-CITE-

42 USC CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR

AND TRIBUTES 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-HEAD-

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-MISC1-

Sec.

15201. Authorization of medal.

15202. Medal of Valor Board.

(a) Establishment of Board.

(b) Membership.

(c) Duties.

(d) Hearings.

(e) Information from Federal agencies.

(f) Information to be kept confidential.

15203. Board personnel matters.

(a) Compensation of members.

(b) Travel expenses.

15204. Definitions.

15205. Authorization of appropriations.

15206. National Medal of Valor Office.

15207. Consultation requirement.

15208. Law enforcement tribute acts.

(a) Short title.

(b) Findings.

(c) Program authorized.

(d) Uses of funds.

(e) $150,000 limitation.

(f) Matching funds.

(g) Applications.

(h) Annual report to Congress.

(i) Authorization of appropriations.

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42 USC Sec. 15201 01/06/03

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TITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-HEAD-

Sec. 15201. Authorization of Medal

-STATUTE-

After September 1, 2001, the President may award, and present in

the name of Congress, a Medal of Valor of appropriate design, with

ribbons and appurtenances, to a public safety officer who is cited

by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal of

Valor Review Board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the

call of duty. The Public Safety Medal of Valor shall be the highest

national award for valor by a public safety officer.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 107-12, Sec. 2, May 30, 2001, 115 Stat. 20.)

-MISC1-

SHORT TITLE

Pub. L. 107-12, Sec. 1, May 30, 2001, 115 Stat. 20, provided

that: "This Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 2214 of

Title 15, Commerce and Trade] may be cited as the 'Public Safety

Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001'."

-End-

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42 USC Sec. 15202 01/06/03

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TITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-HEAD-

Sec. 15202. Medal of Valor Board

-STATUTE-

(a) Establishment of Board

There is established a Medal of Valor Review Board (hereinafter

in this chapter referred to as the "Board"), which shall be

composed of 11 members appointed in accordance with subsection (b)

of this section and shall conduct its business in accordance with

this chapter.

(b) Membership

(1) Members

The members of the Board shall be individuals with knowledge or

expertise, whether by experience or training, in the field of

public safety, of which -

(A) two shall be appointed by the majority leader of the

Senate;

(B) two shall be appointed by the minority leader of the

Senate;

(C) two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of

Representatives;

(D) two shall be appointed by the minority leader of the

House of Representatives; and

(E) three shall be appointed by the President, including one

with experience in firefighting, one with experience in law

enforcement, and one with experience in emergency services.

(2) Term

The term of a Board member shall be 4 years.

(3) Vacancies

Any vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not affect the

powers of the Board and shall be filled in the same manner as the

original appointment.

(4) Operation of the Board

(A) Chairman

The Chairman of the Board shall be elected by the members of

the Board from among the members of the Board.

(B) Meetings

The Board shall conduct its first meeting not later than 90

days after the appointment of the last member appointed of the

initial group of members appointed to the Board. Thereafter,

the Board shall meet at the call of the Chairman of the Board.

The Board shall meet not less often than twice each year.

(C) Voting and rules

A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to

conduct business, but the Board may establish a lesser quorum

for conducting hearings scheduled by the Board. The Board may

establish by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of

the Board's business, if such rules are not inconsistent with

this chapter or other applicable law.

(c) Duties

The Board shall select candidates as recipients of the Medal of

Valor from among those applications received by the National Medal

of Valor Office. Not more often than once each year, the Board

shall present to the Attorney General the name or names of those it

recommends as Medal of Valor recipients. In a given year, the Board

shall not be required to select any recipients but may not select

more than 5 recipients. The Attorney General may in extraordinary

cases increase the number of recipients in a given year. The Board

shall set an annual timetable for fulfilling its duties under this

chapter.

(d) Hearings

(1) In general

The Board may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and

places, administer such oaths, take such testimony, and receive

such evidence as the Board considers advisable to carry out its

duties.

(2) Witness expenses

Witnesses requested to appear before the Board may be paid the

same fees as are paid to witnesses under section 1821 of title

28. The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be

paid from funds appropriated to the Board.

(e) Information from Federal agencies

The Board may secure directly from any Federal department or

agency such information as the Board considers necessary to carry

out its duties. Upon the request of the Board, the head of such

department or agency may furnish such information to the Board.

(f) Information to be kept confidential

The Board shall not disclose any information which may compromise

an ongoing law enforcement investigation or is otherwise required

by law to be kept confidential.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 107-12, Sec. 3, May 30, 2001, 115 Stat. 20.)

-REFTEXT-

REFERENCES IN TEXT

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a), (b)(4)(C), and (c),

was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 107-12, May. 30,

2001, 115 Stat. 20, which enacted this chapter and amended section

2214 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification

of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section

15201 of this title and Tables.

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42 USC Sec. 15203 01/06/03

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TITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-HEAD-

Sec. 15203. Board personnel matters

-STATUTE-

(a) Compensation of members

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), each member of the Board

shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the

annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive

Schedule under section 5315 of title 5 for each day (including

travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance

of the duties of the Board.

(2) All members of the Board who serve as officers or employees

of the United States, a State, or a local government, shall serve

without compensation in addition to that received for those

services.

(b) Travel expenses

The members of the Board 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,

while away from their homes or regular places of business in the

performance of service for the Board.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 107-12, Sec. 4, May 30, 2001, 115 Stat. 21.)

-End-

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42 USC Sec. 15204 01/06/03

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TITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-HEAD-

Sec. 15204. Definitions

-STATUTE-

In this chapter:

(1) Public safety officer

The term "public safety officer" means a person serving a

public agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter,

law enforcement officer, or emergency services officer, as

determined by the Attorney General. For the purposes of this

paragraph, the term "law enforcement officer" includes a person

who is a corrections or court officer or a civil defense officer.

(2) State

The term "State" means each of the several States of the United

States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto

Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 107-12, Sec. 5, May 30, 2001, 115 Stat. 22.)

-End-

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42 USC Sec. 15205 01/06/03

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TITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-HEAD-

Sec. 15205. Authorization of appropriations

-STATUTE-

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General

such sums as may be necessary to carry out this chapter.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 107-12, Sec. 6, May 30, 2001, 115 Stat. 22.)

-End-

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42 USC Sec. 15206 01/06/03

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TITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-HEAD-

Sec. 15206. National Medal of Valor Office

-STATUTE-

There is established within the Department of Justice a National

Medal of Valor Office. The Office shall provide staff support to

the Board to establish criteria and procedures for the submission

of recommendations of nominees for the Medal of Valor and for the

final design of the Medal of Valor.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 107-12, Sec. 7, May 30, 2001, 115 Stat. 22.)

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42 USC Sec. 15207 01/06/03

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TITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-HEAD-

Sec. 15207. Consultation requirement

-STATUTE-

The Board shall consult with the Institute of Heraldry within the

Department of Defense regarding the design and artistry of the

Medal of Valor. The Board may also consider suggestions received by

the Department of Justice regarding the design of the medal,

including those made by persons not employed by the Department.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 107-12, Sec. 9, May 30, 2001, 115 Stat. 22.)

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42 USC Sec. 15208 01/06/03

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TITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 145 - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR AND TRIBUTES

-HEAD-

Sec. 15208. Law enforcement tribute acts

-STATUTE-

(a) Short title

This section may be cited as the "Law Enforcement Tribute Act".

(b) Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1) The well-being of all citizens of the United States is

preserved and enhanced as a direct result of the vigilance and

dedication of law enforcement and public safety personnel.

(2) More than 700,000 law enforcement officers, both men and

women, at great risk to their personal safety, serve their fellow

citizens as guardians of peace.

(3) Nationwide, 51 law enforcement officers were killed in the

line of duty in 2000, according to statistics released by the

Federal Bureau of Investigation. This number is an increase of 9

from the 1999 total of 42.

(4) In 1999, 112 firefighters died while on duty, an increase

of 21 deaths from the previous year.

(5) Every year, 1 in 9 peace officers is assaulted, 1 in 25 is

injured, and 1 in 4,400 is killed in the line of duty.

(6) In addition, recent statistics indicate that 83 officers

were accidentally killed in the performance of their duties in

2000, an increase of 18 from the 65 accidental deaths in 1999.

(7) A permanent tribute is a powerful means of honoring the men

and women who have served our Nation with distinction. However,

many law enforcement and public safety agencies lack the

resources to honor their fallen colleagues.

(c) Program authorized

From amounts made available to carry out this section, the

Attorney General may make grants to States, units of local

government, and Indian tribes to carry out programs to honor,

through permanent tributes, men and women of the United States who

were killed or disabled while serving as law enforcement or public

safety officers.

(d) Uses of funds

Grants awarded under this section shall be distributed directly

to the State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe, and shall

be used for the purposes specified in subsection (c) of this

section.

(e) $150,000 limitation

A grant under this section may not exceed $150,000 to any single

recipient.

(f) Matching funds

(1) The Federal portion of the costs of a program provided by a

grant under this section may not exceed 50 percent.

(2) Any funds appropriated by Congress for the activities of any

agency of an Indian tribal government or the Bureau of Indian

Affairs performing law enforcement or public safety functions on

any Indian lands may be used to provide the non-Federal share of a

matching requirement funded under this subsection.

(g) Applications

To request a grant under this section, the chief executive of a

State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe shall submit an

application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner,

and accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may

require.

(h) Annual report to Congress

Not later than November 30 of each year, the Attorney General

shall submit a report to the Congress regarding the activities

carried out under this section. Each such report shall include, for

the preceding fiscal year, the number of grants funded under this

section, the amount of funds provided under those grants, and the

activities for which those funds were used.

(i) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section

$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 107-273, div. C, title I, Sec. 11001, Nov. 2, 2002, 116

Stat. 1815.)

-COD-

CODIFICATION

Section was enacted as the Law Enforcement Tribute Act, and also

as part of the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations

Authorization Act, and not as part of the Public Safety Officer

Medal of Valor Act of 2001 which comprises this chapter.

-End-