Fix Gun Checks Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1781
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Mental health
Retail and wholesale trades
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Fix Gun Checks Act of 2011 - Amends the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (NICS Act) to increase the amount of a state's allocation under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program that the Attorney General shall withhold to: (1) 15% for a period of 5 fiscal years if the state provides less than 75% of the records required to be provided under the NICS Act's requirements for making data electronically available to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (System), and (2) 25% thereafter if the state provides less than 90% of the records required. Authorizes the Attorney General to reduce the amount withheld to a specified percentage if a state provides substantial evidence that it is making a reasonable effort to comply.
 
Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act) to: (1) require each federal agency to submit to the Attorney General a semiannual written certification indicating whether it has provided the pertinent information in any record in its possession identifying persons prohibited from purchasing or receiving firearms or ammunition, and (2) make federal court information available for inclusion in the System.
 
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require each college, university, or postsecondary institution that receives federal funds or financial assistance to develop and implement a mental health assessment plan to address the risks posed by students who pose a safety risk to themselves or others and to make such plan available to students, faculty, and staff.
 
Extends Brady Act background check procedures to unlicensed transferors and transferees of firearms. Specifies exceptions.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study to determine: (1) the effects that the NICS Act has had on state reporting to the System, (2) which states are in compliance and which are not, (3) any challenges or obstacles that states or local governments face in complying with the NICS Act's reporting requirements, and (4) states' compliance with NICS Act provisions regarding relief from the disabilities program required as a condition for participation in grant programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2011-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House