Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2854
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2016-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Freedom of information
Law enforcement administration and funding
Racial and ethnic relations
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-26
text: 

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

 
This bill permanently reauthorizes the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Emmett Till Act) and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights statutes violations that resulted in a death, regardless of when the violations occurred. (Currently, the Emmett Till Act is scheduled to expire at the end of FY2017 and such investigations are limited to violations that occurred before 1970.)
 
The bill expresses the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction should: (1) coordinate information sharing; (2) hold accountable individuals who were perpetrators of, or accomplices in, unsolved civil rights murders; and (3) comply with Freedom of Information Act requests.
 
In investigating a complaint, DOJ may coordinate activities with entities that DOJ determines to be appropriate. 
 
DOJ shall reopen and review cases closed without an in-person investigation conducted by DOJ or the FBI.
 
DOJ must establish a task force to conduct a thorough investigation of Emmett Till Act cases.
 
In an annual report to Congress, DOJ must indicate: (1) the number of cases referred by a civil rights organization, an institution of higher education, or a state or local law enforcement agency; (2) the number of such cases that resulted in federal charges; (3) the date any such charges were filed; (4) whether DOJ has declined to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a referred case; and (5) any activity on reopened cases.
 
DOJ may award grants to civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities for expenses associated with investigating offenses under the Emmett Till Act.

action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill permanently reauthorizes the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Emmett Till Act) and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights statutes violations that resulted in a death, regardless of when the violations occurred. (Currently, the Emmett Till Act is scheduled to expire at the end of FY2017 and such investigations are limited to violations that occurred before 1970.)
 
The bill expresses the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction should: (1) coordinate information sharing; (2) support the full accounting of all victims whose deaths or disappearances were the result of racially motivated crimes; (3) hold accountable under federal and state law individuals who were perpetrators of, or accomplices in, unsolved civil rights murders and disappearances; (4) keep families regularly informed about the status of the investigations; and (5) expeditiously comply with Freedom of Information Act requests and develop a singular, publicly accessible repository of these disclosed documents.
 
In investigating a complaint, DOJ may coordinate activities with entities that DOJ determines to be appropriate. 
 
DOJ shall reopen and review cases closed without an in-person investigation conducted by DOJ or the FBI.
 
DOJ must establish a task force to assist with conducting a thorough investigation of, and make recommendations to DOJ regarding, Emmett Till Act cases. 
 
In an annual report to Congress, DOJ must indicate: 
 
 
 the number of cases referred by a civil rights organization, an institution of higher education, or a state or local law enforcement agency; 
 
the number of such cases that resulted in federal charges; 
 
the date any such charges were filed; 
 
whether DOJ has declined to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a referred case; 
 
the outreach, collaboration, and support for investigations and prosecutions of violations of criminal civil rights statutes, including murders and disappearances; and
 
 any activity on reopened cases.
 

action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill reauthorizes the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Emmett Till Act) and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights statutes violations that occurred before 1980 and resulted in a death. (Currently, Emmett Till Act investigations are limited to violations that occurred before 1970.)
 
The bill expresses the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction should: (1) meet regularly with civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, and DOJ-designated entities to coordinate information sharing and discuss the status of DOJ's Emmett Till Act work; (2) support the full accounting of all victims whose deaths or disappearances were the result of racially motivated crimes; (3) hold accountable under federal and state law individuals who were perpetrators of, or accomplices in, unsolved civil rights murders and disappearances; (4) keep families regularly informed about the status of the investigations; and (5) expeditiously comply with Freedom of Information Act requests and develop a singular, publicly accessible repository of these disclosed documents.
 
In investigating a complaint, DOJ may coordinate activities with entities that DOJ determines to be appropriate. 
 
DOJ may reopen and review cases closed without an in-person investigation conducted by DOJ or the FBI.
 
DOJ must hold meetings with the Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the Community Relations Service, civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, DOJ-designated entities, and state and local law enforcement to discuss the status of its Emmett Till Act work.
 
In an annual report to Congress, DOJ must indicate: 
 
 
the number of cases referred by a civil rights organization, an institution of higher education, or a state or local law enforcement agency; 
 
the number of such cases that resulted in federal charges; 
 
the date any such charges were filed; 
 
whether DOJ has declined to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a referred case; 
 
the outreach, collaboration, and support for investigations and prosecutions of violations of criminal civil rights statutes, including murders and disappearances; and 
 
any activity on reopened cases. 
 
 
The Community Relations Service must provide technical assistance by bringing together law enforcement agencies and communities to address tensions raised by civil rights era crimes.

action_date: 2016-12-16
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 7, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill reauthorizes the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 (Emmett Till Act) and expands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include the investigation and prosecution of criminal civil rights statutes violations that occurred before 1980 and resulted in a death. (Currently, Emmett Till Act investigations are limited to violations that occurred before 1970.)
 
The bill expresses the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction should: (1) meet regularly with civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, and DOJ-designated entities to coordinate information sharing and discuss the status of DOJ's Emmett Till Act work; (2) support the full accounting of all victims whose deaths or disappearances were the result of racially motivated crimes; (3) hold accountable under federal and state law individuals who were perpetrators of, or accomplices in, unsolved civil rights murders and disappearances; (4) keep families regularly informed about the status of the investigations; and (5) expeditiously comply with Freedom of Information Act requests and develop a singular, publicly accessible repository of these disclosed documents.
 
In investigating a complaint, DOJ may coordinate activities with entities that DOJ determines to be appropriate. 
 
DOJ may reopen and review cases closed without an in-person investigation conducted by DOJ or the FBI.
 
DOJ must hold meetings with the Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the Community Relations Service, civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, DOJ-designated entities, and state and local law enforcement to discuss the status of its Emmett Till Act work.
 
In an annual report to Congress, DOJ must indicate: 
 
 
the number of cases referred by a civil rights organization, an institution of higher education, or a state or local law enforcement agency; 
 
the number of such cases that resulted in federal charges; 
 
the date any such charges were filed; 
 
whether DOJ has declined to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a referred case; 
 
the outreach, collaboration, and support for investigations and prosecutions of violations of criminal civil rights statutes, including murders and disappearances; and 
 
any activity on reopened cases. 
 
 
The Community Relations Service must provide technical assistance by bringing together law enforcement agencies and communities to address tensions raised by civil rights era crimes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Became Public Law No: 114-325.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Became Public Law No: 114-325.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2854 by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2854 by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7135)
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7343)
action_date: 2016-12-07
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 H7343)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2854.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7343-7346)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-07-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2016-07-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2016-07-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-07-18
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-07-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5183-5185)
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 114-325