Source: http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section248&num=0&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2019-05-21 12:55:26
Document Index: 12561079

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 248', '§3', '§330023', '§330023', '§248', '§330023', '§6', '§1', '§5', '§2']

[USC07] 18 USC 248: Freedom of access to clinic entrances
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18 USC 248: Freedom of access to clinic entrances Text contains those laws in effect on May 20, 2019
Jump To: Source CreditAmendmentsEffective DateShort TitleSeverabilityMiscellaneous
(a) Prohibited Activities.-Whoever-
(b) Penalties.-Whoever violates this section shall-
(c) Civil Remedies.-
(1) Right of action.-
(A) In general.-Any person aggrieved by reason of the conduct prohibited by subsection (a) may commence a civil action for the relief set forth in subparagraph (B), except that such an action may be brought under subsection (a)(1) only by a person involved in providing or seeking to provide, or obtaining or seeking to obtain, services in a facility that provides reproductive health services, and such an action may be brought under subsection (a)(2) only by a person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship or by the entity that owns or operates such place of religious worship.
(B) Relief.-In any action under subparagraph (A), the court may award appropriate relief, including temporary, preliminary or permanent injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages, as well as the costs of suit and reasonable fees for attorneys and expert witnesses. With respect to compensatory damages, the plaintiff may elect, at any time prior to the rendering of final judgment, to recover, in lieu of actual damages, an award of statutory damages in the amount of $5,000 per violation.
(2) Action by attorney general of the united states.-
(A) In general.-If the Attorney General of the United States has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is being, has been, or may be injured by conduct constituting a violation of this section, the Attorney General may commence a civil action in any appropriate United States District Court.
(B) Relief.-In any action under subparagraph (A), the court may award appropriate relief, including temporary, preliminary or permanent injunctive relief, and compensatory damages to persons aggrieved as described in paragraph (1)(B). The court, to vindicate the public interest, may also assess a civil penalty against each respondent-
(3) Actions by state attorneys general.-
(A) In general.-If the Attorney General of a State has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is being, has been, or may be injured by conduct constituting a violation of this section, such Attorney General may commence a civil action in the name of such State, as parens patriae on behalf of natural persons residing in such State, in any appropriate United States District Court.
(B) Relief.-In any action under subparagraph (A), the court may award appropriate relief, including temporary, preliminary or permanent injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and civil penalties as described in paragraph (2)(B).
(d) Rules of Construction.-Nothing in this section shall be construed-
(1) Facility.-The term "facility" includes a hospital, clinic, physician's office, or other facility that provides reproductive health services, and includes the building or structure in which the facility is located.
(2) Interfere with.-The term "interfere with" means to restrict a person's freedom of movement.
(3) Intimidate.-The term "intimidate" means to place a person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm to him- or herself or to another.
(4) Physical obstruction.-The term "physical obstruction" means rendering impassable ingress to or egress from a facility that provides reproductive health services or to or from a place of religious worship, or rendering passage to or from such a facility or place of religious worship unreasonably difficult or hazardous.
(5) Reproductive health services.-The term "reproductive health services" means reproductive health services provided in a hospital, clinic, physician's office, or other facility, and includes medical, surgical, counselling or referral services relating to the human reproductive system, including services relating to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy.
(6) State.-The term "State" includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
(Added Pub. L. 103–259, §3, May 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 694 ; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330023(a)(2), (3), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2150 .)
1994-Pub. L. 103–322, §330023(a)(2), amended section catchline generally. Prior to amendment, catchline read as follows: "§248 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances."
Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330023(b), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2150 , provided that: "The amendments made by this subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of enactment of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994 [May 26, 1994]."
Pub. L. 103–259, §6, May 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 697 , provided that: "This Act [see Short Title note below] takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [May 26, 1994], and shall apply only with respect to conduct occurring on or after such date."
Pub. L. 103–259, §1, May 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 694 , provided that: "This Act [enacting this section and provisions set out as notes under this section] may be cited as the 'Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994'."
Pub. L. 103–259, §5, May 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 697 , provided that: "If any provision of this Act [see Short Title note above], an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions of such to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby."
Pub. L. 103–259, §2, May 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 694 , provided that: "Pursuant to the affirmative power of Congress to enact this legislation under section 8 of article I of the Constitution, as well as under section 5 of the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution, it is the purpose of this Act [see Short Title note above] to protect and promote the public safety and health and activities affecting interstate commerce by establishing Federal criminal penalties and civil remedies for certain violent, threatening, obstructive and destructive conduct that is intended to injure, intimidate or interfere with persons seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services."