Bill · S. 1563· Senate(119-S-1563)
Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act
- Introduced
- 5/1/2025
- Last activity
- 5/20/2025 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 83.
- Sponsored by
- Amy Klobuchar
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 1
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act creates a grant program for State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies. These grants allow agencies to hire retired law enforcement personnel to perform or train others on civilian law enforcement tasks. These tasks include things like forensics, crime scene analysis, and homicide investigations. The bill explicitly states that these roles do not include the power to make arrests or use force. It also establishes audit and disciplinary record requirements to ensure accountability.
Yes· 3 of 12
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+5
Creates specific employment opportunities for retired law enforcement officers.
Would retired people be better off under this?+5
Directly benefits retired law enforcement officers by providing a path to continued service and income.
Is this likely to create jobs?+3
The bill provides grants specifically to hire retired law enforcement personnel for civilian tasks.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-1
The bill establishes a new grant program, which increases government expenditure.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Enhanced Investigative Support: The bill allows for retired experts to assist in homicide, carjacking, and financial crimes investigations, as well as provide IT and forensics expertise (Section 3061). This could lead to better solving of crimes.
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Officer Accountability: Agencies must make a good faith effort to check the disciplinary and internal investigation records of retired officers via the National Decertification Index or personnel records before hiring them (Section 3062(b)).
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Prevention of Waste: The Inspector General of the Department of Justice will conduct audits to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of grant funds (Section 3063(b)).
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Fiscal Responsibility: The Attorney General must check for duplicative grants to ensure funds are not being awarded multiple times for the same purpose (Section 3063(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Limited Oversight on Hiring: The bill requires a "good faith effort" to determine disciplinary records rather than a mandatory, strict requirement for all candidates (Section 3062(b)).
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Grant Exclusion: Law enforcement agencies that have an "unresolved audit finding" will be blocked from receiving funds for two fiscal years, which could leave some communities without these extra resources (Section 3063(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Retirees+5Good For Seniors+5Good For Native Americans+1Good For Rural Residents+1Good For Urban Residents+1
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Improves Fiscal Responsibility+2Reduces Government Spending-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2Increases Federal Power+1
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Policing Reform+2
- 12/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/20/2025
- Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 83.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/15/2025
- Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 5/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/1/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia