Hold Top Officials Accountable Act

Bill: 114-hr-5800
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Poliquin, Bruce [R-ME-2]
Introduced: 2016-07-14
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Computers and information technology

Federal officials

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Members of Congress

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2016-08-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-07-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Hold Top Officials Accountable Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for a highly placed official to: (1) knowingly disclose classified information to an unauthorized person, or (2) through gross negligence, place classified information on unsecured server, mobile device, laptop, computer, or other electronic device, or otherwise make classified information potentially more available to an unauthorized person.</p> <p>The term &ldquo;highly placed official&rdquo; means a Member of Congress or an official who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.</p> <p>A violator is subject to a fine and a two-year mandatory minimum prison term.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5800 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 14, 2016 Mr. Poliquin (for himself and Mr. Roe of Tennessee ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide criminal penalties for certain officials who mishandle classified information, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Hold Top Officials Accountable Act . 2. Official mishandling of classified information (a) In general Chapter 93 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1925. Official mishandling of classified information (a) Offense Whoever, being a highly placed official of the United States, mishandles classified information shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not less than 2 nor more than 10 years. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) The term high placed official means— (A) a Representative or Senator; or (B) an individual whose office, whether civil or miliary, is one to which the individual is appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. (2) The term mishandles means— (A) knowingly discloses the classified information to a person not authorized to receive it; or (B) through grossly negligent conduct— (i) places the classified information on a server, mobile device, laptop, computer or any other electronic device, that is not officially secured; or (ii) otherwise makes the classified information more potentially available to a person not authorized to receive it. (3) The term classified information means any information or material that has been determined by the United States Government pursuant to an Executive order, statute, or regulation, to require protection against unauthorized disclosure for reasons of national security and any restricted data, as defined in paragraph r. of section 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 ( 42 U.S.C. 2014(y) ). . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 93 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 1925. Official mishandling of classified information. .