Line of Duty Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-698
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2013-04-10
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Assault and harassment offenses

Civil actions and liability

Correctional facilities and imprisonment

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Department of Justice

Educational facilities and institutions

Firearms and explosives

Fires

First responders and emergency personnel

Government buildings, facilities, and property

Government liability

Judges

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

Legal fees and court costs

Protection of officials

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-04-10
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Line of Duty Act of 2013 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: (1) require the use of grant funds under the community-oriented policing services program to train and provide security details for prosecutors and judges, including their immediate families, involved in cases that raise substantial concerns of retaliation or intimidation through violent acts; and (2) allow grants under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to fund prosecutorial and judicial security details and programs.</p> <p>Amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful to: (1) kill, or attempt or conspire to kill, a U.S. judge, a federal law enforcement officer, or a federally funded public safety officer engaged in official duties or a former U.S. judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federal funded public safety officer on account of past performance of official duties; or (2) travel in interstate commerce to avoid prosecution for such crimes. Expands criminal penalties for assaulting or interfering with law enforcement officers and employees.</p> <p>Permits judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials to carry firearms in federal facilities where such possession is otherwise authorized by law. </p> <p>Limits damages and costs in legal actions against a judicial officer by an individual injured during the commission of a felony or a crime of violence.</p> <p> Requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to ensure that each federal penal or correctional institution provides a secure firearms storage area for use by all employees who are authorized to carry a firearm. </p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 698 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 10, 2013 Mr. Cornyn introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To protect prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers, and their families.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Line of Duty Act of 2013 . 2. Protection for prosecutors and judges (a) Modifications to the community oriented policing services program Section 1701(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796dd(b) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (16), by striking and at the end; (2) by redesignating paragraph (17) as paragraph (18); (3) by inserting after paragraph (16) the following: (18) to train and provide security details for prosecutors and judges, including their immediate families, involved in cases that raise substantial concerns of retaliation or intimidation through violent acts; and ; and (4) in paragraph (18), as so redesignated, by striking (16) and inserting (17) . (b) Modifications to the edward byrne memorial justice assistance grant program Section 501(a)(1) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3751(a)(1) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (H) Prosecutorial and judicial security details and programs. . 3. Justice for prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers, and their families (a) Killing of prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officers (1) Offense Chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1123. Killing of federally funded prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officers (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the terms Federal law enforcement officer and United States judge have the meanings given those terms in section 115; (2) the term federally funded public safety officer means a public safety officer or judicial officer for a public agency that— (A) receives Federal financial assistance; and (B) is an agency of an entity that is a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any territory or possession of the United States, an Indian tribe, or a unit of local government of that entity; (3) the term firefighter includes an individual serving as an official recognized or designated member of a legally organized volunteer fire department and an officially recognized or designated public employee member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew; (4) the term judicial officer means a judge or other officer or employee of a court, including prosecutors, court security, pretrial services officers, court reporters, and corrections, probation, and parole officers; (5) the term law enforcement officer means an individual, with arrest powers, involved in crime or juvenile delinquency control or reduction or enforcement of the laws; (6) the term public agency includes a court system, the National Guard of a State to the extent the personnel of that National Guard are not in Federal service, and the defense forces of a State authorized by section 109 of title 32; and (7) the term public safety officer means an individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, as a law enforcement officer, as a firefighter, as a chaplain, or as a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew. (b) Offense It shall be unlawful for any person to— (1) kill, or attempt or conspire to kill— (A) a United States judge; (B) a Federal law enforcement officer; or (C) a federally funded public safety officer while that officer is engaged in official duties, or on account of the performance of official duties; or (2) kill a former United States judge, Federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer on account of the past performance of official duties. (c) Penalty Any person that violates subsection (b) shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years not less than 30, or for life, or, if death results and the offender is prosecuted as a principal, may be sentenced to death. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1123. Killing of federally funded prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officers. . (b) Fugitives from justice (1) Offense Chapter 49 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1075. Flight to avoid prosecution for killing prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officials (a) Offense It shall be unlawful for any person to move or travel in interstate or foreign commerce with intent to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, under the laws of the place from which the person flees or under section 1114 or 1123, for a crime consisting of the killing, an attempted killing, or a conspiracy to kill a Federal judge or Federal law enforcement officer (as those terms are defined in section 115), or a federally funded public safety officer (as that term is defined in section 1123). (b) Penalty Any person that violates subsection (a) shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years not less than 10, in addition to any other term of imprisonment for any other offense relating to the conduct described in subsection (a). . