Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act

Bill: 119-hr-3087
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
Introduced: 2025-04-29
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Latest action: action_date: 2025-04-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3087 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 29, 2025 Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Mr. Lawler , and Mr. Fitzpatrick ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To amend the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 to strengthen the powers of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act . 2. Clarifying the Authorities of the Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board (a) Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board presumption of release It is the sense of Congress that all records of the Federal Government and State and local governments concerning civil rights cold cases should— (1) carry a presumption of immediate disclosure; and (2) eventually be disclosed to enable the public to become fully informed about the history surrounding the cases. (b) Reimbursement for expenses incurred by State or local governments Section 3 of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 ( 44 U.S.C. 2107 note; Public Law 115–426 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (i) Reimbursement for expenses incurred by State or local governments Upon request of a State or local government to the Review Board, the Review Board may reimburse the State or local government in full for any expense incurred by the State or local government for digitizing, photocopying, or mailing a civil rights cold case record for the purpose of transmitting such record to the Archivist for inclusion in the Collection. . (c) Transmission to Collection of civil rights cold case records in possession of State or local government Section 3(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 ( 44 U.S.C. 2107 note; Public Law 115–426 ) is amended by striking , except in the case of a State or local government . (d) No application of section 552(b)(6) to civil rights cold case records on or before January 1, 1990 Section 9(a)(2) of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 ( 44 U.S.C. 2107 note; Public Law 115–426 ) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting , except in the case of information contained in a civil rights cold case record created on or before January 1, 1990. . 3. Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board Extension of Tenure Section 5(n)(1) of Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 ( 44 U.S.C. 2107 note; Public Law 115–426 ) is amended— (1) by striking 7 years and inserting 11 years ; and (2) by striking 7-year period and inserting 11-year period .