RETURN Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.6896 | Sponsor: Rep. Foxx, Virginia (R-NC)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Reduce Exposure and the Threat of Unused Residual Narcotics Act of 2022 or the RETURN Act of 2022
This bill requires regulations that govern the disposal of narcotics by reverse distributors to be revised so as to allow these entities to open and inspect packages that are received through mail-back programs and to allow them to send the packages offsite for destruction.

To amend the Controlled Substances Act to improve consumer take-back 
 programs by allowing persons who are authorized to collect controlled 
     substances from ultimate users and other non-registrants for 
 destruction through an authorized consumer return program to open and 
inspect packages, to provide a secure method of transporting substances 
      to another location of destruction, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reduce Exposure and the Threat of 
Unused Residual Narcotics Act of 2022'' or the ``RETURN Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. INSPECTION OF PACKAGES OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES RECEIVED 
              THROUGH MAIL-BACK DISPOSAL PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 302(g)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act 
(21 U.S.C. 822(g)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(2) In developing'' and inserting 
        ``(2)(A) In developing'';
            (2) by striking ``Such regulations may not'' and inserting 
        the following:
    ``(B) Such regulations may not''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following subparagraph:
    ``(C)(i) Such regulations shall allow persons who are authorized to 
collect controlled substances from ultimate users and other non-
registrants for destruction through an authorized mail-back program 
under this subsection to open a package for identification of the 
contents of the package for purposes of a consumer incentive program.
    ``(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term `consumer 
incentive program' means a program providing ultimate users who return 
unused controlled substances through a person described in clause (i) a 
financial or other incentive that is determined based on the contents 
of the returned materials.''.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General of the United States shall 
finalize such revisions to regulations as may be necessary to carry out 
section 302(g)(2)(C) of the Controlled Substances Act, as added by 
subsection (a), including by revising section 1317.70(f) of title 21, 
Code of Federal Regulations.
    (c) Applicability.--Section 302(g)(2)(C) of the Controlled 
Substances Act, as added by subsection (a), applies beginning on the 
date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. OPTION OF TRANSPORTING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES RECEIVED THROUGH 
              MAIL-BACK DISPOSAL PROGRAM TO ANOTHER LOCATION FOR 
              DESTRUCTION.

    (a) In General.--Section 302(g)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act 
(21 U.S.C. 822(g)(2)), as amended by section 2, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following subparagraph:
    ``(D) Such regulations shall give persons who are authorized to 
collect controlled substances from ultimate users and other non-
registrants for destruction through an authorized mail-back program 
under this subsection, in lieu of having and utilizing at their 
registered location an authorized method of destruction, the option of 
providing a secure method of transporting such substances to a location 
of destruction consistent with applicable regulations.''.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General of the United States shall 
finalize such revisions to regulations as may be necessary to carry out 
section 302(g)(2)(D) of the Controlled Substances Act, as added by 
subsection (a), including by revising section 1317.70(a) of title 21, 
Code of Federal Regulations.
    (c) Applicability.--Section 302(g)(2)(D) of the Controlled 
Substances Act, as added by subsection (a), applies beginning on the 
date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>