Register today for NAPO’s 2023 Legal Seminar Oct. 22-24, 2023 at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe for Public Safety Officers, Unions, Associations, and the attorneys and law firms who represent them. Earn up to 14.5 hours of CLE credits, including two hours of ethics; The deadline for 9/11 responders to apply for PSOB Benefits under The Protecting America’s First Responders Act (PAFRA) is Nov. 17, 2023. PAFRA established a two-year window from enactment (Nov. 18, 2021) for 9/11 responders to file a disability claim under the Act for an injury sustained in the line of duty as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, assuming no claim had already been filed or the claim had been denied on the fact that the injury did meet the old disability requirements. It also allows families of 9/11 responders catastrophically injured because of the attacks, but who died of those injuries prior to being able to apply for benefits, to apply for death benefits; On Aug. 25, the IRS announced it is extending implementation of the Roth Catch-up requirement for governmental retirement plans from 2024 to 2026. As part of SECURE 2.0, any catch-up contributions made by individuals earning more than $145,000 in 401(k) and similar retirement plans must be made in an after-tax, or Roth, basis. Plans must also give participants earning less than $145,000 the option to make catch-up contributions in a Roth basis; NAPO has concerns with the newly approved Central Business District Tolling Program of New York City (Congestion Pricing), which is expected to go into effect in April 2024, charging commuters up to $23 just to enter New York City below 60th Street. While emergency vehicles will be exempt, New York City Police and Port Authority Police, who live outside of the City, will be subject to the new toll; NAPO advised House leadership of our opposition to the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act of 2023, H.R. 1525, as approved by the House Judiciary Committee in a letter sent on Aug. 23. The Judiciary Committee approved the FAIR Act unanimously despite the stated concerns of the law enforcement community; The Senate returns from August Recess Sept. 5 and the House returns Sept. 12 with a lot of work on their plate with the most pressing being funding the federal government which runs out of money on Sept. 30. Congress also must pass the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal 2024. NAPO has several important provisions that were included in the House and Senate NDAA that we are working to ensure remain in the final legislation: funding for the 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, and protecting state and local law enforcements’ access to surplus military equipment through the Department of Defense’s 1033 Program; NAPO’s updated “Sponsor/Cosponsor” spreadsheet and the latest “Legislative Positions” document are available on the NAPO website.

Click here for the complete Aug. 30, 2023 Washington Report for complete details on these and other legislative issues.