    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-157
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To extend public safety officer death benefits to public safety officers
    whose death is caused by COVID-19, and for other purposes. <>

    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 ``Safeguarding America's First
    Responders Act of 2020''.
    SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS; PURPOSE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
    (1) an infectious disease pandemic known as COVID-19 exists;
    (2) to date, there is much still unknown about COVID-19, but
    it is known that COVID-19 and related complications may be
    fatal;
    (3) services provided by public safety officers are
    nonetheless essential during this pandemic;
    (4) due to the COVID-19 pandemic and what is currently known
    about how the disease is spread, public safety officers are
    uncharacteristically at risk of contracting the disease; and
    (5) although the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program
    currently covers deaths and permanent and total disabilities
    resulting from infectious disease sustained by public safety
    officers in carrying out their duties, the determination of
    claims involving personal injuries believed to have resulted
    from COVID-19 or its complications may be uniquely challenging
    or delayed given the lack of--
    (A) definitive testing and medical records at this
    time; and
    (B) a definitive uniform body of medical information
    about how the disease is spread or its effects.

    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a carefully
    drawn framework wherein claims under the Public Safety Officers'
    Benefits program, arising under the unique circumstances described in
    subsection (a), can be processed expeditiously and under fair and clear
    standards.
    SEC. 3. <>  PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER BENEFITS.

    (a) <>  Death Benefits.--As determined by the
    Bureau of Justice Assistance, unless competent medical evidence
    establishes that the death of a public safety officer (as defined in
    section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets
    Act of 1968

    [[Page 705]]

    (34 U.S.C. 10284)) was directly and proximately caused by something
    other than COVID-19, COVID-19 (or complications therefrom) suffered by
    the public safety officer shall be presumed to constitute a personal
    injury within the meaning of section 1201(a) of title I of the Omnibus
    Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281(a)),
    sustained in the line of duty by the officer and directly and
    proximately resulting in death, if--
    (1) the officer engaged in a line of duty action or activity
    between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021;
    (2) the officer was diagnosed with COVID-19 (or evidence
    indicates that the officer had COVID-19) during the 45-day
    period beginning on the last day of duty of the officer; and
    (3) evidence indicates that the officer had COVID-19 (or
    complications therefrom) at the time of the officer's death.

    (b) Disability Benefits.--As determined by the Bureau of Justice
    Assistance, COVID-19 (or complications therefrom) suffered by a public
    safety officer shall be presumed to constitute a personal injury within
    the meaning of section 1201(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control
    and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281(b)), sustained in the line
    of duty by the officer, if--
    (1) the officer engaged in a line of duty action or activity
    between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021; and
    (2) the officer was diagnosed with COVID-19 (or evidence
    indicates that the officer had COVID-19) during the 45-day
    period beginning on the last day of duty of the officer.

    Approved August 14, 2020.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3607:
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    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):
    May 14, considered and passed Senate.
    July 20, considered and passed House.