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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DOJ Seal

FY2003 Budget Summary

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS - PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS BENEFITS
(Dollars in thousands)

Perm. Pos.FTEAmount
2001 Actuals
...
...
$26,492
2002 Enacted
...
...
37,724
    Adjustments to mandatory estimates 1/
...
...
124,559
2002 Appropriation
...
...
162,283
Adjustments-to-base:
    Increases (see p.128)
...
...
1,659
    Decreases (see p.128)
...
...
-110388
2003 Current Services
...
...
53,554
    Program Improvements
...
...
-500
2003 Request
...
...
53,054

1/ Passage of the USA Patriot Act, P.L. 107-56, on October 26, 2001, increased the base benefit amount from $100,000 to $250,000 for both the Death and Disability programs.  This increase was retroactive to January 1, 2001.  In addition, benefits paid under the Disability program due to the events of September 11, 2001, became mandatory, thus, additional funding is available without appropriations action to provide resources for these benefits.  

Comparison by activity and program2002 Appropriation2003 Current Services2003 RequestProgram Changes
Perm
Pos.		FTEAmountPerm
Pos.		FTEAmountPerm
Pos.		FTEAmountPerm
Pos.		FTEAmount
1. Public Safety Officers Death Benefits Program
...
...
$151,533
...
...
$49,054
...
...
$49,054
...
...
...
2. Disability Benefits Program  2/
...
...
   10,750
...
...
   4,500
...
...
   4,000
...
...
($500)
Total
...
...
162,283
...
...
53,554
...
...
53,054
...
...
($500)

2/ This program is classified by the Administration as a discretionary account.

Program Description
The PSOB Program's mission is to provide financial and emotional assistance to the eligible survivors of federal, state, and local public safety officers who have died as the result of traumatic injury or who are permanently and totally disabled as the direct result of a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty, and to provide educational assistance to the spouse and children of slain or totally disabled public safety officers.

Program Improvements		Perm
Pos.		FTEAmount
Disability Benefits Program
...
...
($500)
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has requested a lower level of funding for Discretionary Disability Benefits because funding in recent years has slightly exceeded the payments made to disability claimants.  Based on the number of eligible claims closed in recent years and including the increased benefit amount to claimants, BJA expects that this lower funding level will be sufficient to fund fully all approved disability claims in 2003.

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