A bill to establish a separate criminal offense for targeting an individual based on their status as law enforcement officer.

Bill: 117-s-2253
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2021-06-24
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Latest action: action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill establishes a new criminal offense for knowingly causing bodily injury to a person (or attempting to do so) because of their actual or perceived status as a law enforcement officer in circumstances that affect interstate commerce.</p> <p>It imposes criminal penalties&#8212;a prison term, a fine, or both&#8212;on a violator.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2253 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Hawley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To establish a separate criminal offense for targeting an individual based on their status as law enforcement officer.

1. Protecting law enforcement officers from targeting (a) Amendment Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers (a) Offense Whoever, in any circumstance described in subsection (b), knowingly causes bodily injury to any person, or attempts to do so, because of the actual or perceived status of the person as a law enforcement officer— (1) shall be imprisoned not more than 20 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and (2) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if— (A) death results from the offense; or (B) the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, or an attempt to kill. (b) Circumstances described For purposes of subsection (a), the circumstances described in this subsection are that— (1) the conduct described in subsection (a) occurs during the course of, or as the result of, the travel of the defendant or the victim— (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 (a); (3) in connection with the conduct described in subsection (a), 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 (a)— (A) interferes with commercial or other economic activity in which the victim is engaged at the time of the conduct; or (B) otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Law enforcement officer The term law enforcement officer means an employee of a governmental or public agency who is authorized by law— (A) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law; and (B) to apprehend or arrest a person for any criminal violation of law. (2) State The term State includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers. .