Thin Blue Line Act

Bill: 115-hr-115
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
Introduced: 2017-01-03
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime victims

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Fires

First responders and emergency personnel

Health personnel

Law enforcement officers

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2017-05-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-01-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Thin Blue Line Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the federal criminal code to expand the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.</p>

action_date: 2017-05-11
action_desc: Reported to House with amendment(s)
text: <p><b>Thin Blue Line Act</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to expand the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.</p>

action_date: 2017-05-18
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 11, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><b>Thin Blue Line Act</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to expand the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 115 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2017 Mr. Buchanan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status of the victim.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Thin Blue Line Act . 2. Aggravating factors for death penalty Section 3592(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (16) the following: (17) Killing of law enforcement officer (A) The defendant killed or attempted to kill, in the circumstance described in subparagraph (B), a person who is authorized by law— (i) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution, or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law; (ii) to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation of law; or (iii) to be a firefighter or other first responder. (B) The circumstance referred to in subparagraph (A) is that the person was killed— (i) while he or she was engaged in the performance of his or her official duties; (ii) because of the performance of his or her official duties; or (iii) because of his or her status as a public official or employee. .

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 115 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status of the victim.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Thin Blue Line Act . 2. Aggravating factors for death penalty Section 3592(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (16) the following: (17) Killing or targeting of law enforcement officer (A) The defendant killed or attempted to kill, in the circumstance described in subparagraph (B), a person who is authorized by law— (i) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution, or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law; (ii) to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation of law; or (iii) to be a firefighter or other first responder. (B) The circumstance referred to in subparagraph (A) is that the person was killed or targeted— (i) while he or she was engaged in the performance of his or her official duties; (ii) because of the performance of his or her official duties; or (iii) because of his or her status as a public official or employee. .

Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 69 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 115 [Report No. 115–116] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2017 Mr. Buchanan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary May 11, 2017 Additional sponsors: Mr. Gaetz , Mr. Palazzo , Mr. Conaway , Mr. Barletta , Mr. Russell , Mr. Rohrabacher , Mr. Posey , Mr. Babin , Mr. Reed , Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania , Mr. McKinley , Mr. Mast , Mr. Katko , Mr. Duncan of Tennessee , Mr. Mullin , Mr. Farenthold , Mr. Amodei , Mr. Rogers of Alabama , Mr. Sensenbrenner , Mr. McCaul , and Mr. Poe of Texas May 11, 2017 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 3, 2017 A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status of the victim.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Thin Blue Line Act . 2. Aggravating factors for death penalty Section 3592(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (16) the following: (17) Killing or targeting of law enforcement officer (A) The defendant killed or attempted to kill, in the circumstance described in subparagraph (B), a person who is authorized by law— (i) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution, or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law; (ii) to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation of law; or (iii) to be a firefighter or other first responder. (B) The circumstance referred to in subparagraph (A) is that the person was killed or targeted— (i) while he or she was engaged in the performance of his or her official duties; (ii) because of the performance of his or her official duties; or (iii) because of his or her status as a public official or employee. .

May 11, 2017 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 115 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 22, 2017 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary AN ACT To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status of the victim.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Thin Blue Line Act . 2. Aggravating factors for death penalty Section 3592(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (16) the following: (17) Killing or targeting of law enforcement officer (A) The defendant killed or attempted to kill, in the circumstance described in subparagraph (B), a person who is authorized by law— (i) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution, or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law; (ii) to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation of law; or (iii) to be a firefighter or other first responder. (B) The circumstance referred to in subparagraph (A) is that the person was killed or targeted— (i) while he or she was engaged in the performance of his or her official duties; (ii) because of the performance of his or her official duties; or (iii) because of his or her status as a public official or employee. .

Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.