[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2483 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2483

 To establish a Law Enforcement Assistance Force in the Department of 
   Homeland Security to facilitate the contributions of retired law 
              enforcement officers during major disasters.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 30, 2006

 Mr. Ensign (for himself, Mr. Vitter, and Mr. Isakson) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
               Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a Law Enforcement Assistance Force in the Department of 
   Homeland Security to facilitate the contributions of retired law 
              enforcement officers during major disasters.

    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 ``Law Enforcement Assistance Force Act 
of 2005'' or the ``LEAF Act''.

SEC. 2. LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE FORCE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Homeland Security (referred to 
in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a Law Enforcement 
Assistance Force to facilitate the contributions of retired law 
enforcement officers and agents during major disasters.
    (b) Eligible Participants.--An individual may participate in the 
Law Enforcement Assistance Force if the individual--
            (1) has experience working as an officer or agent for a 
        public law enforcement agency and left the agency in good 
        standing;
            (2) holds current certifications for firearms, first aid, 
        and such other skills determined necessary by the Secretary;
            (3) submits to the Secretary an application, at such time, 
        in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
        Secretary may reasonably require, that authorizes the Secretary 
        to review the law enforcement service record of the individual; 
        and
            (4) meets such other qualifications as the Secretary may 
        require.
    (c) Liability; Supervision.--Each participant in the Law 
Enforcement Assistance Force shall--
            (1) be protected from civil liability to the same extent as 
        employees of the Department of Homeland Security; and
            (2) upon acceptance of an assignment under this section--
                    (A) be detailed to a Federal, State, or local 
                government law enforcement agency;
                    (B) work under the direct supervision of an officer 
                or agent of such agency; and
                    (C) notwithstanding any State or local law 
                requiring specific qualifications for law enforcement 
                officers, be deputized to perform the duties of a law 
                enforcement officer.
    (d) Mobilization.--
            (1) In general.--In the event of a major disaster (as 
        defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
        Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)) the 
        Secretary, after consultation with appropriate Federal, State, 
        and local government law enforcement agencies, may request 
        eligible participants to volunteer to assist the efforts of 
        those agencies responding to such emergency and assign each 
        willing participant to a specific law enforcement agency.
            (2) Acceptance.--If the eligible participant accepts an 
        assignment under this subsection, the participant shall agree 
        to remain in such assignment for a period equal to not less 
        than the shorter of--
                    (A) the period during which the law enforcement 
                agency needs the services of such participant; or
                    (B) 30 days.
            (3) Refusal.--An eligible participant may refuse an 
        assignment under this subsection without any adverse 
        consequences.
    (e) Expenses.--
            (1) In general.--Each participant shall be allowed travel 
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
        authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
        chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while carrying out 
        an assignment under subsection (d).
            (2) Source of funds.--Expenses incurred under paragraph (1) 
        shall be paid from amounts appropriated to the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency.
    (f) Termination of Assistance.--The availability of participants of 
the Law Enforcement Assistance Force shall continue for a period equal 
to the shorter of--
            (1) the period of the major disaster (as defined in section 
        102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)); or
            (2) 1 year.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this Act.
                                 <all>