Strengthening Background Checks Act of 2013

To amend the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 to encourage States to provide records to the National Instant Background Check System. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Background Checks Act of 2013 2. Penalties for States that do not make data available to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (a) Increased mandatory penalties Section 104(b) of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 ( 18 U.S.C. 922 (3) Increased mandatory reductions Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), after the expiration of the period referred to in section 107(b), the Attorney General shall withhold 10 percent of the amount that would otherwise be allocated to a State under section 505 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3755 (A) the State fails to comply with section 107; or (B) the State provides less than 90 percent of the records required to be provided under sections 102 and 103. (4) Waivers by Attorney General The Attorney General may— (A) waive the applicability of paragraph (2) to a State if the State provides substantial evidence, as determined by the Attorney General, that the State is making a reasonable effort to comply with the requirements of sections 102 and 103, including an inability to comply due to court order or other legal restriction; (B) waive the applicability of paragraph (3) to a State for one year if the State provides substantial evidence, as determined by the Attorney General, that the State is making a reasonable effort to comply with the requirements of sections 102, 103, and 107, including an inability to comply due to court order, conflicts between section 107 and the constitution of the State, or other legal restriction; and (C) waive the applicability of paragraph (3), in part, to a State for which the waiver period under subparagraph (B) (i) the State provides substantial evidence, as determined by the Attorney General, that the State is making a reasonable effort to comply with the requirements of sections 102, 103, and 107, including an inability to comply due to court order, conflicts between section 107 and the constitution of the State, or other legal restriction; and (ii) the Attorney General withholds 5 percent of the amount that would otherwise be allocated to a State under section 505 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) for each such one-year period. . (b) State laws requiring provision of records Title I of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 ( 18 U.S.C. 922 107. State laws requiring provision of records (a) In General For each fiscal year after the expiration of the period specified in subsection (b) (1) require the State to provide to the Attorney General not less than 90 percent of the records required to be provided under sections 102 and 103; and (2) require the State to provide such records to the Attorney General in the same manner, or in a manner substantially similar to, the manner in which such records are required to be provided by the State under such sections. (b) Compliance period Each State shall have not more than 2 years from the date of enactment of the Strengthening Background Checks Act of 2013 . (c) Authorization and appropriation for implementation assistance to States (1) Authorization of appropriations Section 103(e) of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 ( 18 U.S.C. 922 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and $125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015. (B) in paragraph (2), by striking fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013 each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015 (2) Appropriation (A) In general There are hereby appropriated for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, out of funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $125,000,000 to carry out the grant program authorized under section 103 of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (18 U.S.C. 922 note). (B) Offset Of the unobligated balances available under the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund, $125,000,000 are permanently cancelled.

Summary: Strengthening Background Checks Act of 2013 - Amends the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 to require each state, for each fiscal year after a two-year period after this Act's enactment, to have in effect laws and policies that require it to: (1) provide to the Attorney General not less than 90% of the records relevant to a determination of whether a person is disqualified from possessing or receiving a firearm that are required to be provided under such Act for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System; and (2) provide such records to the Attorney General in the same manner, or in a manner substantially similar to, that in which such records are required to be provided by the state under such Act. Directs the Attorney General to withhold 10% of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds that would otherwise be allocated to the state if the state fails to comply with such requirements. Authorizes the Attorney General to waive such withholding for a state: (1) for one year if the state provides substantial evidence that it is making a reasonable effort to comply; and (2) for additional one-year periods if the state provides substantial evidence that it is making a reasonable effort to comply and if the Attorney General withholds 5% of the amount that would otherwise be allocated to a state for each one-year period. Authorizes appropriations for FY2012-FY2015 for grants under such Act to states and Indian tribal governments to establish or upgrade information and identification technologies for firearms eligibility determinations. Appropriates such authorized amount for the first fiscal year beginning after enactment of this Act and cancels a corresponding amount of the unobligated balances available under the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund.