Title: Effective Prosecution of Possession of Biological Toxins and Agents Act of 2019
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Effective Prosecution of Possession of Biological Toxins and Agents Act of 2019
This bill revises the criminal prohibition on the shipment, transport, possession, or receipt of a biological agent or toxin by a restricted person. Specifically, it updates references to the lists of agents and toxins covered by the prohibition.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1986 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1986

  To amend section 175b of title 18, United States Code, to correct a 
                           scrivener's error.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 28, 2019

  Mr. Ratcliffe (for himself, Miss Rice of New York, and Mr. Hurd of 
    Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend section 175b of title 18, United States Code, to correct a 
                           scrivener's error.

    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 ``Effective Prosecution of Possession 
of Biological Toxins and Agents Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON THE POSSESSION OF BIOLOGICAL TOXINS AND AGENTS.

    Section 175b of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``(a)(1) No restricted'' and all 
                that follows through the end of paragraph (1) and 
                inserting the following:
    ``(a) Offense.--
            ``(1) In general.--It shall be unlawful for a restricted 
        person to--
                    ``(A) ship, transport, or possess in or affecting 
                interstate or foreign commerce any biological agent or 
                toxin described in paragraph (2); or
                    ``(B) receive any biological agent or toxin 
                described in paragraph (2) that has been shipped or 
                transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
            ``(2) Agents and toxins covered.--A biological agent or 
        toxin described in this paragraph is a biological agent or 
        toxin that--
                    ``(A) is listed as a non-overlap or overlap select 
                biological agent or toxin under part 73 of title 42, 
                Code of Federal Regulations, pursuant to section 351A 
                of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262a); and
                    ``(B) is not excluded or exempted under part 73 of 
                title 42, Code of Federal Regulations.''; and
                    (B) by striking ``(2) Whoever'' and inserting ``(3) 
                Penalty.--Whoever'' and adjusting the margin 
                accordingly; and
            (2) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1), by inserting ``Definitions.--'' before ``In this 
        section:''.
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