Court Security Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-660
Sponsor: Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]
Introduced: 2007-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Assault
Authorization
Bankruptcy courts
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Clothing
Computer security measures
Conflict of interests
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Courthouses
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal justice information
Criminal procedure
Department of Justice
District courts
Driver licenses
Economics and Public Finance
Equipment and supplies
Families
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal employees
Federal officials
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial disclosure
Fines (Penalties)
Firearms
Fraud
Fugitives from justice
Government Operations and Politics
Government attorneys
Government employees' life insurance
Government ethics
Government procurement
Governmental investigations
Guam
Homicide
Identification devices
Informers
Internet
Judges
Judicial ethics
Judicial officers
Juries
Law enforcement officers
Liens
Magistrates
Northern Mariana Islands
Obstruction of justice
Office of Government Ethics
Parking facilities
Prisoners
Prosecution
Protection of officials
Public prosecutors
Public records
Recruiting of employees
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
State courts
Sunset legislation
Supreme Court justices
Tax courts
Taxation
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Victims of crimes
Violence
Virgin Islands
Weapons
Witnesses

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-24
text: 
Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the federal judicial code to: (1) direct the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States (Judicial Conference) on a continuing basis regarding the security requirements of the judicial branch; (2) authorize the Marshals Service to provide security for the U.S. Tax Court; (3) allow the U.S. Sentencing Commission to enter into multi-year procurement contracts; (4) extend certain life insurance benefits to bankruptcy, magistrate, and territorial judges; and (5) grant expanded authority to certain retired senior judges. Authorizes additional funding to hire marshals to protect the judiciary.
 
Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to: (1) restrict disclosure of the personal information of family members of judges; (2) extend through 2009 the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact certain personal information of judges from financial disclosure reports; and (3) reauthorize the Office of Government Ethics through FY2011. 
 
Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) the filing of false liens against the property of judges or law enforcement officials; (2) the public disclosure of restricted personal information about an federal officer, witness, or juror (or family member) with the intent to harm such individual; and (3) the possession of dangerous weapons in a federal court facility. 
 
Increases criminal penalties for tampering with or retaliating against a witness, victim, or informant and for voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.
 
 Authorizes grant programs to create and expand witness and victim protection programs. Extends eligibility for correctional options grants and armored vest grants to state and local courts.

action_date: 2007-07-10
text: 
Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 - 
Title I: Judicial Security Improvements and Funding
 - (Sec 101) Amends the federal judicial code to require the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States (Judicial Conference) on a continuing basis regarding the security requirements for the U.S. judicial branch.

(Sec. 102) Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to make permanent the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact certain personal information of judges from financial disclosure reports. 

(Sec. 103) Authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service to provide for the security of the U.S. Tax Court. 

Title II: Criminal Law Enhancements to Protect Judges, Family Members, and Witnesses
 - (Sec. 201) Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the filing (or attempts or conspiracies to file) in any public record any false lien or encumbrance against the real or personal property of any U.S. officer or employee on account of the performance of that officer's or employee's official duties, knowing that such lien or encumbrance is false. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years for violations.

(Sec. 202) Prohibits the public disclosure of restricted personal information about a federal officer or employee, witness, or juror (or immediate family members) with the intent to threaten or cause harm to such individuals. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to five years for violations.

(Sec. 203) Prohibits the possession of dangerous weapons in federal court facilities. 

(Sec. 204) Modifies venue requirements for prosecutions for retaliation against a witness to include the district in which the official proceeding or criminal conduct occurred. 

(Sec. 205) Increases maximum prison terms for: (1) tampering with, or retaliating against, a witness, victim, or informant; (2) voluntary and involuntary manslaughter; and (3) assault against a federal judge, law enforcement officer, or immediate family members of such officials.

(Sec. 209) Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review its sentencing guidelines relating to threats against a federal official carried out over the Internet.

Title III: Protecting State and Local Judges and Related Grant Programs
 - (Sec. 301) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to include as a required use of community-based justice grants the creation and expansion of state, local, or Indian tribe witness protection programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.

(Sec. 302) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to make state courts eligible for grants to improve court security (correctional options grants) and for armor vests. 

(Sec. 303) Directs the Attorney General to make grants to enable the highest court in each state to establish and maintain a threat assessment database to: (1) analyze trends and patterns in domestic terrorism and crime; (2) project the probabilities that specific acts of domestic terrorism or crime will occur; and (3) develop measures and procedures to reduce such probabilities. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2011.

Title IV: Law Enforcement Officers
 - (Sec. 401) Requires the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on the security of assistant U.S. attorneys and other federal attorneys arising from the prosecution of terrorists and other violent criminals. Requires such report to include information on the number and nature of threats and assaults against such attorneys, security measures in place to protect such attorneys, programs available to such attorneys for personal security training, secure parking spaces for such attorneys, and the role of the U.S. Marshals Service in protecting such attorneys.

Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions
 - (Sec. 501) Amends the federal judicial code to: (1) authorize through FY2010 the U.S. Sentencing Commission to enter into multyear procurement contracts and to make advance, partial, progress, or other payments for property or services to the same extent as executive agencies; (2) extend certain life insurance benefits to bankruptcy, magistrate, and territorial judges; and (3) expand the powers of judges who have retired from active service (senior judges) to include all powers of a sitting judge, including participation in the appointment of court officers and selection of magistrates, rulemaking, governance, and administrative matters.

(Sec. 505) Amends the federal criminal code to require the Bureau of Prisons to notify a prisoner released to supervised release, verbally and in writing, of such prisoner's obligation to pay any fines imposed for the offense committed and the consequences of failure to pay. 

(Sec. 506) Requires the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on whether general public access to state and local records imperils the safety of the federal judiciary. 

(Sec. 507) Authorizes appropriations for Fugitive Apprehension Task Forces for FY2008-FY2012. 

(Sec. 508) Authorizes states, for purposes of identification requirements under the REAL ID Act of 2005, to include in a driver's license or other identification card issued to federal judges and justices of the U.S. Supreme Court the address of the courthouse of such judges or justices in lieu of residence addresses.

action_date: 2007-12-17
text: 
Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 - 
Title I: Judicial Security Improvements and Funding
 - (Sec 101) Amends the federal judicial code to require the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States (Judicial Conference) on a continuing basis regarding the security requirements for the U.S. judicial branch.

(Sec. 102) Authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service to provide for the security of the U.S. Tax Court.

(Sec. 103) Authorizes additional amounts in FY2007-FY2011 for: (1) hiring deputy U.S. Marshals to provide security for judicial officers and U.S. attorneys; and (2) the Office of Protective Intelligence to provide secure computer systems.

(Sec. 104) Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to extend through 2011 the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact certain personal information of judges from financial disclosure reports. 

Title II: Criminal Law Enhancements to Protect Judges, Family Members, and Witnesses
 - (Sec. 201) Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the filing (or attempts or conspiracies to file) in any public record any false lien or encumbrance against the real or personal property of any U.S. officer or employee on account of the performance of that officer's or employee's official duties, knowing that such lien or encumbrance is false. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years for violations.

(Sec. 202) Prohibits the public disclosure of restricted personal information about a federal officer or employee, witness, or juror (or immediate family members) with the intent to threaten or cause harm to such individuals. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to five years for violations.

(Sec. 203) Prohibits the possession of dangerous weapons in federal court facilities. 

(Sec. 204) Modifies venue requirements for prosecutions for retaliation against a witness to include the district in which the official proceeding or criminal conduct occurred. 

(Sec. 205) Increases maximum prison terms for: (1) tampering with, or retaliating against, a witness, victim, or informant; (2) voluntary and involuntary manslaughter; and (3) assault against a federal judge, law enforcement officer, or immediate family members of such officials.

(Sec. 209) Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review its sentencing guidelines relating to threats against a federal official carried out over the Internet.

