Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act of 2026

Timely Communication of Missing Information: The Bureau must notify claimants or agencies of any missing information within 90 calendar days of receiving a claim (Section 2(a)(2)). This ensures claimants aren't left in the dark about what is needed to process their request.

Faster Final Determinations: The Bureau is required to inform claimants of a final, appealable determination no later than 270 calendar days after receiving all required information (Section 2(a)(2)).

Financial Relief through Interim Benefits: If the Bureau fails to provide a determination within the 270-day window, it must issue a single interim benefit payment to eligible beneficiaries or an escrow/fiduciary account (Section 2(a)(2)). This provides financial support while the final determination is pending.

Protection of Benefits: Interim benefits cannot be subject to recoupment or affirmative repayment by the Bureau, unless there is fraud or material misrepresentation (Section 2(a)(2)).

Increased Program Awareness: The Bureau is required to conduct ongoing outreach to ensure public safety officers, underserved agencies, and disabled officers are aware of the program (Section 2(a)(2)).

Improved Information Gathering: The Bureau can issue a subpoena to a public agency if that agency fails to provide necessary documentation within 30 days of a request (Section 2(b)). This helps prevent delays caused by unresponsive agencies.

Expedited Approvals for Specific Cases: The Bureau must approve claims if the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund or the World Trade Center Health Program provides a certification of facts regarding eligibility or cause of death, absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary (Section 3).

Risk of Repayment in Specific Cases: While interim benefits are generally protected, the law notes they shall not be construed to create an entitlement to benefits if the claimant or decedent is ultimately determined to be ineligible (Section 2(a)(2)).

Potential for Single Payments Only: The rule regarding interim benefits does not require the Bureau to pay multiple claimants if the statute only allows for one or more specific beneficiaries (Section 2(a)(2)).