H.R. 8832

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8832 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8832

To establish a Task Force on Women in Law Enforcement to study and 
develop national hiring standards for law enforcement officers, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 14, 2026

Ms. Ross (for herself, Mrs. Foushee, and Mrs. Sykes) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a Task Force on Women in Law Enforcement to study and 
develop national hiring standards for law enforcement officers, and for 
other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Women with Career 
Opportunities in Policing Services Act of 2026'' or the ``Supporting 
Women COPS Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. TASK FORCE ON WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

(a) Establishment.--There is established a Task Force on Women in 
Law Enforcement (referred to in this section as the ``Task Force'') to 
study State hiring standards for law enforcement officers, develop 
national hiring standards for law enforcement officers, and develop 
recommendations for female officer retention and promotion.
(b) Composition.--The Task Force shall be composed of 12 members, 
appointed by the Attorney General as follows:
(1) One representative from the Civil Rights Division of 
the Department of Justice.
(2) Two mayors.
(3) Three female police executives, one of whom serves as 
the head of a municipal law enforcement agency, one of whom 
serves as the head of a State law enforcement agency, and one 
of whom serves as the head of a sheriff's department.
(4) Two female law enforcement officers with the rank of 
lieutenant or below.
(5) Two representatives from community-based organizations.
(6) One representative from a law enforcement accreditation 
or standards and training organization.
(7) One representative from a national law enforcement 
organization representing women.
(c) Duties of the Task Force.--The duties of the Task Force are as 
follows:
(1) To develop recommendations for national hiring 
standards for law enforcement officers, including standards for 
physical fitness, critical thinking, and communication skills, 
that do not disadvantage applicants based on sex.
(2) To develop recommendations for female officer 
retention, addressing barriers including physical fitness after 
childbirth and family responsibilities, such as childcare.
(3) To develop recommendations for female advancement to 
leadership roles in law enforcement.
(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report that 
details its findings and recommendations.

SEC. 3. INCENTIVIZING STATES TO ADOPT STANDARDS.

(a) In General.--Beginning in the fiscal year that begins after the 
development of the recommendations under section 2(c), a State that 
adopts such recommendations shall receive, in addition to the amount 
that the State otherwise receives under subpart 1 of part E of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (34 U.S.C. 10151 et seq.) 
(commonly known as the ``Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant 
Program''), an amount that is equal to 5 percent of what such State 
receives under such subpart, which may be used for the purposes 
authorized under such subpart.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out subsection (a) 
for each fiscal year beginning in the fiscal year that begins after the 
development of the recommendations under section 2(c).
(c) Technical Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Attorney General is authorized to 
provide technical assistance to assist States in adopting the 
recommendations under section 2(c).
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
this subsection.
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