Stop Terrorist and Military Hoaxes Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-1678
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21]
Introduced: 2003-04-08 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Chemical warfare
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
Compensation for victims of crime
Criminal investigation
Criminal liability
EBB Terrorism
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Energy
Environmental Protection
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Informers
International Affairs
Law
Liability (Law)
Medical economics
Missing in action
Nuclear terrorism
Nuclear weapons
Obstruction of justice
Plutonium
Prisoners of war
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
Terrorism
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Uranium
Uranium enrichment
Weapons of mass destruction

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to set penalties for engaging in conduct with intent to convey false or misleading information that may reasonably be believed and that concerns an activity which would violate prohibitions regarding biological weapons, chemical weapons, nuclear materials, or weapons of mass destruction.
Makes any persons who engage in such conduct jointly and severally liable to any party incurring expenses incident to any emergency or investigative response to that conduct. Directs the court to order a defendant who has been convicted of such an offense to reimburse any party incurring such expenses. Specifies that an order of reimbursement shall, for the purposes of enforcement, be treated as a civil judgment.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Stop Terrorist and Military Hoaxes Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for knowingly engaging in conduct with intent to convey false or misleading information about an activity that would constitute a violation of various prohibitions under the Federal criminal code, the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or other specified law relating to terrorism, including prohibitions regarding biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons, destruction of gas pipeline facilities, aircraft, or vessels, and aircraft piracy. Makes individuals engaging in such conduct liable in a civil action to any party incurring expenses incident to any emergency or investigative response.
 
Establishes criminal penalties for making a false statement, without lawful authority, with intent to convey false or misleading information about the death, injury, capture, or disappearance of a member of the U.S. armed forces during a war or armed conflict in which the United States is engaged.
 
Provides for enhanced penalties for obstruction of justice and false statements offenses that relate to international or domestic terrorism. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend the sentencing guidelines to provide for an increased offense level for any such offenses that involve a matter relating to international or domestic terrorism.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 288.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-505.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-505.
action_date: 2004-05-12
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2004-05-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-05-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Introduced in House