# Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary

## What This Bill Does

This bill expands the federal Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits Program to include retired law enforcement officers. Previously, this program primarily covered active-duty officers. The new law allows retired officers who are killed or permanently disabled due to a targeted attack related to their former law enforcement service to receive death benefits.

## Who Benefits

The main beneficiaries are:
- **Retired law enforcement officers** who separated from service in good standing (with or without receiving a pension)
- **Their families**, who would receive death benefits if the officer is killed
- Officers who become permanently and totally disabled as a result of a targeted attack because of their law enforcement background

## Key Provisions

- **Eligibility requirement**: The death or disability must be a direct result of a "targeted attack" specifically because of the person's service as a law enforcement officer
- **Retroactive coverage**: The law applies to attacks that occurred on or after January 1, 2012, meaning retired officers harmed in the past 13 years may be eligible
- **Immediate effect**: The changes take effect upon the bill's enactment and apply to any pending or future claims

This legislation recognizes that retired law enforcement officers remain at risk due to their former service and extends federal protections to them and their families.