Targeting Online Sales of Fentanyl Act

Bill: 118-s-2982
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-09-28
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Computers and information technology

Congressional oversight

Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Government studies and investigations

Intergovernmental relations

Internet, web applications, social media
Latest action: action_date: 2023-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2982 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 28 (legislative day, September 22), 2023 Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Cruz , Mr. Lee , Mr. Welch , Mr. Tillis , and Mr. Coons ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require a GAO study on the sale of illicit drugs online, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Targeting Online Sales of Fentanyl Act . 2. GAO study on the sale of illicit drugs online (a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the online sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine, including— (1) business models employed by online sellers of fentanyl and methamphetamine, including an examination of supply chains, logistics, and strategies utilized for customer acquisition, retention, and communication within illicit online marketplaces; (2) utilization of online illicit drug markets and providers (as defined in section 2258E of title 18, United States Code) for facilitating financial transactions in the online sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine, with a particular focus on their impact on individuals who are 18 years of age and younger; (3) efforts of the Federal Government to combat the online sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine, including— (A) interagency collaboration, including personnel detailed to other agencies to support efforts to combat the online trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine, and related illicit finance; (B) intergovernmental collaboration between the Federal Government and State, Tribal, local, and foreign governments; (C) intersectoral collaboration with the private sector, including businesses and non-governmental organizations; (D) examination of existing procedures followed by Federal law enforcement agencies in handling cases related to online sales of fentanyl and methamphetamine, encompassing the receipt, investigation, and prosecution processes; (E) analysis of aggregated outcomes from the past 10 years to identify patterns and areas for improvement; and (F) identification of gaps or resource deficiencies in coordinating and collaborating activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) to combat the online sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine; (4) models utilized by providers, including machine learning, algorithmic technology, and data analysis techniques, to effectively detect and combat the sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine on their platforms; (5) enforcement mechanisms and processes employed by providers to penalize users involved in the sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine, including user identification, verification procedures, and subsequent actions, such as account suspension, reporting to law enforcement agencies, and collaboration with legal proceedings; and (6) analysis of referrals to the Federal Government by providers detailing information about online sales of fentanyl and methamphetamine, including— (A) the number of referrals from providers to the Federal Government; (B) the number of referrals that were investigated by the Federal Government, including the agencies involved in the investigation and the outcome of the investigation; (C) the number of referrals that resulted in an arrest, prosecution, or conviction, including the offense of the arrest, prosecution, or conviction; and (D) the number of referrals that were shared by the Federal Government with a State, Tribal, or local government, including a law enforcement agency or prosecutor's office. (b) Report required Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report containing all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a).