IIB 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1759 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
DECEMBER 6, 2007 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
AN ACT 
To establish guidelines and incentives for States to establish 
arsonist registries and to require the Attorney General 
to establish a national arsonist registry and notification 
program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Managing Arson 
Through Criminal History (MATCH) Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. ARSONIST REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) REGISTRY
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
JURISDIC-
TIONS.— 
(1) JURISDICTION TO MAINTAIN A REGISTRY.— 
Each jurisdiction shall establish and maintain a ju-
risdiction-wide arsonist registry conforming to the 
requirements of this section. 
(2) GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS.—The At-
torney General shall issue guidelines and regulations 
to interpret and implement this section. 
(b) REGISTRY
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CRIMINAL 
ARSONISTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—A criminal arsonist shall 
register, and shall keep the registration current, in 
each jurisdiction where the arsonist resides, where 
the arsonist is an employee, and where the arsonist 
is a student. For initial registration purposes only, 
a criminal arsonist shall also register in the jurisdic-
tion in which convicted if such jurisdiction is dif-
ferent from the jurisdiction of residence. 
(2) INITIAL REGISTRATION.—The criminal ar-
sonist shall initially register— 
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(A) before completing a sentence of impris-
onment with respect to the offense giving rise 
to the registration requirement; or 
(B) not later than 5 business days after 
being sentenced for that offense, if the criminal 
arsonist is not sentenced to a term of imprison-
ment. 
(3) KEEPING THE REGISTRATION CURRENT.—A 
criminal arsonist shall, not later than 10 business 
days after each change of name, residence, employ-
ment, or student status, appear in person in at least 
one jurisdiction involved pursuant to paragraph (1) 
and inform that jurisdiction of all changes in the in-
formation required for that arsonist in the arsonist 
registry involved. That jurisdiction shall immediately 
provide the revised information to all other jurisdic-
tions in which the arsonist is required to register. 
(4) APPLICATION OF REGISTRATION REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
guidelines under subparagraph (B), the require-
ments of this section, including the duties to 
register and to keep a registration current, shall 
apply only to a criminal arsonist who was con-
victed of a criminal offense involving arson on 
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or after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and who was notified of such duties and reg-
istered in accordance with subsection (f). 
(B) APPLICATION TO CRIMINAL ARSONISTS 
UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH PARAGRAPH (2).— 
(i) GUIDELINES.—The Attorney Gen-
eral shall establish guidelines in accordance 
with the provisions of this subparagraph 
for each jurisdiction for the application of 
the requirements of this section to criminal 
arsonists convicted before the date of the 
enactment of this Act or the date of its im-
plementation in such a jurisdiction, and 
shall prescribe rules for the registration of 
any such criminal arsonists who are other-
wise unable to comply with paragraph (2). 
(ii) INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE 
INCLUDED IN REGISTRY.—With respect to 
each criminal arsonist described in clause 
(i) convicted during the 10-year period pre-
ceding the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the guidelines under clause (i) shall 
provide for the inclusion in the arsonist 
registry of each applicable jurisdiction 
(and, in accordance with subsection (j), the 
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provision by such jurisdiction to each enti-
ty described in such subsection) of the fol-
lowing information: 
(I) The name of the arsonist (in-
cluding any alias used by the arson-
ist). 
(II) The Social Security number 
of the arsonist. 
(III) The most recent known ad-
dress of the residence at which the ar-
sonist has resided. 
(IV) A physical description of the 
arsonist. 
(V) The text of the provision of 
law defining the criminal offense re-
lated to arson for which the arsonist 
is convicted. 
(VI) A set of fingerprints and 
palm prints of the arsonist. 
(VII) A photocopy of a valid driv-
er’s license or identification card 
issued to the arsonist by a jurisdic-
tion, if available. 
(VIII) Any other information re-
quired by the Attorney General. 
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(iii) NOTICE REQUIRED.—The guide-
lines under clause (i) shall provide notice 
to each criminal arsonist included in an ar-
sonist registry pursuant to this subpara-
graph of such inclusion. 
