Josh Harder (D-CA)
Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The ``Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act'' seeks to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. This amendment establishes a new grant program to assist law enforcement agencies. The program provides funds to help agencies hire retired law enforcement personnel for specific civilian tasks. These tasks include investigations, crime scene analysis, and providing technical expertise. The bill also includes requirements for checking disciplinary records and mandates audits to prevent the misuse of funds.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +5
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill provides a pathway for retired law enforcement officers to continue working in civilian capacities.
- Scored +5
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill offers retired law enforcement officers a way to stay active in the workforce through civilian tasks.
- Scored +3
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill creates opportunities for retired law enforcement officers to find continued employment in civilian roles.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Law Enforcement Investigations: The bill allows retired personnel to assist with tasks such as homicide, carjacking, and financial crime investigations, as well as crime scene and forensics analysis (Section 3061).
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Technical Expertise Integration: Agencies can utilize personnel with expertise in computers, computer networks, information technology, or the internet (Section 3061).
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Training Opportunities: Grants can be used to train civilian employees of a law enforcement agency on specific civilian law enforcement tasks (Section 3062).
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Accountability and Oversight: The bill requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to conduct audits to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds (Section 3063).
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Screening of Personnel: The bill requires agencies to make a good faith effort to check for disciplinary or internal investigation records of retired officers before hiring (Section 3062).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restriction on Authority: Retired personnel hired under this program are prohibited from having the ability to make arrests or use force under the color of law (Section 3061).
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Risk of Funding Loss: If a recipient has an unresolved audit finding regarding unauthorized expenditures, they are ineligible to receive grant funds for the following two fiscal years (Section 3063).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill offers retired law enforcement officers a way to stay active in the workforce through civilian tasks. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides a pathway for retired law enforcement officers to continue working in civilian capacities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill creates opportunities for retired law enforcement officers to find continued employment in civilian roles. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill includes mandatory audits to prevent the waste, fraud, and abuse of grant funds.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual certifications and reports to Congress regarding grant awards and exclusions. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal grant oversight and the Attorney General's role in awarding funds to local agencies.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill mandates checking disciplinary records and requires audits to ensure fiscal integrity in law enforcement hiring.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill supports hiring personnel with expertise in computer networks and information technology for law enforcement tasks.
- 5/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/9/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Zoe LofgrenDemocrat · California
Zachary NunnRepublican · Iowa
Eric SwalwellDemocrat · California
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico