BALTIMORE Act

Bill: 114-s-1610
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Border security and unlawful immigration
Civil actions and liability
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Customs enforcement
Department of Justice
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Evidence and witnesses
Government information and archives
Government liability
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Health programs administration and funding
Judicial procedure and administration
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Mental health
Photography and imaging
Public contracts and procurement
Racial and ethnic relations
Right of privacy
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-18
text: 

Building and Lifting Trust In order to Multiply Opportunities and Racial Equality Act of 2015 or the BALTIMORE Act

 

End Racial Profiling Act of 2015

 
This bill prohibits racial profiling by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agents or agencies. 
 
The Department of Justice (DOJ) or an individual may bring a civil action for declaratory or injunctive relief. Proof of disparate impact constitutes prima facie (i.e., sufficient) evidence of racial profiling.
 
This bills sets forth provisions to eliminate racial profiling, including creating administrative complaint procedures, increasing data collection, and making certain federal funds contingent on law enforcement agencies instituting appropriate policies and procedures.
 

Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available Act of 2015 or the Police CAMERA Act

 
The DOJ Office of Justice Programs may award grants to states, local, governments, and Indian tribes to acquire body-worn cameras. Grant recipients must establish certain policies and protocols related to body-worn cameras. 
 
 

Democracy Restoration Act of 2015

 
The bill prohibits denial of the right to vote in any federal election due to a criminal conviction, unless the individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution at election time. It also makes convicted felons eligible for federal jury service.
 

Reclassification to Ensure Smarter and Equal Treatment Act of 2015 or the RESET Act

 
The bill reduces the penalties for simple possession of a controlled substance by a person with one or more prior drug convictions. It establishes penalties for simple possession of a date rape drug, including flunitrasepam, by person with one or more prior drug conviction.
 
 It eliminates the sentencing disparity between trafficking in powder cocaine and trafficking in crack cocaine. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4302)
action_date: 2015-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate