To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize Department of Veterans Affairs police officers to execute on Department property arrest warrants of a State or local government within the jurisdiction of which such Department property is located.

February 17, 2005

Mr. GERLACH (for himself and Mr. SMITH of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize Department of Veterans Affairs police officers to execute on Department property arrest warrants of a State or local government within the jurisdiction of which such Department property is located.

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 `VA Police Powers Act'.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE OFFICERS TO EXECUTE ARREST WARRANTS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

Section 902(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B) and the regulations prescribed under subsection (b), a Department police officer may execute on Department property any arrest warrant issued by a court or officer of competent jurisdiction of a State or local government within the jurisdiction of which such Department property is located.

`(B) An arrest warrant described in subparagraph (A) may be enforced under this paragraph only as authorized by an express grant of authority under applicable State or local law.'.

END