Title III: Protecting State and Local Judges and Related Grant Programs
 - (Sec. 301) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to include as a required use of community-based justice grants the creation and expansion of state, local, or Indian tribe witness protection programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.

(Sec. 302) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to make state courts eligible for grants to improve court security (correctional options grants) and for armor vests. 

(Sec. 303) Directs the Attorney General to make grants to enable the highest court in each state to establish and maintain a threat assessment database to: (1) analyze trends and patterns in domestic terrorism and crime; (2) project the probabilities that specific acts of domestic terrorism or crime will occur; and (3) develop measures and procedures to reduce such probabilities. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2011.

Title IV: Law Enforcement Officers
 - (Sec. 401) Requires the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on the security of assistant U.S. attorneys and other federal attorneys arising from the prosecution of terrorists and other violent criminals. Requires such report to include information on the number and nature of threats and assaults against such attorneys, security measures in place to protect such attorneys, programs available to such attorneys for personal security training, secure parking spaces for such attorneys, and the role of the U.S. Marshals Service in protecting such attorneys.

Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions
 - (Sec. 501) Amends the federal judicial code to: (1) authorize through FY2010 the U.S. Sentencing Commission to enter into multyear procurement contracts and to make advance, partial, progress, or other payments for property or services to the same extent as executive agencies; (2) extend certain life insurance benefits to bankruptcy, magistrate, and territorial judges; and (3) expand the powers of judges who have retired from active service (senior judges) to include all powers of a sitting judge, including participation in the appointment of court officers and selection of magistrates, rulemaking, governance, and administrative matters.

(Sec. 505) Amends the federal criminal code to require the Bureau of Prisons to notify a prisoner released to supervised release, verbally and in writing, of such prisoner's obligation to pay any fines imposed for the offense committed and the consequences of failure to pay. 

(Sec. 506) Requires the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on whether general public access to state and local records imperils the safety of the federal judiciary. 

(Sec. 507) Authorizes appropriations for Fugitive Apprehension Task Forces for FY2008-FY2012. 

(Sec. 508) Authorizes states, for purposes of identification requirements under the REAL ID Act of 2005, to include in a driver's license or other identification card issued to federal judges and justices of the U.S. Supreme Court the address of the courthouse of such judges or justices in lieu of residence addresses.

(Sec. 509) Amends the federal judicial code to: (1) decrease the required number of judges for the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals from 12 to 11; and (2) increase the required number of such judges for the Ninth Circuit from 28 to 29.

(Sec. 510) Requires the Director of the National Institute of Justice to conduct a study of the collateral consequences of convictions for criminal offenses in all states, the District of Columbia, and each U.S. territory. Defines &quot;collateral consequences&quot; as sanctions against an individual or disqualifications resulting from a felony or misdemeanor conviction that were not part of the original judgment of the sentencing court. 

action_date: 2008-01-07
text: 
Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 - 
Title I: Judicial Security Improvements and Funding
 - (Sec 101) Amends the federal judicial code to require the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States (Judicial Conference) on a continuing basis regarding the security requirements for the U.S. judicial branch.

(Sec. 102) Authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service to provide for the security of the U.S. Tax Court.

(Sec. 103) Authorizes additional amounts in FY2007-FY2011 for: (1) hiring deputy U.S. Marshals to provide security for judicial officers and U.S. attorneys; and (2) the Office of Protective Intelligence to provide secure computer systems.

(Sec. 104) Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to extend through 2011 the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact certain personal information of judges from financial disclosure reports. 

Title II: Criminal Law Enhancements to Protect Judges, Family Members, and Witnesses
 - (Sec. 201) Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the filing (or attempts or conspiracies to file) in any public record any false lien or encumbrance against the real or personal property of any U.S. officer or employee on account of the performance of that officer's or employee's official duties, knowing that such lien or encumbrance is false. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years for violations.

(Sec. 202) Prohibits the public disclosure of restricted personal information about a federal officer or employee, witness, or juror (or immediate family members) with the intent to threaten or cause harm to such individuals. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to five years for violations.