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 49 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1075. Flight to avoid prosecution for killing prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officials. . (c) Aggravating factors for homicide Section 3592(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (16) the following: (17) Killing of a prosecutor, judge, law enforcement officer, or first responder The defendant killed or attempted to kill a person who is authorized by law— (A) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, or investigation of any criminal violation of law; (B) to arrest, prosecute, or adjudicate an individual for any criminal violation of law; or (C) to be a firefighter or other first responder. . (d) Federal review of State conviction for murder of a law enforcement officer or judge (1) In general Section 2254 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) (1) For an application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court for a crime that involved the killing of a public safety officer (as that term is defined in section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796b )) or judge, while the public safety officer or judge was engaged in the performance of official duties, or on account of the performance of official duties by or status as a public safety officer or judge of the public safety officer or judge— (A) the application shall be subject to the time limitations and other requirements under sections 2263, 2264, and 2266; and (B) the court shall not consider claims relating to sentencing that were adjudicated in a State court. (2) Sections 2251, 2262, and 2101 are the exclusive sources of authority for Federal courts to stay a sentence of death entered by a State court in a case described in paragraph (1). . (2) Rules Rule 11 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts is amended by adding at the end the following: Rule 60(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure shall not apply to a proceeding under these rules in a case that is described in section 2254(j) of title 28, United States Code. . (3) Finality of determination Section 2244(b)(3)(E) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the subject of a petition and all that follows and inserting: reheard in the court of appeals or reviewed by writ of certiorari. . (4) Effective date and applicability (A) In general This section and the amendments made by this section shall apply to any case pending on or after the date of enactment of this Act. (B) Time limits In a case pending on the date of enactment of this Act, if the amendments made by this section impose a time limit for taking certain action, the period of which began before the date of enactment of this Act, the period of such time limit shall begin on the date of enactment of this Act. (C) Exception The amendments made by this section shall not bar consideration under section 2266(b)(3)(B) of title 28, United States Code, of an amendment to an application for a writ of habeas corpus that is pending on the date of enactment of this Act, if the amendment to the petition was adjudicated by the court prior to the date of enactment of this Act. (e) Special penalties for assaulting a Federal prosecutor, judge, or law enforcement officer (1) In general Section 111 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 111. Assaulting or interfering with certain officers or employees (a) Officers and employees (1) In general It shall be unlawful for any person to— (A) assault or interfere with an officer or employee described in section 1114, while such officer or employee is engaged in, or on account of the performance of, official duties; (B) assault or interfere with an individual who formerly served as an officer or employee described in section 1114 on account of the performance of official duties; or (C) assault or interfere with an individual on account of the current or former status of the individual as an officer or employee described in section 1114. (2) Penalty Any person who violates paragraph (1), shall be— (A) fined under this title; (B) (i) in the case of an interference or a simple assault, imprisoned for not more than 1 year; (ii) in the case of an assault involving actual physical contact or the intent to commit any other felony, imprisoned for not more than 10 years; (iii) in the case of an assault resulting in bodily injury, imprisoned for not more than 20 years; or (iv) in the case of an assault resulting in substantial bodily injury (as that term is defined in section 113), or if a dangerous weapon was used or possessed during and in relation to the offense (including a weapon intended to cause death or danger but that fails to do so by reason of a defective component), imprisoned for not more than 30 years; or (C) fined under subparagraph (A) and imprisoned under subparagraph (B). (b) Law enforcement officers and judges (1) In general (A) Substantial bodily injury If the victim of an assault punishable under this section is a Federal law enforcement officer or a United States judge (as those terms are defined in section 115) and the assault resulted in substantial bodily injury (as that term is defined in section 113), the offender shall be punished by a fine under this title and imprisonment for not less 5 years nor more than 30 years. (B) Serious bodily injury If the victim of an assault punishable under this section is a Federal law enforcement officer or a United States judge (as those terms are defined in section 115) and the assault resulted in serious bodily injury (as that term is defined in section 2119(2)), or a dangerous weapon was used or possessed during and in relation to the offense, the offender shall be punished by a fine under this title and imprisonment for any term of years not less than 10 or for life. (2) Imposition of punishment Each punishment for criminal conduct described in this subsection shall be in addition to any other punishment for other criminal conduct during the same criminal episode. . (2) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 111 and inserting the following: 111. Assaulting or interfering with certain officers or employees. . (f) Special penalties for retaliating against a Federal prosecutor, judge, or law enforcement officer by murdering or assaulting a family member (1) In general Section 115 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (A) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and (B) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) (1) If an offense punishable under this section is committed with the intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with a Federal law enforcement officer or a United States judge while that officer or judge is engaged in the performance of official duties, with the intent to retaliate against that officer or judge or a person who formerly served as such an officer or judge on account of the performance of official duties, or with the intent to retaliate against an individual on account of the current or former status of the individual as such an officer or judge, the offender shall be punished— (A) in the case of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, or manslaughter, as provided in section 1114(1); (B) in the case of kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, or conspiracy to kidnap, as provided in section 1201(a); (C) in the case of an assault resulting in bodily injury or involving the use or possession of a dangerous weapon during and in relation to the offense, as provided for a comparable offense against a Federal law enforcement officer or United States judge under section 111; and (D) in the case of any other assault or threat, by a fine under this title and imprisonment for not more than 10 years. (2) Each punishment for criminal conduct described in this subsection shall be in addition to any other punishment for other criminal conduct during the same criminal episode. . (2) Technical and conforming amendments (A) Section 119(b)(4) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking section 115(c)(2) and inserting section 115 . (B) Section 2237(e)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking in section 115(c) and inserting in section 115 . (C) Section 5(a) of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to promote the development of Indian arts and crafts and to create a board to assist therein, and for other purposes’’ (25 U.S.C. 305d) is amended by striking in section 115(c) and inserting in section 115 . 4. Self-defense rights for prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officers (a) In general Chapter 203 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3053 the following: 3054. Authority of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers to carry firearms Subject to such regulations as the Attorney General shall prescribe regarding training and proficiency in the use of firearms, any officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof, who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, or adjudication of any violation of law may carry firearms. Such authority to carry firearms shall extend, but not be limited to presence within any building or structure classified as a Federal facility or Federal court facility, as those terms are defined under section 930, and any grounds appurtenant to such a facility, where such possession is otherwise authorized by law and incident to the lawful performance of the official duties of that person. . (b) Carrying of concealed firearms by qualified law enforcement officers Section 926B(e)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting any magazine and after includes . (c) Carrying of concealed firearms by qualified retired law enforcement officers Section 926C(e)(1)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting any magazine and after includes . (d) School zones Section 922(q)(2)(B)(vi) title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting , a qualified law enforcement officer (as defined in section 926B(c)), or a qualified retired law enforcement officer (as defined in section 926C(c)) before the semicolon. (e) Regulations required Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall promulgate regulations allowing persons described in section 3054 of title 18, United States Code, to possess firearms in a manner described by that section. With respect to Federal justices, judges, bankruptcy judges, and magistrate judges, such regulations shall be prescribed after consultation with the Judicial Conference of the United States. (f) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 203 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3053 the following: 3054. Authority of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers to carry firearms. . 5. Limitation on damages incurred during commission of a felony or crime of violence (a) In general Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1983 ) is amended by— (1) striking except that in any action and all that follows through relief was unavailable. and inserting the following: except that— (1) in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in the judicial capacity of that officer, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was unavailable; and (2) in any action seeking redress for any deprivation that was incurred in the course of, or as a result of, or is related to, conduct by the injured party that, more likely than not, constituted a felony or a crime of violence (as that term is defined in section 16 of title 18, United States Code) (including any deprivation in the course of arrest or apprehension for, or the investigation, prosecution, or adjudication of, such an offense), a court may not award damages other than for necessary out-of-pocket expenditures and other monetary loss. ; and (2) indenting the last sentence as an undesignated paragraph. (b) Attorney's fees Section 722(b) of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1988(b) ) is amended by striking except that in any action and all that follows and inserting the following: except that— (1) in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in the judicial capacity of that officer, such officer shall not be held liable for any costs, including attorneys fees, unless such action was clearly in excess of the jurisdiction of that officer; and (2) in any action seeking redress for any deprivation that was incurred in the course of, or as a result of, or is related to, conduct by the injured party that, more likely than not, constituted a felony or a crime of violence (as that term is defined in section 16 of title 18, United States Code) (including any deprivation in the course of arrest or apprehension for, or the investigation, prosecution, or adjudication of, such an offense), the court may not allow such party to recover attorney's fees. . 6. Self-defense rights for Federal correctional workers (a) In general Chapter 303 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 4049. Secure firearms storage for Federal correctional workers The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall ensure that each Federal penal or correctional institution provides a secure firearms storage area for use by all persons employed by the Bureau of Prisons at the institution who are authorized to carry a firearm, or allow such persons to store firearms in a vehicle lockbox approved by the Director. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 303 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 4049. Secure firearms storage for Federal correctional workers. .