I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 472 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to authorize the Director of the 
Bureau of Prisons to issue oleoresin capsicum spray to officers and 
employees of the Bureau of Prisons. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 22, 2015 
Mr. MCKINLEY (for himself, Mr. MARINO, and Mr. CARTWRIGHT) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to authorize the 
Director of the Bureau of Prisons to issue oleoresin 
capsicum spray to officers and employees of the Bureau 
of Prisons. 
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 ‘‘Eric Williams Correc-
tional Officer Protection Act of 2015’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:47 Jan 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H472.IH
H472
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE BUREAU OF 
PRISONS AUTHORIZED TO CARRY OLEORESIN 
CAPSICUM SPRAY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 303 of part III of title 
18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 4049. Officers and employees of the Bureau of Pris-
ons authorized to carry oleoresin cap-
sicum spray 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Bureau of 
Prisons shall issue, on a routine basis, oleoresin capsicum 
spray to— 
‘‘(1) any officer or employee of the Bureau of 
Prisons who— 
‘‘(A) is employed in a prison that is not a 
minimum or low security prison; and 
‘‘(B) may respond to an emergency situa-
tion in such a prison; and 
‘‘(2) to such additional officers and employees 
of prisons as the Director determines appropriate, in 
accordance with this section. 
‘‘(b) TRAINING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In order for an officer or 
employee of the Bureau of Prisons, including a cor-
rectional officer, to be eligible to receive and carry 
oleoresin capsicum spray pursuant to this section, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:47 Jan 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H472.IH
H472
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
the officer or employee shall complete a training 
course before being issued such spray, and annually 
thereafter, on the use of oleoresin capsicum spray. 
‘‘(2) TRANSFERABILITY OF TRAINING.—An offi-
cer or employee of the Bureau of Prisons who com-
pletes a training course pursuant to paragraph (1) 
and subsequently transfers to employment at a dif-
ferent prison, shall not be required to complete an 
additional training course solely due such transfer. 
‘‘(3) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REGULAR 
EMPLOYMENT.—An officer or employee of the Bu-
reau of Prisons who completes a training course re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall do so during the 
course of that officer or employee’s regular employ-
ment, and shall be compensated at the same rate 
that the officer or employee would be compensated 
for conducting the officer or employee’s regular du-
ties. 
‘‘(c) USE OF OLEORESIN CAPSICUM SPRAY.—Offi-
cers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons issued oleo-
resin capsicum spray pursuant to subsection (a) may use 
such spray to reduce acts of violence— 
‘‘(1) committed by prisoners against themselves, 
other prisoners, prison visitors, and officers and em-
ployees of the Bureau of Prisons; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:47 Jan 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H472.IH
H472
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) committed by prison visitors against them-
selves, prisoners, other visitors, and officers and em-
ployees of the Bureau of Prisons.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 303 of part III of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
4048 the following: 
‘‘4049. Officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons authorized to carry ole-
oresin capsicum spray.’’. 
SEC. 3. GAO REPORT. 
Not later than the date that is 3 years after the date 
on which the Director of the Bureau of Prisons begins 
to issue oleoresin capsicum spray to officers and employees 
of the Bureau of Prisons pursuant to section 4049 of title 
18, United States Code (as added by this Act), the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to Con-
gress a report that includes the following: 
(1) An evaluation of the effectiveness of issuing 
oleoresin capsicum spray to officers and employees 
of the Bureau of Prisons in prisons that are not 
minimum or low security prisons on— 
(A) reducing crime in such prisons; and 
(B) reducing acts of violence committed by 
prisoners against themselves, other prisoners, 
prison visitors, and officers and employees of 
the Bureau of Prisons in such prisons. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:47 Jan 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H472.IH
H472
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) An evaluation of the advisability of issuing 
oleoresin capsicum spray to officers and employees 
of the Bureau of Prisons in prisons that are min-
imum or low security prisons, including— 
(A) the effectiveness that issuing such 
spray in such prisons would have on reducing 
acts of violence committed by prisoners against 
themselves, other prisoners, prison visitors, and 
officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons 
in such prisons; and 
(B) the cost of issuing such spray in such 
prisons. 
(3) Recommendations to improve the safety of 
officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons in 
prisons. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:47 Jan 28, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H472.IH
H472
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS