PAX Centurion - January / February 2014

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • January/February 2014 • Page 25 NAPO Works to Increase Support for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act A s noted above, individuals with mental illnesses are significantly over represented in the prison and jail population. State and lo- cal governments are increasingly finding the need for greater collabo- ration between criminal justice, juvenile justice, and mental health and substance abuse treatment systems to better allocate resources across systems, increase connections to needed services, and reduce recidivism. The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime ReductionAct (MIOTCRA) created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) to help states and counties design and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health sys- tems. The Justice and Mental Health CollaborationAct (JMHCA) of 2013 reauthorizes the successful MIOTCRA and extends the JMHCP for five years. NAPO is a strong supporter of the JMHCP, which helps criminal justice and mental health agencies work collaboratively towards bet- ter outcomes. The JMHCP can help law enforcement agencies across the United States in their responsibilities in assisting those, and deal- ing with citizens with mental health issues. This past week, NAPO sent letters to key Republican members of the House of Representatives to request they co-sponsor the House version of the JMHCA, sponsored by Congressman Nugent (R-FL). The House bill is currently supported by 35 GOP co-sponsors, and we are hopeful to get the cosponsor tally to 50 to demonstrate the strong support the bill holds. If you have any questions about this legislation, please contact Melissa Nee at: mnee@napo.org . NAPO Participates in National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund Meeting N APO’s Executive Director participated in a National Law En- forcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) Names Com- mittee Meeting on February 4, 2014. NAPO is a founding member of the NLEOMF. NAPO’s efforts led to the successful passage of legis- lation to establish the Memorial, which is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people. NAPO has made the NLEOMF a top priority, and we will con- tinue to keep our members informed of updates on the NLEOMF. NAPO Briefing on Capitol Hill - Driver’s Privacy Protection Act O n February 7, 2014, NAPO met with a senior staffer for Con- gressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and took the opportunity to discuss our proposal to modify the recent amendment to the Driver’s Privacy ProtectionAct (DPPA). The DPPA requires state motor vehicle departments to receive per- mission from individuals before their personal motor vehicle record may be sold or released. The DPPA amendment authorizes a private right of action for knowing violations, and a court may award dam- ages in the amount of $2,500 for each time a record was accessed, as well as attorney fees and other litigation costs. Law enforcement officers are subject to these stringent punishments, even if they did not review files with criminal intent. NAPO briefed the staffer on our proposed language modifications to the DPPA amendment, which include adding a clause that explains that penalties will be applied only if persons access information with the specific intent to secure an economic benefit. Also, NAPO pro- poses removing the $2,500 penalty for a violation of this act, as well as adding a statement that explains there must be repeated disregard of this law for action to be taken. If the language is not modified, law enforcement officers will be subject to large fines, and even the loss of their licenses for de minimus actions. NAPO will continue to aggressively lobby members of Congress to gain support for our proposed language changes to the DPPA amendment. We will keep our members updated on the status of these initiatives. If you have examples of law enforcement departments that have been negatively impacted by the most recent DPPA amendment, please contact Melissa Nee at: mnee@napo.org . HSGAC Advances Postal Reform Act of 2013 O n February 6, 2014, the Senate Homeland Security and Gov- ernmental Affairs (HSGAC) advanced the Postal ReformAct of 2013 (S.1486) by a vote of 12-5. The bill includes a provision that would reduce compensation ben- efits for those considered totally disabled to 50 percent of their pre- disability pay when the individual reaches full retirement age. NAPO has fought for this language to be removed from the bill, which Senator Tester proposed to the Committee during its first mark-up session. After that amendment failed to pass, Senator Tester offered an amendment on February 6th that would make this language apply only to federal employees hired after the date of enactment of the bill. Although the amendment was rejected, Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Coburn said this issue will be readdressed during conference with the House. NAPO will continue to work this issue and provide our members with updates as the bill moves forward. Please monitor NAPO’s website www.napo.org , and Facebook page: National Association of Police Organizations, and follow us on Twitter at NAPOpolice for breaking news and updates.