PROTECT Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4662
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2020-09-23
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Firearms and explosives

Law enforcement officers

Violent crime

Worker safety and health
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-09-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Penalizing Radicals and Others who Thwart Emergency Care and Transportation for Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020 or the PROTECT Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill establishes a new criminal offense for preventing or attempting to prevent a law enforcement officer from accessing emergency medical services for an injury caused by a criminal act or incurred in the line of duty.</p> <p>An individual who engages in this conduct is subject to criminal penalties--a fine, a prison term of up to 20 years, or both. If death results, the prison term may be for a term of any years or for life.</p>  <p>In a prosecution of this offense, the government is not required to prove that the defendant knew the law enforcement officer suffered an injury caused by a criminal act or incurred in the line of duty.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4662 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 23, 2020 Mr. Graham 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 criminalize blocking law enforcement officers who have been injured by a criminal act or in the line of duty from accessing emergency medical services.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Penalizing Radicals and Others who Thwart Emergency Care and Transportation for Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020 or the PROTECT Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2020 . 2. Preventing law enforcement officers from accessing emergency medical services (a) In general Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 120. Preventing law enforcement officers from accessing emergency medical services (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term emergency medical services — (A) means any health care services provided under emergency conditions; and (B) includes— (i) any personnel, facilities, and equipment needed for the effective provision of services described in subparagraph (A); and (ii) transportation to, from, or between facilities for the provision of services described in subparagraph (A); (2) the term law enforcement officer means— (A) any officer, agent, or employee of a State, unit of local government, or Indian Tribe authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, or investigation of any criminal violation of law, including such an individual who is employed or volunteers in a full-time, part-time, or auxiliary capacity; and (B) a Federal law enforcement officer, as defined in section 115; and (3) the term line of duty injury means— (A) an injury sustained in the course of— (i) performance of line of duty activity or a line of duty action; or (ii) authorized commuting; or (B) any injury not described in subparagraph (A) if the injury was brought about by the hostile action of an individual where— (i) the individual knew the injured party was a law enforcement officer; and (ii) nothing motivated the hostile action to so great a degree as did— (I) the status of the injured party as a law enforcement officer; or (II) retaliation for line of duty activity or a line of duty action performed by any law enforcement officer. (b) Offense (1) In general It shall be unlawful, in any circumstance described in subsection (d), to knowingly prevent, or attempt to prevent, a law enforcement officer from immediately accessing emergency medical services in response to suffering— (A) bodily injury resulting from a criminal act; or (B) a line of duty injury. (2) Proof requirements In a prosecution under paragraph (1), the Government shall not be required to prove knowledge by the defendant that the law enforcement officer suffered bodily injury resulting from a criminal act or a line of duty injury. (c) Penalties Any person who violates subsection (b)— (1) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both; and (2) if the law enforcement officer dies as a result of the failure to receive timely emergency medical services, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both. (d) Circumstances described The cir­cum­stances described in this subsection are that— (1) the conduct described in subsection (b) occurs during the course of, or as the result of, the travel of the defendant or the law enforcement officer— (A) across a State line or national border; or (B) using a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce; (2) the defendant uses a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in connection with the conduct described in subsection (b); (3) in connection with the conduct described in subsection (b), the defendant employs a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device, or other weapon that has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce; or (4) the conduct described in subsection (b) otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 120. Preventing law enforcement officers from accessing emergency medical services. .