Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2015

To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to repeal certain provisions relating to criminal penalties and violations of foreign laws, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2015 2. Criminal penalties (a) Prohibited acts Section 3(a) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3372(a) (1) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking or in violation of any foreign law (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in clause (i), by striking , or any foreign law, (ii) in clause (ii), by striking or any foreign law (iii) in clause (iii), by striking , or under any foreign law, (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking foreign law or (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in clause (i), by striking , or any foreign law, (ii) in clause (ii), by striking or any foreign law (iii) in clause (iii), by striking , or under any foreign law, (b) Penalties Section 4 of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3373 (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) Assessment (A) In general Any person who engages in conduct prohibited by any provision of this Act (other than subsections (b), (d), and (f) of section 3) and in the exercise of due care should know that the fish, wildlife, or plants were taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of, or in a manner unlawful under, any underlying law, treaty, or regulation, and any person who knowingly violates subsection (d) or (f) of section 3, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary for each violation in accordance with subparagraph (B) or (C), as applicable. (B) Market value of less than $350 If a violation under subparagraph (A) involves fish or wildlife or plants with a market value of less than $350 and involves only the transportation, acquisition, or receipt of fish, wildlife, or plants taken or possessed in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States, tribal law, or any law or regulation of a State, the penalty assessed under subparagraph (A) for the violation shall not exceed the lesser of— (i) the maximum amount of the penalty provided for violation of the law or regulation; or (ii) $10,000. (C) Other violations For any violation under subparagraph (A) that is not described in subparagraph (B), the penalty assessed under that subparagraph shall not exceed $200,000. ; and (2) by striking subsections (d) and (e). (c) Forfeiture Section 5 of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3374 (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the following: (a) In general All fish, wildlife, or plants imported, exported, transported, sold, received, acquired, or purchased in violation of section 3 (other than subsection (b) of that section), or any regulation issued under that section, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States notwithstanding any culpability requirements for civil penalty assessment under section 4. ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively; and (3) in subsection (b) (as redesignated), by striking convicted of an offense, or assessed a civil penalty, assessed a civil penalty (d) Enforcement (1) In general Section 6 of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375 (A) by striking subsection (b); (B) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively; (C) in subsection (b) (as redesignated), by striking the third sentence; and (D) in the first sentence of subsection (c) (as redesignated)— (i) by striking an arrest, a criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property a civil penalty assessment or forfeiture of property (ii) by striking or criminal (2) Conforming amendments (A) Section 3(c)(3) of the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 742l(c)(3) section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(d) section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(c) (B) Section 503(b) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1423b(b) (i) by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through The Secretary may utilize (b) Utilization of other government resources and authorities The Secretary may utilize ; and (ii) by striking paragraph (2). (C) Section 11(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1540(d) section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(d) section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(c) (D) Section 7(f) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 5305a(f) section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(d) section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(c) (E) Section 524(c)(4)(A) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(d) section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(c) (F) Section 1402(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 10601(b)(1)(A)(ii) section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(d) section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3375(c) (e) Exceptions Section 8 of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 ( 16 U.S.C. 3377 (b) Activities regulated by Tuna Convention Acts Paragraphs (1), (2)(A), and (3)(A) of subsection 3(a) shall not apply to any activity regulated by the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 ( 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq. 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. .

Summary: Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2015 This bill amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to repeal the prohibition on importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring, or purchasing in interstate or foreign commerce: (1) fish or wildlife taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of foreign law; or (2) plants taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of foreign law, without the payment of appropriate royalties, taxes, or stumpage fees required by foreign law, or in violation of any limitation under foreign law that governs the export or transshipment of plants. The possession of those fish, wildlife, or plants within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States is allowed. A cap of $200,000 is placed on a civil penalty for a knowing violation of the Act that involves fish, wildlife, or plants with a market value of $350 or more. The bill also repeals: (1) criminal penalties under the Act; and (2) the authorization to suspend, modify, or cancel specified licenses or permits issued to any person who is convicted of a criminal violation of that Act.