International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders

Bill: 114-hr-515
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
Government information and archives
Human trafficking
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Pornography
Sex offenses
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

International Megan's Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking

 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish within the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement the Angel Watch Center, which shall:
 
 
receive information on travel by child-sex offenders;
 
establish a system to maintain and archive all relevant information, including decisions not to transmit notification abroad and responses of destination countries to notifications;
 
establish an annual review process to ensure that the Center is consistent in procedures regarding providing notification to destination countries; and
 
establish a mechanism to receive complaints from child-sex offenders affected by notifications of destination countries. 
 
 
Authorizes the Center to notify a destination country (including its visa-issuing agents in the United States) of impending or current international travel of a child-sex offender to that country. Prescribes requirements for reasonable efforts to provide constructive notice through electronic or telephonic communication to the child-sex offender before his or her arrival in the destination country, except in specified circumstances
 
Requires the Center to engage in ongoing consultations with:
 
 
nongovernmental organizations that have experience in identifying and preventing child sex tourism and rescuing and rehabilitating minor victims of international sexual exploitation and trafficking,
 
the governments of countries interested in cooperating in the creation of an international sex offender travel notification system or that are primary destination or source countries for international sex tourism, and
 
Internet service and software providers regarding technology to facilitate the implementation of an international sex offender travel notification system in the United States and in other countries. 
 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) negotiate bilateral agreements with foreign governments to further the purposes of this Act; and (2) formally request foreign governments to notify the United States when a U.S. citizen has been arrested, convicted, or sentenced or has completed a prison sentence for a child-sex offense in the foreign country. 
 
Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to include, as indicia of serious and sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons, a country's cooperation with other governments in the investigation and prosecution of such trafficking, including trafficking related to sex tourism.
 
Encourages the President to use authorities under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to assist foreign countries in identifying sex offenders and providing and receiving notification of child sex offender international travel.

action_date: 2015-01-26
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

International Megan's Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking

 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish within the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement the Angel Watch Center, which shall:
 
 
receive information on travel by child-sex offenders;
 
establish a system to maintain and archive all relevant information, including decisions not to transmit notification abroad and responses of destination countries to notifications;
 
establish an annual review process to ensure that the Center is consistent in procedures regarding providing notification to destination countries; and
 
establish a mechanism to receive complaints from child-sex offenders affected by notifications of destination countries. 
 
 
Authorizes the Center to notify a destination country (including its visa-issuing agents in the United States) of impending or current international travel of a child-sex offender to that country. Prescribes requirements for reasonable efforts to provide constructive notice through electronic or telephonic communication to the child-sex offender before his or her arrival in the destination country, except in specified circumstances
 
Requires the Center to engage in ongoing consultations with:
 
 
nongovernmental organizations that have experience in identifying and preventing child sex tourism and rescuing and rehabilitating minor victims of international sexual exploitation and trafficking,
 
the governments of countries interested in cooperating in the creation of an international sex offender travel notification system or that are primary destination or source countries for international sex tourism, and
 
Internet service and software providers regarding technology to facilitate the implementation of an international sex offender travel notification system in the United States and in other countries. 
 
 
(Sec. 5) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) negotiate bilateral agreements with foreign governments to further the purposes of this Act; and (2) formally request foreign governments to notify the United States when a U.S. citizen has been arrested, convicted, or sentenced or has completed a prison sentence for a child-sex offense in the foreign country. 
 
(Sec. 6) Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to include, as indicia of serious and sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons, a country's cooperation with other governments in the investigation and prosecution of such trafficking, including trafficking related to sex tourism.
 
(Sec. 7) Encourages the President to use authorities under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to assist foreign countries in identifying sex offenders and providing and receiving notification of child sex offender international travel.

action_date: 2015-11-17
text: 

International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders 

 
(Sec. 4) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish the Angel Watch Center within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The center must identify outbound sex offender travelers who failed to provide advanced notice of international travel and provide a list of such individuals to the Marshals Service (USMS) to investigate. 
 
The center may receive notifications of inbound sex offender travel. It must share information with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other government agencies.
 
The center may also transmit advance notice of sex offender travel to a destination country. It must comply with certain procedures, collect specified data, and establish a process to receive, review, and respond to individual complaints of erroneous notifications.
 
(Sec. 5) The USMS may receive and transmit notification of international travel by sex offenders. It may also share information about sex offender travel with other government agencies. 
 
This bill requires the USMS to ensure consistent advance notification to destination countries of international travel by registered sex offenders. 
 
The USMS must share certain information with the center, including a list of individuals who provided advanced notice of international travel, a determination of compliance with sex offender registration requirements, and sex offender travel information. It must also establish a process to receive, review, and respond to individual complaints of erroneous notifications.
 
DOJ must collect specified data related to transmitted notifications. 
 
(Sec. 6) The bill amends the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) to require a registered sex offender to also report information on intended international travel for inclusion in the sex offender registry. 
 
It amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for a sex offender to knowingly fail to provide such information. A violation is subject to a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both. 
 
(Sec. 7) It expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of State should negotiate reciprocal international agreements to further the purposes of this Act and SORNA. 
 
(Sec. 8) This bill amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to prohibit the State Department from issuing a passport to a sex offender, unless the passport contains a unique identifier. A "unique identifier" is any visual sex offender designation that is conspicuously affixed to a passport. 
 
(Sec. 9) DHS, DOJ, and the State Department must develop and report jointly to Congress on a process to implement the unique identifier requirement on sex offender passports. 
 
(Sec. 10) The State Department may provide technical assistance to foreign authorities to facilitate effective participation in the notification program established by this Act. 
 
(Sec. 11) The bill authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act. 
 
(Sec. 12) It prohibits construing this Act to limit international information sharing or law enforcement cooperation pursuant to any authority of DOJ, DHS, or any other department or agency. 

action_date: 2015-12-17
text: 

International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders 

 
(Sec. 4) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish the Angel Watch Center within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The center must identify outbound sex offender travelers who failed to provide advanced notice of international travel and provide a list of such individuals to the Marshals Service (USMS) to investigate. 
 
The center may receive notifications of inbound sex offender travel. It must share information with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other government agencies.
 
The center may also transmit advance notice of sex offender travel to a destination country. It must comply with certain procedures, collect specified data, and establish a process to receive, review, and respond to individual complaints of erroneous notifications.
 
(Sec. 5) The USMS may receive and transmit notification of international travel by sex offenders. It may also share information about sex offender travel with other government agencies. 
 
This bill requires the USMS to ensure consistent advance notification to destination countries of international travel by registered sex offenders. 
 
The USMS must share certain information with the center, including a list of individuals who provided advanced notice of international travel, a determination of compliance with sex offender registration requirements, and sex offender travel information. It must also establish a process to receive, review, and respond to individual complaints of erroneous notifications.
 
DOJ must collect specified data related to transmitted notifications. 
 
(Sec. 6) The bill amends the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) to require a registered sex offender to also report information on intended international travel for inclusion in the sex offender registry. 
 
It amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for a sex offender to knowingly fail to provide such information. A violation is subject to a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both. 
 
(Sec. 7) It expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of State should negotiate reciprocal international agreements to further the purposes of this Act and SORNA. 
 
(Sec. 8) This bill amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to prohibit the State Department from issuing a passport to a sex offender, unless the passport contains a unique identifier. A "unique identifier" is any visual sex offender designation that is conspicuously affixed to a passport. 
 
(Sec. 9) DHS, DOJ, and the State Department must develop and report jointly to Congress on a process to implement the unique identifier requirement on sex offender passports. 
 
(Sec. 10) The State Department may provide technical assistance to foreign authorities to facilitate effective participation in the notification program established by this Act. 
 
(Sec. 11) The bill authorizes appropriations for FY2017-FY2018. 
 
(Sec. 12) It prohibits construing this Act to limit international information sharing or law enforcement cooperation pursuant to any authority of DOJ, DHS, or any other department or agency. 

action_date: 2016-02-08
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 17, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders 

 
(Sec. 4) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish the Angel Watch Center within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The center must identify outbound sex offender travelers who failed to provide advanced notice of international travel and provide a list of such individuals to the Marshals Service (USMS) to investigate. 
 
The center may receive notifications of inbound sex offender travel. It must share information with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other government agencies.
 
The center may also transmit advance notice of sex offender travel to a destination country. It must comply with certain procedures, collect specified data, and establish a process to receive, review, and respond to individual complaints of erroneous notifications.
 
(Sec. 5) The USMS may receive and transmit notification of international travel by sex offenders. It may also share information about sex offender travel with other government agencies. 
 
This bill requires the USMS to ensure consistent advance notification to destination countries of international travel by registered sex offenders. 
 
The USMS must share certain information with the center, including a list of individuals who provided advanced notice of international travel, a determination of compliance with sex offender registration requirements, and sex offender travel information. It must also establish a process to receive, review, and respond to individual complaints of erroneous notifications.
 
DOJ must collect specified data related to transmitted notifications. 
 
(Sec. 6) The bill amends the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) to require a registered sex offender to also report information on intended international travel for inclusion in the sex offender registry. 
 
It amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for a sex offender to knowingly fail to provide such information. A violation is subject to a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both. 
 
(Sec. 7) It expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of State should negotiate reciprocal international agreements to further the purposes of this Act and SORNA. 
 
(Sec. 8) This bill amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to prohibit the State Department from issuing a passport to a sex offender, unless the passport contains a unique identifier. A "unique identifier" is any visual sex offender designation that is conspicuously affixed to a passport. 
 
(Sec. 9) DHS, DOJ, and the State Department must develop and report jointly to Congress on a process to implement the unique identifier requirement on sex offender passports. 
 
(Sec. 10) The State Department may provide technical assistance to foreign authorities to facilitate effective participation in the notification program established by this Act. 
 
(Sec. 11) The bill authorizes appropriations for FY2017-FY2018. 
 
(Sec. 12) It prohibits construing this Act to limit international information sharing or law enforcement cooperation pursuant to any authority of DOJ, DHS, or any other department or agency. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: Became Public Law No: 114-119.
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: Became Public Law No: 114-119.
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR H387-390)
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.(text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR H387-390)
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 515.
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H387-394)
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Notwithstanding the passage of H.R. 515, the committee reported title amendment was agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2015-12-17
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2015-12-17
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2015-12-17
text: The committee substitute agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8831-8834; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S8832-8834)
action_date: 2015-11-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 296.
action_date: 2015-11-17
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-11-17
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2015-01-28
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2015-01-27
text: ENGROSSMENT CORRECTION - Unanimous consent was granted for the Clerk to make a correction in the engrossment to H.R. 515 in a form placed at the desk.
action_date: 2015-01-26
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-01-26
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H542-544)
action_date: 2015-01-26
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H542-544)
action_date: 2015-01-26
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 515.
action_date: 2015-01-26
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H542-546)
action_date: 2015-01-26
text: Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2015-01-25
text: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Discharged.
action_date: 2015-01-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2015-01-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2015-01-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 114-119