Jane’s Law

Bill: 116-hr-4203
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16]
Introduced: 2019-08-23
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crimes against property

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Separation, divorce, custody, support
Latest action: action_date: 2019-09-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-08-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Jane's Law</b></p> <p>This bill makes it a crime to knowingly travel in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent to evade compliance with a court ordered property distribution as part of a separation or divorce settlement. </p> <p>A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to two years, or both&#8212;and mandatory restitution in the amount of total unpaid property distribution.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4203 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 23, 2019 Mr. Costa (for himself, Mr. Olson , Mrs. Lesko , and Ms. Escobar ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen enforcement of spousal court-ordered property distributions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as Jane’s Law . 2. Spousal obligations (a) In General Chapter 11A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 228A. Failure to pay legal spousal court-ordered property distribution (a) Offense Whoever knowingly, travels in interstate or foreign commerce, with the intent to evade compliance with a court ordered property distribution as part of a separation or divorce settlement involving more than $5,000, with respect to a spouse or former spouse, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than two years or both. (b) Mandatory Restitution Upon a conviction under this section, the court shall order restitution under section 3663A in an amount equal to the total unpaid property distribution. (c) Definition The term court ordered property distribution means any amount determined under a court order pursuant to the law of a State or of an Indian tribe to be due from a spouse or former spouse as an equitable or other distribution to a spouse or former spouse of assets in connection with a separation or divorce. . (b) Clerical amendments (1) Table of sections The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 228A. Failure to pay legal spousal court-ordered property distribution. . (2) Table of chapters The item in the table of chapters for part I of title 18, United States Code, relating to chapter 11A is amended to read as follows: 11A. Child support and spousal obligations 228 .