c) of this section, where such collection would be impractical, or would cause undue hardship to a debtor who acted in good faith.
(n) Confidentiality The public safety agency, organization, or unit responsible for maintaining on file an executed designation of beneficiary or executed life insurance policy for purposes of subsection (a)(4) shall maintain the confidentiality of the designation or policy in the same manner as the agency, organization, or unit maintains personnel or other similar records of the public safety officer.
References In Text
Section 12 of the Act of September 1, 1916, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is section 12 of act Sept. 1, 1916, ch. 433, 39 Stat. 718, which is not classified to the Code.
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, referred to in subsec. (f)(3), is title IV of Pub. L. 107–42,
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3796, Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 1201, as added Pub. L. 96–157, § 2,
Another prior section 3796, Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 701, as added Pub. L. 94–430, § 2,
A prior section 1201 of Pub. L. 90–351, title VII,
Amendments
2013—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1086(b)(1)(B)(i), substituted “follows (if the payee indicated is living on the date on which the determination is made)—” for “follows:” in introductory provisions, added pars. (1) to (6), and struck out former pars. (1) to (6) which listed a succession of beneficiaries.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1086(b)(1)(B)(ii), substituted “direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty, the Bureau shall pay the same benefit to the public safety officer (if living on the date on which the determination is made) that is payable under subsection (a) of this section with respect to the date on which the catastrophic injury occurred, as adjusted in accordance with subsection (h) of this section:” for “direct result of a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty, the Bureau shall pay, to the extent that appropriations are provided, the same benefit in any year that is payable under subsection (a) of this section in such year, adjusted in accordance with subsection (h) of this section, to such officer:”, “That for the purposes” for “That the total annual benefits paid under this subsection may not exceed $5,000,000. For the purposes”, and “That the amount payable under this subsection shall be the amount payable as of the date of catastrophic injury of such public safety officer.” for “That these benefit payments are subject to the availability of appropriations and that each beneficiary’s payment shall be reduced by a proportionate share to the extent that sufficient funds are not appropriated.”
Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1086(b)(1)(B)(iii)(I), substituted semicolon at end for “, as amended (D.C. Code, sec. 4–622); or”.
Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1086(b)(1)(B)(iii)(II), substituted “, such that beneficiaries shall receive only such benefits under such section 8191 as are in excess of the benefits received under this subchapter; or” for “. Such beneficiaries shall only receive benefits under such section 8191 that are in excess of the benefits received under this subchapter.”
Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1086(b)(1)(B)(iii)(III), added par. (3).
Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1086(b)(1)(B)(iv), amended subsec. (k) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (k) related to presumption with respect to death by heart attack or stroke.
Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1086(b)(1)(B)(v), added subsec. (n).
2006—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 109–162, § 1164(d), amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “if there is no surviving spouse or surviving child, to the individual designated by such officer as beneficiary under such officer’s most recently executed life insurance policy, provided that such individual survived such officer; or”.
Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 109–162, § 1164(e), which directed amendment of section 1201(1)(a) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796(a)) by adding par. (6) at end, was executed by adding par. (6) at end of subsec. (a) of this section to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 109–162, § 1164(c), added subsec. (m).
2003—Subsecs. (k), (l). Pub. L. 108–182 added subsecs. (k) and (l).
2002—Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 107–196 added par. (4) and redesignated former par. (4) as (5).
2001—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–56 substituted “$250,000” for “$100,000” in introductory provisions.
1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330001(e)(1)(A), substituted “subsection (h) of this section,” for “subsection (g) of this section” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330001(e)(1)(B), substituted “catastrophic injury” for “catastrophic personal injury”, “subsection (h)” for “subsection (g)”, and “benefits paid under this subsection” for “benefits paid under this section”.
1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–520 substituted “the same benefit in any year that is payable under subsection (a) of this section in such year,” for “a benefit of up to $100,000,”.
1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1301(a)(3), added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1301(a)(2), redesignated subsec. (b) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).
Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1301(a)(1), (2), redesignated subsecs. (c) and (d) as (d) and (e), respectively, and substituted “(c)” for “(b)”. Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).
Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1301(a)(2), redesignated former subsecs. (e) to (h) as (f) to (i), respectively.
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1301(a)(4), added subsec. (j).
1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6105(a), substituted “$100,000, adjusted in accordance with subsection (g) of this section” for “$50,000”.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6105(c), struck out “dependent” before “parent”.
Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6105(b), added subsecs. (g) and (h).
Effective Date Of Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 112–239 effective
Pub. L. 107–196, § 2(c),
Pub. L. 107–56, title VI, § 613(b),
Section 2 of Pub. L. 102–520 provided that:
Section 1303 of title XIII of Pub. L. 101–647 provided that:
Section 6105(e) of Pub. L. 100–690 provided that:
Effective Date
Subchapter effective