Legislation & Politics

AFSCME's Position – Corrections Officer Legislation

Background

Public safety officers are dedicated public employees who protect our communities from the criminal element of our society. These officers work on our nation's streets and in correctional facilities where each day presents a new challenge or danger. AFSCME has been fighting for better pay and benefits, for safe workplaces, and to uphold the standard of professionalism for the men and women in this field. Legislation to improved health and safety, fight privatization and to secure collective bargaining rights for public safety officers has been introduced in Congress and AFSCME is on the forefront of advancing this legislative agenda. AFSCME strongly supports the legislation that follows.

Summary of Legislation

Private Prison Information Act  (H.R. 1889)

Legislation was introduced in the 110th Congress that would require prisons and other correctional facilities holding federal prisoners under a contract with the federal government to make the same information available on level of staffing and pay, and on the availability of training opportunities to the public that federal prisons and correctional facilities are required to do by law. Concealment of such information makes it more difficult to fight the privatization of correctional facilities.

Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 (H.R. 980)

Legislation to establish collective bargaining rights for public safety officers has been introduced in the House. The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 was introduced in the House by Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI) and would provide collective bargaining rights for corrections officers, firefighters, police and emergency medical services personnel. This legislation will promote cooperation between public safety agencies and their employees and result in more effective and more efficient delivery of emergency services. Such cooperation is not possible in those states that do not provide public safety officers with collective bargaining rights. Public safety agencies that grant such rights have benefited immeasurably from productive partnerships between employers and employees.

Office of Correctional Public Health Act

Legislation to establish an Office of Correctional Public Health within the Public Health Service will be introduced in the 110th Congress. The legislation would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint a director to administer public health activities regarding individuals who are employees in federal, state, or local penal or correctional institutions or who are incarcerated in such institutions. It further authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to states for the purpose of providing for correctional populations screenings, immunizations, and treatment for hepatitis A, B, and C. Other public health activities covered under the legislation are disease prevention, health promotion, service delivery, research, and health professions education.

Public Safety Act (H.R. 1890)

Legislation to ensure that core correctional services are not provided by non-governmental private entities was introduced in the 110th Congress. The legislation would prohibit the incarceration of inmates by private contractors or vendors and provides that persons charged or convicted of an offense be placed in facilities managed and maintained by federal, state, or local governments. Incarceration of inmates is an inherently governmental function and should be performed by dedicated public employees who are better trained and better able to protect their communities.

Public Safety Officer Due Process Rights (S. 449/H.R. 668)

Legislation that would provide standards and procedures to guide both state and local law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers during internal investigations, interrogation of law enforcement officers and administrative disciplinary hearing to ensure due process has been introduced in the Senate and House. The State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability and Due process Act of 2007 (S. 449) was introduced by Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) and the companion bill (H.R. 668) was introduced in the House by Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN).

Capitol-Flown Flags for Families of Deceased Law Enforcement Officers

A bill has been introduced in the House that would provide Capitol-flown flags to the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The Law Enforcement Officers Flag Memorial Act (H.R. 146) was introduced by Rep. Gene Green (D-TX).

Resources to Fight Violent Gangs (S. 456/H.R. 1582)

The Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007 was introduced in the House by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and in the Senate by Diane Feinstein (D-CA). This bill would increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to investigation and prosecution of violent gangs and deter and punish violent gang crime.

What you can do

Contact your Senators and Representative concerning the following legislation and ask them to cosponsor these bills.

Department of Legislation
February 2007

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