(Sec. 203) Prohibits the possession of dangerous weapons in federal court facilities. 

(Sec. 204) Modifies venue requirements for prosecutions for retaliation against a witness to include the district in which the official proceeding or criminal conduct occurred. 

(Sec. 205) Increases maximum prison terms for: (1) tampering with, or retaliating against, a witness, victim, or informant; (2) voluntary and involuntary manslaughter; and (3) assault against a federal judge, law enforcement officer, or immediate family members of such officials.

(Sec. 209) Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review its sentencing guidelines relating to threats against a federal official carried out over the Internet.

Title III: Protecting State and Local Judges and Related Grant Programs
 - (Sec. 301) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to include as a required use of community-based justice grants the creation and expansion of state, local, or Indian tribe witness protection programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.

(Sec. 302) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to make state courts eligible for grants to improve court security (correctional options grants) and for armor vests. 

(Sec. 303) Directs the Attorney General to make grants to enable the highest court in each state to establish and maintain a threat assessment database to: (1) analyze trends and patterns in domestic terrorism and crime; (2) project the probabilities that specific acts of domestic terrorism or crime will occur; and (3) develop measures and procedures to reduce such probabilities. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2011.

Title IV: Law Enforcement Officers
 - (Sec. 401) Requires the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on the security of assistant U.S. attorneys and other federal attorneys arising from the prosecution of terrorists and other violent criminals. Requires such report to include information on the number and nature of threats and assaults against such attorneys, security measures in place to protect such attorneys, programs available to such attorneys for personal security training, secure parking spaces for such attorneys, and the role of the U.S. Marshals Service in protecting such attorneys.

Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions
 - (Sec. 501) Amends the federal judicial code to: (1) authorize through FY2010 the U.S. Sentencing Commission to enter into multyear procurement contracts and to make advance, partial, progress, or other payments for property or services to the same extent as executive agencies; (2) extend certain life insurance benefits to magistrate judges; and (3) expand the powers of judges who have retired from active service (senior judges) to include all powers of a sitting judge, including participation in the appointment of court officers and selection of magistrates, rulemaking, governance, and administrative matters.

(Sec. 505) Amends the federal criminal code to require the Bureau of Prisons to notify a prisoner released to supervised release, verbally and in writing, of such prisoner's obligation to pay any fines imposed for the offense committed and the consequences of failure to pay. 

(Sec. 506) Requires the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on whether general public access to state and local records imperils the safety of the federal judiciary. 

(Sec. 507) Authorizes appropriations for Fugitive Apprehension Task Forces for FY2008-FY2012. 

(Sec. 508) Authorizes states, for purposes of identification requirements under the REAL ID Act of 2005, to include in a driver's license or other identification card issued to federal judges and justices of the U.S. Supreme Court the address of the courthouse of such judges or justices in lieu of residence addresses.

(Sec. 509) Amends the federal judicial code to: (1) decrease the required number of judges for the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals from 12 to 11; and (2) increase the required number of such judges for the Ninth Circuit from 28 to 29.

(Sec. 510) Requires the Director of the National Institute of Justice to conduct a study of the collateral consequences of convictions for criminal offenses in all states, the District of Columbia, and each U.S. territory. Defines &quot;collateral consequences&quot; as sanctions against an individual or disqualifications resulting from a felony or misdemeanor conviction that were not part of the original judgment of the sentencing court. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-01-07
text: Became Public Law No: 110-177.
action_date: 2008-01-07
text: Became Public Law No: 110-177.
action_date: 2008-01-07
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2008-01-07
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2007-12-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2007-12-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2007-12-19
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2007-12-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-12-19
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H16867-16870)
action_date: 2007-12-19
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H16867-16870)
action_date: 2007-12-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 660.
action_date: 2007-12-19
text: Mr. Conyers moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H16867-16871)
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S15789-15890)
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-07-11
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7462-7465)
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7462-7465)
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 660.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7462-7466)
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 134.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-218, Part I.
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-218, Part I.
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-06-07
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2007-06-07
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-24
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 110-177