Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-855
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2019-03-25
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses

Congressional oversight

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Criminal justice information and records

Detention of persons

Government studies and investigations

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

Sex offenses

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2019-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-03-25
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill makes it unlawful for a federal law enforcement officer to engage in a sexual act while acting under color of law or with an individual who is under arrest, in detention, or in custody. </p> <p>Consent is not a defense to prosecution for unlawful conduct. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to 15 years, or both.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice to make grants to states that have in effect similar laws. Grants must be used for the same purposes as formula grants under the STOP Violence Against Women Program and the Sexual Assault Services Program.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 855 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2019 Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Mr. Booker , and Ms. Ernst ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to make it a criminal offense for individuals to engage in sexual acts while acting under color of law or with individuals in their custody, to encourage States to adopt similar laws, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act of 2019 . 2. Prohibition on engaging in sexual acts while acting under color of law (a) In general Section 2243 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the section heading, by adding at the end the following: or by any person acting under color of law ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Of an individual by any person acting under color of law (1) In general Whoever, acting under color of law, knowingly engages in a sexual act with an individual, including an individual who is under arrest, in detention, or otherwise in the actual custody of any Federal law enforcement officer, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both. (2) Definition In this subsection, the term sexual act has the meaning given the term in section 2246. ; and (4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by adding at the end the following: (3) In a prosecution under subsection (c), it is not a defense that the other individual consented to the sexual act. . (b) Definition Section 2246 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end; (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following: (7) the term Federal law enforcement officer has the meaning given the term in section 115. . (c) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 109A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by amending the item related to section 2243 to read as follows: 2243. Sexual abuse of a minor or ward or by any person acting under color of law. . 3. Incentives for States (a) Authority To make grants The Attorney General is authorized to make grants to States that have in effect a law that— (1) makes it a criminal offense for any person acting under color of law of the State to engage in a sexual act with an individual, including an individual who is under arrest, in detention, or otherwise in the actual custody of any law enforcement officer; and (2) prohibits a person charged with an offense described in paragraph (1) from asserting the consent of the other individual as a defense. (b) Reporting requirement A State that receives a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General, on an annual basis, information on— (1) the number of reports made to law enforcement agencies in that State regarding persons engaging in a sexual act while acting under color of law during the previous year; and (2) the disposition of each case in which sexual misconduct by a person acting under color of law was reported during the previous year. (c) Application A State seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require, including information about the law described in subsection (a). (d) Grant amount The amount of a grant to a State under this section shall be in an amount that is not greater than 10 percent of the average of the total amount of funding of the 3 most recent awards that the State received under the following grant programs: (1) Part T of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10441 et seq.) (commonly referred to as the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program ). (2) Section 41601 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 34 U.S.C. 12511 ) (commonly referred to as the Sexual Assault Services Program ). (e) Grant term (1) In general The Attorney General shall provide an increase in the amount provided to a State under the grant programs described in subsection (d) for a 2-year period. (2) Renewal A State that receives a grant under this section may submit an application for a renewal of such grant at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require. (3) Limit A State may not receive a grant under this section for more than 4 years. (f) Uses of funds A State that receives a grant under this section shall use— (1) 25 percent of such funds for any of the permissible uses of funds under the grant program described in paragraph (1) of subsection (d); and (2) 75 percent of such funds for any of the permissible uses of funds under the grant program described in paragraph (2) of subsection (d). (g) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this chapter $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. 4. Reports to Congress (a) Report by Attorney General Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report containing— (1) the information required to be reported to the Attorney General under section 3(b); and (2) information on— (A) the number of reports made during the previous year, to Federal law enforcement agencies regarding persons engaging in a sexual act while acting under color of law; and (B) the disposition of each case in which sexual misconduct by a person acting under color of law was reported. (b) Report by GAO Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on any violations of section 2243(c) of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 2, committed during the 1-year period covered by the report. 5. Definition In this Act, the term sexual act has the meaning given the term in section 2246 of title 18, United States Code.