§50313 Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board

Summary

Creates a seven-member Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board inside the Department of Justice. The Board must design the badge and ribbons, pick an engraver, choose recommended recipients from timely nominations, and each year give the Attorney General the names of officers it recommends under the criteria in section 50312(a). After the Attorney General approves, the Board must buy the badges, tell the nominating agency head about the award, notify the Member of Congress from the recipient’s district and offer that Member a chance to present the badge, and arrange the presentation under section 50314. The Board must set an annual schedule for doing this work. The Board has seven members appointed as follows: one jointly by the Senate majority and minority leaders; one jointly by the Speaker and House minority leader; one DOJ member appointed by the Attorney General; two appointed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Executive Board; and two appointed by the Fraternal Order of Police Executive Board. No more than two members may come from each of those two groups. Members must have experience or training in federal law enforcement. Terms are two years and may be renewed, and vacancies are filled the same way. The Board elects its chair. It must meet first within 90 days after a majority of members are appointed, and then when the chair (or the Attorney General, if there is no chair) calls meetings. A majority is usually needed for business, though smaller groups can be set for hearings. The Board can hold hearings, take testimony under oath, pay witnesses the fees under 28 U.S.C. 1821 from its funds, get needed information from federal agencies consistent with sections 552, 552a, and 552b of title 5, and must keep information that would harm an investigation or is legally confidential secret. Members are paid each day at the daily equivalent of the annual rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5 for days worked, but government employees cannot get extra pay; travel expenses follow usual rules.