IB 
Union Calendar No. 517 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5698 
[Report No. 115–672] 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to punish criminal offenses targeting 
law enforcement officers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 8, 2018 
Mr. RUTHERFORD (for himself and Mrs. DEMINGS) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
MAY 11, 2018 
Additional sponsors: Mrs. COMSTOCK, Mr. DUNN, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Mr. 
CARTER of Texas 
MAY 11, 2018 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
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A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to punish criminal 
offenses targeting law enforcement officers, and for other 
purposes. 
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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 ‘‘Protect and Serve Act 
of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2. CRIMES TARGETING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI-
CERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Whoever, in any circumstance 
described in subsection (b), knowingly causes serious bod-
ily injury to a law enforcement officer, or attempts to do 
so— 
‘‘(1) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 
years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; 
and 
‘‘(2) shall be imprisoned for any term of years 
or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or 
both, if— 
‘‘(A) death results from the offense; or 
‘‘(B) the offense includes kidnapping or an 
attempt to kidnap, or an attempt to kill. 
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‘‘(5) the victim is a Federal law enforcement of-
ficer. 
‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—No prosecution of any of-
fense described in this section may be undertaken by 
the United States, except under the certification in 
writing of the Attorney General, or a designee, 
that— 
‘‘(A) the State does not have jurisdiction; 
‘‘(B) the State has requested that the Fed-
eral Government assume jurisdiction; 
‘‘(C) the verdict or sentence obtained pur-
suant to State charges left demonstratively 
unvindicated the Federal interest in protecting 
the public safety; or 
‘‘(D) a prosecution by the United States is 
in the public interest and necessary to secure 
substantial justice. 
‘‘(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to limit the au-
thority of Federal officers, or a Federal grand jury, 
to investigate possible violations of this section. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.—The term 
‘law enforcement officer’ means an employee of a 
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governmental or public agency who is authorized by 
law— 
‘‘(A) to engage in or supervise the preven-
tion, detention, investigation, or the incarcer-
ation of any person for any criminal violation of 
law; and 
‘‘(B) to apprehend or arrest a person for 
any criminal violation of law. 
‘‘(2) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means a State 
of the United States, the District of Columbia, or 
any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the 
United States.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 517 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5698 
[Report No. 115–672] 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to punish 
criminal offenses targeting law enforcement offi-
cers, and for other purposes. 
MAY 11, 2018 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 May 11, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6651
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E:\BILLS\H5698.RH
H5698
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