No Trace Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-3707
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3]
Introduced: 2021-06-04
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Latest action: action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>No Trace Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill establishes a framework to prohibit federal, state, and local entities from obtaining geolocation information about U.S. persons without a warrant. </p> <p>At the federal level, it generally prohibits federal agencies from obtaining geolocation information about a U.S. person without first obtaining a warrant. State and local governments must generally have in effect substantially similar policies to be eligible for funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program and the Community Oriented Policing Services program. </p> <p>Additionally, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study the compliance of federal agencies and state and local governments.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3707 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 4, 2021 Ms. Herrera Beutler (for herself, Mr. Correa , Ms. Scanlon , and Mrs. Spartz ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To prohibit Federal agencies from obtaining geolocation information without a warrant, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Trace Act of 2021 . 2. Prohibition on obtaining geolocation information (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal agency shall implement a policy prohibiting such agency from obtaining geolocation information of a United States person prior to obtaining a warrant issued using the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or, in the case of a State court, issued using State warrant procedures), issued under section 846 of that title, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President) by a court of competent jurisdiction. (b) Limitation on eligibility for funds Beginning in the first fiscal year that begins after the date that is one year after the date of enactment of this Act, a State or unit of local government may not receive funds under the Byrne grant program or the COPS grant program for a fiscal year if, on the day before the first day of the fiscal year, the State or unit of local government does not have in effect a policy substantially similar to the policy described in subsection (a). (c) Exception for threat to life (1) In general Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply with respect to a case if the Attorney General or top justice official of a State determines there is a reasonable belief that such geolocation information could assist in mitigating or eliminating an imminent threat to life or serious bodily harm. (2) Requirement for exception If the Attorney General or top justice official of a State makes a determination under paragraph (1), the Attorney General or top justice official of a State shall inform a judge of competent jurisdiction that such a determination has been made as soon as practicable, but not more than seven days after the Attorney General or top justice official of a State makes such determination. (d) Exception for conducting foreign intelligence surveillance Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, it shall not be unlawful for an officer, employee, or agent of the United States in the normal course of the official duty of the officer, employee, or agent to conduct electronic surveillance, as authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 ( 50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ). (e) Applicability Subsection (a) shall apply to any request for a warrant after the date of the enactment of this Act. (f) GAO Study Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the compliance of each Federal agency and State and local government with the requirements under subsections (a) and (b). (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Byrne grant program The term Byrne grant program means the grant program authorized under section 1701 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10381 ). (2) COPS grant program The term COPS grant program means the grant program authorized under section 1701 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10381 ). (3) Connected device The term connected device means a device that is capable of connecting to the internet, directly or indirectly, or to another connected device. (4) Federal agency The term Federal agency means each instrumentality of the Federal Government. (5) Geolocation information The term geolocation information means the process or technique of identifying the geographical location of a person or connected device by means of digital information processed via the internet or obtaining information from a mobile application, connected device, or other online application to identify or attempt to identify the identity or geographical location of an individual, mobile device, or connected device. (6) Mobile application The term mobile application includes— (A) a software program that runs on the operating system of— (i) a cellular telephone; (ii) a tablet computer; or (iii) a similar portable computing device that transmits data over a wireless connection; and (B) a service or application offered via a connected device. (7) Mobile device The term mobile device means a piece of portable electronic equipment that can connect to the internet, including a smartphone or tablet computer. (8) Online application The term online application includes— (A) an internet-connected software program; or (B) a service or application located on or utilized by a connected device. (9) State The term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any possession of the United States. (10) United States person The term United States person has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 ( 50 U.S.C. 1801 ).