Public safety officer education assistance program

Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Public safety officer education assistance program

3061.

Purpose

The purpose of this part is to improve recruitment and retention of public safety officers employed by State, local, tribal, and regional law enforcement agencies by providing assistance for the pursuit of a program of higher education.

3062.

Definitions

In this part:(1)

Child

The term child means a natural, illegitimate, or adopted child or stepchild of an eligible public safety officer. (2)

Educational institution; program of education

The terms educational institution and program of education have the meanings given the terms in section 1217.(3)

Eligible public safety officer

The term eligible public safety officer means a public safety officer that—(A)has served as a public safety officer for not less than 8 years for a single employer prior to the date of submission of an application under section 3064; and(B)commits to serving as a public safety officer with the employer described in subparagraph (A) during the 4-year period following the date of submission of an application under section 3064.(4)

Public safety officer

The term public safety officer has the meaning given the term in section 1204.

3063.

Basic eligibility

(a)

Benefits

(1)

In general

The Attorney General shall provide financial assistance to a person who attends a program of education and is—(A)an eligible public safety officer; or(B)a child of an eligible public safety officer to whom an eligible public safety officer transfers eligibility for financial assistance in accordance with paragraph (4)(A).(2)

Form and amount

Except as provided in paragraph (3), financial assistance under this part shall—(A)consist of direct payments to a person described in paragraph (1); and(B)be computed on the basis set forth in section 3532 of title 38, United States Code.(3)

Reduction

The financial assistance referred to in paragraph (2) shall be reduced by the amount, if any, determined under section 3065(b).(4)

Transfer of assistance

(A)

In general

An eligible public safety officer may elect to transfer eligibility for part or all of the financial assistance for which the eligible public safety officer is eligible under this part to an individual described in paragraph (1)(B).(B)

Approval

An eligible public safety officer shall approve the receipt of financial assistance under this part by a person who is not the eligible public safety officer.(b)

Duration of benefits

The Attorney General may not provide financial assistance under this part to a person for a period in excess of 45 months of full-time education or training or a proportional period of time for a part-time program.(c)

Age limitation for children

The Attorney General may not provide financial assistance under this part to a child of an eligible public safety officer after the date of the 27th birthday of the child.

3064.

Applications; approval

(a)

Application

A person seeking assistance under this part shall submit to the Attorney General an application in such form and containing such information as the Attorney General reasonably may require.(b)

Approval

The Attorney General shall approve an application for assistance under this part unless the Attorney General finds that—(1)the person is not eligible for, is no longer eligible for, or is not entitled to the assistance for which application is made;(2)the person's selected educational institution fails to meet a requirement established in a regulation implementing this part for eligibility;(3)the person's enrollment in or pursuit of the educational program selected would fail to meet the criteria in a regulation implementing this part for programs; or(4)the person already is qualified by previous education or training for the educational, professional, or vocational objective for which the educational program is offered.(c)

Notification

The Attorney General shall notify a person applying for assistance under this part of approval or disapproval of the application in writing.

3065.

Regulations

(a)

In general

The Attorney General may promulgate reasonable and necessary regulations to implement this part.(b)

Sliding scale

Notwithstanding section 3064(b), the Attorney General shall issue regulations regarding the use of a sliding scale based on financial need to ensure that a person eligible to receive financial assistance under this part who is in financial need receives priority in receiving funds under this part.

3066.

Discontinuation for unsatisfactory conduct or progress

The Attorney General may discontinue assistance under this part to a person if the Attorney General finds that, according to the regularly prescribed standards and practices of an educational institution attended by the person, the person fails to maintain satisfactory progress as described in section 484(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(c)).

3067.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part such sums as may be necessary.