S1595-119

What This Bill Does

The Improving Police CARE Act amends the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant statute so law enforcement agencies may use grant funds to buy trauma kits only if the kits meet performance standards set by the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The standards must be developed within 180 days in consultation with trauma surgeons, emergency medical professionals, emergency physicians, law enforcement agencies, law enforcement organizations, labor organizations, and trade associations.

The bill defines a trauma kit as a first aid response kit that includes bleeding-control supplies for life-threatening hemorrhage. Required components include a TCCC-recommended tourniquet, bleeding-control bandage, nonlatex gloves, marker, scissors, instructional documents, a container, and any additional supplies approved by the relevant state, local, or tribal law enforcement agency. BJA must also publish optional best practices for officer training and kit deployment in vehicles and government facilities.

Who Benefits and How

Law enforcement officers benefit from standardized bleeding-control equipment purchased with Byrne JAG funds. Crime victims, trauma victims, and people injured in shootings or other emergencies benefit if officers carry effective kits before EMS arrives. Trauma kit manufacturers that meet the standards, TCCC-recommended tourniquet manufacturers, Stop the Bleed partners, trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, and EMS organizations benefit from clearer standards and formal consultation roles.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Bureau of Justice Assistance must develop and publish the standards within 180 days, consult with medical and law enforcement stakeholders, and create optional best practices. Byrne JAG grant recipients must restrict purchases to compliant trauma kits. Trauma kit manufacturers that do not meet the standards lose eligibility for federally funded purchases.

Key Provisions

• Defines trauma kit as a first aid response kit with bleeding-control supplies for life-threatening hemorrhage.
• Requires BJA to develop and publish trauma kit performance standards within 180 days.
• Requires qualifying kits to include tourniquets, bleeding-control bandages, gloves, marker, scissors, instructions, and containers.
• Requires instructional documents from Stop the Bleed, the American College of Surgeons, the American Red Cross, or Defense Department partners.
• Allows grantees to assemble compliant kits from separately acquired components.
• Requires BJA to publish optional best practices for training, deployment, and maintenance.