I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2277 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to require a Federal court to consider 
certain factors in imposing a sentence on a caretaker, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 29, 2021 
Mr. CICILLINE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to require a Federal 
court to consider certain factors in imposing a sentence 
on a caretaker, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Community-Based 
Sentencing Alternatives for Caretakers Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN IMPOSING A SEN-
TENCE ON A PRIMARY CARETAKER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3553 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
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(A) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (7), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(8) a community-based alternative sentence for 
a defendant if— 
‘‘(A) such defendant is a caretaker; and 
‘‘(B) the particular sentence to be imposed 
is for an offense that is not a violent offense 
under subsection (g).’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COMMUNITY-BASED
ALTERNATIVE
SEN-
TENCE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘community- 
based alternative sentence’ means a sentence 
that may require the defendant to complete or 
participate in community-based programming, 
counseling, or other treatment or programming, 
as ordered by the court. 
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‘‘(B) TYPES
OF
TREATMENT.—Commu-
nity-based programming, counseling, or other 
treatment, includes— 
‘‘(i) drug counseling, treatment, or re-
habilitation programing; 
‘‘(ii) alcohol counseling, treatment, or 
rehabilitation programing; 
‘‘(iii) individual or family counseling; 
‘‘(iv) family case management serv-
ices; 
‘‘(v) job training and job placement 
programing; 
‘‘(vi) educational programming; or 
‘‘(vii) any other treatment or pro-
gramming determined to be appropriate by 
the court. 
‘‘(2) CARETAKER.—The term ‘caretaker’ means 
an individual who has consistently assumed substan-
tial responsibility for the housing, health, and safety 
of a child, parent, or other immediate family mem-
ber, including an adult child or family member with 
a disability, of such defendant.’’. 
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(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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