(5) STATE
PENALTY
FOR
FAILURE
TO
COM-
PLY.—Each jurisdiction, other than a Federally rec-
ognized Indian tribe, shall provide a criminal penalty 
that includes a maximum term of imprisonment that 
is greater than one year for the failure of a criminal 
arsonist to comply with the requirements of this sec-
tion. 
(6) AUTHORITY TO EXEMPT CERTAIN CRIMINAL 
ARSONISTS FROM REGISTRY REQUIREMENTS.—A ju-
risdiction shall have the authority to exempt a crimi-
nal arsonist who has been convicted of the offense 
of arson in violation of the laws of the jurisdiction 
in which the offense was committed or the United 
States for the first time from the registration re-
quirements under this section in exchange for such 
arsonist’s substantial assistance in the investigation 
or prosecution of another person who has committed 
an offense. The Attorney General shall assure that 
any regulations promulgated under this section in-
clude guidelines that reflect the general appropriate-
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ness of exempting such an arsonist from the reg-
istration requirements under this section. 
(c) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION.— 
(1) PROVIDED BY THE ARSONIST.—A criminal 
arsonist shall provide the following information to 
the appropriate official for inclusion in the arsonist 
registry of a jurisdiction in which such arsonist is 
required to register: 
(A) The name of the arsonist (including 
any alias used by the arsonist). 
(B) The Social Security number of the ar-
sonist. 
(C) The address of each residence at which 
the arsonist resides or will reside. 
(D) The name and address of any place 
where the arsonist is an employee or will be an 
employee. 
(E) The name and address of any place 
where the arsonist is a student or will be a stu-
dent. 
(F) The license plate number and a de-
scription of any vehicle owned or operated by 
the arsonist. 
(G) Any other information required by the 
Attorney General. 
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(2) PROVIDED BY THE JURISDICTION.—The ju-
risdiction in which a criminal arsonist registers shall 
ensure that the following information is included in 
the registry for such arsonist: 
(A) A physical description of the arsonist. 
(B) The text of the provision of law defin-
ing the criminal offense for which the arsonist 
is registered. 
(C) The criminal history of the arsonist, 
including the date of all arrests and convictions; 
the status of parole, probation, or supervised 
release; registration status; and the existence of 
any outstanding arrest warrants for the arson-
ist. 
(D) A current photograph of the arsonist. 
(E) A set of fingerprints and palm prints 
of the arsonist. 
(F) A photocopy of a valid driver’s license 
or identification card issued to the arsonist by 
a jurisdiction. 
(G) Any other information required by the 
Attorney General. 
(d) DURATION
OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT; 
EXPUNGING REGISTRIES OF INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN 
JUVENILE CRIMINAL ARSONISTS.— 
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(1) DURATION
OF
REGISTRATION
REQUIRE-
MENT.—A criminal arsonist shall keep the registra-
tion information provided under subsection (c) cur-
rent for the full registration period (excluding any 
time the arsonist is in custody). For purposes of this 
subsection, the full registration period— 
(A) shall commence on the later of the 
date on which the arsonist is convicted of an of-
fense of arson in violation of the laws of the ju-
risdiction in which the offense was committed 
or the United States, the date on which the ar-
sonist is released from prison for such convic-
tion, or the date on which such arsonist is 
placed on parole, supervised release, or proba-
tion for such conviction; and 
(B) shall be— 
(i) five years for an arsonist who has 
been convicted of such an offense for the 
first time; 
(ii) ten years for an arsonist who has 
been convicted of such an offense for the 
second time; and 
(iii) for the life of the arsonist for an 
arsonist who has been convicted of such an 
offense more than twice. 
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(2) EXPUNGING REGISTRIES OF INFORMATION 
FOR CERTAIN JUVENILE CRIMINAL ARSONISTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a crimi-
nal arsonist described in subparagraph (B), a 
jurisdiction shall expunge the arson registry of 
such jurisdiction of information related to such 
criminal arsonist as of the date that is 5 years 
after the last day of the applicable full registra-
tion period under paragraph (1). 
(B) CRIMINAL
ARSONIST
DESCRIBED.— 
For purposes of subparagraph (A), a criminal 
arsonist described in this subparagraph is a 
criminal arsonist who— 
(i) was a juvenile tried as an adult for 
the offense giving rise to the duty to reg-
ister; and 
(ii) was not convicted of any other 
criminal felony during the period beginning 
on the first day of the applicable full reg-
istration period under paragraph (1) and 
ending on the last day of the 5-year period 
described in subparagraph (A). 
(C) 
APPLICATION
TO
OTHER
DATA-
BASES.—The Attorney General shall establish a 
process to ensure that each entity that receives 
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information under subsection (j) with respect to 
a criminal arsonist described in subparagraph 
(B) shall expunge the applicable database of 
such information as of the date that is 5 years 
after the last day of the applicable full registra-
tion period under paragraph (1). 
(e) ANNUAL VERIFICATION.—Not less than once in 
each calendar year during the full registration period, a 
criminal arsonist required to register under this section 
shall— 
(1) appear in person at not less than one juris-
diction in which such arsonist is required to register; 
(2) allow such jurisdiction to take a current 
photograph of the arsonist; and 
(3) while present at such jurisdiction, verify the 
information in each registry in which that arsonist 
is required to be registered. 
(f) DUTY TO NOTIFY CRIMINAL ARSONISTS OF REG-
ISTRATION REQUIREMENTS AND TO REGISTER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An appropriate official shall, 
shortly before release of a criminal arsonist from 
custody, or, if the arsonist is not in custody, imme-
diately after the sentencing of the arsonist for the 
offense giving rise to the duty to register— 
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(A) inform the arsonist of the duties of the 
arsonist under this section and explain those 
duties in a manner that the arsonist can under-
stand in light of the arsonist’s native language, 
mental capability, and age; 
(B) ensure that the arsonist understands 
the registration requirement, and if so, require 
the arsonist to read and sign a form stating 
that the duty to register has been explained and 
that the arsonist understands the registration 
requirement; 
(C) if the arsonist is unable to understand 
the registration requirements, the official shall 
sign a form stating that the arsonist is unable 
to understand the registration requirements; 
and 
(D) ensure that the arsonist is registered. 
(2) NOTIFICATION
OF
CRIMINAL
ARSONISTS 
WHO CANNOT COMPLY WITH PARAGRAPH (1).—The 
Attorney General shall prescribe rules to ensure the 
notification and registration of criminal arsonists in 
accordance with paragraph (1) who cannot be noti-
fied and registered at the time set forth in para-
graph (1). 
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(g) ACCESS TO CRIMINAL ARSONIST INFORMATION 
THROUGH THE INTERNET.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this 
subsection, each jurisdiction shall make available on 
the Internet, in a manner that is readily accessible 
to law enforcement personnel and fire safety officers 
located in the jurisdiction, all information about 
each criminal arsonist in the registry. The jurisdic-
tion shall also include in the design of its Internet 
site all field search capabilities needed for full par-
ticipation in the National criminal arsonist Internet 
site established under subsection (i) and shall par-
ticipate in that Internet site as provided by the At-
torney General in regulations which comply with this 
paragraph. 
(2) PROHIBITION
ON
ACCESS
BY
THE
PUB-
LIC.—Information about a criminal arsonist shall 
not be made available under paragraph (1) on the 
Internet to the public. 
(3) MANDATORY EXEMPTIONS.—A jurisdiction 
shall exempt from disclosure on the Internet site of 
the jurisdiction described in paragraph (1), with re-
spect to information about a criminal arsonist— 
(A) any information about the arsonist in-
volving conviction for an offense other than the 
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offense or offenses for which the arsonist is reg-
istered; 
(B) any information about the arsonist if 
the arsonist is participating in a witness protec-
tion program and the release of such informa-
tion could jeopardize the safety of the arsonist 
or any other individual; and 
(C) any other information identified as a 
mandatory exemption from disclosure by the 
Attorney General. 
(4) OPTIONAL EXEMPTIONS.—A jurisdiction is 
authorized to exempt from disclosure on the Internet 
site of the jurisdiction described in paragraph (1), 
with respect to information about a criminal arson-
ist— 
(A) the name of an employer of the arson-
ist; and 
(B) the name of an educational institution 
where the arsonist is a student. 
(5) CORRECTION
OF
ERRORS.—The Attorney 
General shall establish guidelines for each jurisdic-
tion for a process to seek correction of information 
included in the Internet site established by the juris-
diction pursuant to paragraph (1) in the case that 
an individual contends such information is erro-
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neous. Such guidelines shall provide for an adequate 
period following the date on which the individual has 
knowledge of the information’s inclusion in the 
Internet site for the individual to seek such correc-
tion of information. 
(6) WARNING.—An Internet site established by 
a jurisdiction pursuant to paragraph (1) shall in-
clude a warning that information on the site is to be 
used for law enforcement purposes only and may 
only be disclosed in connection with such purposes. 
The warning shall note that any action in violation 
of the previous sentence may result in a civil or 
criminal penalty. 
(h) NATIONAL CRIMINAL ARSONIST REGISTRY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall 
maintain a national database at the Bureau of Alco-
hol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for each 
criminal arsonist. The database shall be known as 
the National Arsonist Registry. 
(2) ELECTRONIC FORWARDING.—The Attorney 
General shall ensure (through the National Arsonist 
Registry or otherwise) that updated information 
about a criminal arsonist is immediately transmitted 
by electronic forwarding to all relevant jurisdictions. 
(i) NATIONAL ARSONIST INTERNET SITE.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall 
establish and maintain a national arsonist Internet 
site. The Internet site shall include relevant informa-
tion for each criminal arsonist. The Internet site 
shall allow law enforcement officers and fire safety 
officers to obtain relevant information for each such 
arsonist by a single query for any given zip code or 
geographical radius set by the user in a form and 
with such limitations as may be established by the 
Attorney General and shall have such other field 
search capabilities as the Attorney General may pro-
vide. 
(2) PROHIBITION
ON
ACCESS
BY
THE
PUB-
LIC.—Information about a criminal arsonist shall 
not be made available under paragraph (1) on the 
Internet to the public. 
(j) NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES.—Under an arsonist 
registration program established by a jurisdiction pursu-
ant to subsection (a), immediately after a criminal arson-
ist registers or updates a registration, an appropriate offi-
cial in the jurisdiction shall provide the information in the 
registry (other than information exempted from disclosure 
by this section or by the Attorney General) about that of-
fender to the following entities: 
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(1) The Attorney General, who shall include 
that information in the National Arsonist Registry. 
(2) Appropriate law enforcement agencies (in-
cluding probation agencies, if appropriate) in each 
area in which the offender resides, is an employee, 
or is a student. 
(3) Each jurisdiction where the offender re-
sides, is an employee, or is a student, and each juris-
diction from or to which a change of residence, em-
ployment, or student status occurs. 
(k) ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN WHEN CRIMINAL ARSON-
IST FAILS TO COMPLY.—Under an arsonist registration 
program established by a jurisdiction pursuant to sub-
section (a), an appropriate official of the jurisdiction shall 
notify the Attorney General and appropriate law enforce-
ment agencies of any failure by a criminal arsonist to com-
ply with the requirements of the arsonist registry for such 
jurisdiction, and shall revise the registry to reflect the na-
ture of such failure. The appropriate official, the Attorney 
General, and each such law enforcement agency shall take 
any appropriate action to ensure compliance. 
(l) DEVELOPMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF REGISTRY 
MANAGEMENT AND WEBSITE SOFTWARE.— 
(1) DUTY
TO
DEVELOP
AND
SUPPORT.—The 
Attorney General shall, in consultation with the ju-
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