Law Enforcement Oversight and Reform Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-7144
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2020-06-08
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Assault and harassment offenses

Congressional oversight

Correctional facilities and imprisonment

Department of Justice

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-08
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Law Enforcement Oversight and Reform Act of 2020</strong></p> <p>This bill prohibits the reckless use of excessive force (e.g., the use of choke holds) under the color of law by law enforcement officers. The bill also prohibits states and local governments from receiving funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program if the state or locality does not have a similar law prohibiting the use of excessive force.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7144 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 8, 2020 Ms. Velázquez (for herself, Mr. Mfume , Mr. Ryan , and Mr. Carson of Indiana ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the reckless use of excessive force under the color of law, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Law Enforcement Oversight and Reform Act of 2020 . 2. Prohibition on excessive force, respiratory chokeholds under the color of law (a) In general Chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 250. Excessive force under the color of law (a) In general Whoever, being a law enforcement officer, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District, recklessly subjects any person to force in violation of the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable seizures, shall be punished as provided in subsection (c). (b) Chokeholds A respiratory chokehold shall not be considered force that is reasonably necessary under subsection (a). (c) Punishment (1) In general The punishment for an offense under this section is a fine of not less than $10,000, imprisonment under paragraph (2), or both. (2) Term of imprisonment The term of imprisonment for an offense under this section is— (A) if death results, for any term of years or for life, but no less than 10 years; (B) if serious bodily injury other than death results, for not more than 10 years, but no less than 5 years; and (C) in any other case, for not more than 3 years, but no less than one year. (d) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the Attorney General’s responsibilities or provision of relief under section 210401 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 ( 34 U.S.C. 12601 ). (e) Definition The term law enforcement officer — (1) means an official empowered by law to conduct investigations of, to make arrests for, or to detain individuals suspected or convicted of, criminal or civil offenses; and (2) includes an official ordered to perform a function described in paragraph (1) by a superior empowered to do so under law, or by Executive order. (f) Report On the date that is one year after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the Senate a report that includes a description of and the number of convictions under this section during the previous year. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 13 of title 18 is amended by adding after the item related to section 249 the following: 250. Excessive force under the color of law. . 3. Application to States (a) In general A State or unit of local government may not receive funds that the jurisdiction would otherwise receive under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10151 et seq.) for any fiscal year in which the jurisdiction does not have in place a law that is consistent with section 250 of title 18, United States Code, as determined by the Attorney General. (b) Subsequent enactment after denial of funds In the case that funds are withheld from a State or other jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a), and the State or other jurisdiction subsequently enacts or puts in place a law described in subsection (a), and demonstrates substantial efforts to enforce such law, the State or other jurisdiction shall be eligible, in the subsequent fiscal year, to receive the total amount that the State or other jurisdiction would have received in each fiscal year for which funds were withheld, not to exceed funds that the jurisdiction would have received during the previous 2-year period. (c) Application This section shall apply beginning in the first fiscal year that begins after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) Rulemaking Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall publish in the Federal Register interim final rules implementing this section. The Attorney General shall finalize such rules not later than 90 days after the date of publication of the interim final rules.