lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2014-03-13 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 15, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.) 

Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act of 2014 or the SAVE Act of 2014 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit knowingly: (1) advertising commercial sex acts involving a minor or an individual engaged in such an act through force, fraud, or coercion; or (2) benefitting financially or otherwise from such advertising knowing that the individual involved was a minor or victim of force, fraud, or coercion.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2014-07-18 00:00:00

Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment Act of 2014 or the REDEEM Act - Amends the federal criminal code to provide a process for the sealing or expungement of records relating to nonviolent or juvenile offenses.

Requires a court considering a petition to seal a nonviolent offense to balance factors including the harm of the protected information to the ability of the petitioner to secure and maintain employment.

Sets forth limitations on involuntary room confinements at juvenile detention facilities.

Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) to remove offenses relating to possession or use of a controlled substance from the categories of drug offenses that result in the convicted individual being ineligible for assistance under: (1) a state program funded with temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) grants under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; or (2) the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly the food stamp program) or any state program carried out under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

Prohibits the denial of such assistance and benefits if the convicted individual: (1) committed an offense related to a substance abuse disorder, (2) participates in a substance abuse treatment program, and (3) complies with all court-imposed obligations. Includes employment services among the categories of federal benefits that are not to be denied under PRWORA. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow the Attorney General, in awarding public safety and community policing grants, to give preferential consideration to an applicant in a state with laws similar to this Act.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2014-07-28 00:00:00

Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2014 - Amends the federal criminal code to require the government to include in any notice required to be sent in a nonjudicial civil forfeiture proceeding under a civil forfeiture statute that the person receiving the notice may be able to obtain free or reduced rate legal representation.

Requires the government, in a suit or action brought under any civil forfeiture statute for the civil forfeiture of property, to prove that the property is subject to forfeiture by clear and convincing evidence (currently, by a preponderance of the evidence).

Provides that where a prima facie case is made for an innocent owner defense, the government has the burden of proving that the claimant knew or reasonably should have known that the property was involved in the illegal conduct giving rise to the forfeiture (currently, the claimant has the burden of proving that the claimant is an innocent owner). Places the burden on the government to show that the property owner should have had knowledge of the criminal activity by demonstrating that the property owner did not: (1) give timely notice to law enforcement of information that led the person to know the conduct giving rise to a forfeiture occurred; and (2) in a timely fashion, revoke or attempt to revoke permission for those engaging in such conduct to use the property or take reasonable actions in consultation with law enforcement to discourage or prevent the illegal use of the property.

Directs the court, in determining whether the forfeiture was constitutionally excessive, to consider such factors as the seriousness of the offense, the extent of the nexus of the property to the offense, the range of sentences available for the offense giving rise to forfeiture, the fair market value of the property, and the hardship to the property owner and dependents (currently, the court is required to compare the forfeiture to the gravity of the offense giving rise to the forfeiture).

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) specify, in the annual report on the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund, deposits from each type of forfeiture, identifying which funds were obtained from criminal forfeitures and which were obtained from civil forfeitures; and (2) assure that any equitable sharing between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and a local or state law enforcement agency was not initiated for the purpose of circumventing any state law that prohibits civil forfeiture or limits use or disposition of property obtained via civil forfeiture by state or local agencies.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-09-18 00:00:00

Eliminating Pornography from Agencies Act - Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidelines that prohibit the access of a pornographic or other explicit website from a federal computer, except any federal computer that is used for an investigative purpose that requires accessing such a website.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2014-12-11 00:00:00

Lynnette's Law - Amends the federal criminal code to make an interstate act to conceal (or attempt to conceal) a homicide a federal offense punishable by imprisonment for any term of years or for life.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2013-01-24 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Stopping Tax Offenders and Prosecuting Identity Theft Act of 2013 or the STOP Identity Theft Act of 2013 - Calls for the Attorney General to: (1) make use of all existing resources of the Department of Justice (DOJ), including task forces, to bring more perpetrators of tax return identity theft to justice; and (2) take into account the need to concentrate efforts in areas of the country where the crime is most frequently reported, to coordinate with state and local authorities to prosecute and prevent such crime, and to protect vulnerable groups from becoming victims or otherwise being used in the offense.

Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) include organizations as victims for purposes of prohibitions against identity theft or aggravated identity theft, and (2) subject an identity theft offense committed during and in relation to tax fraud to a fine and/or up to 20 years' imprisonment.

Directs the Attorney General to include in the first annual DOJ performance report made more than nine months after the date of this Act's enactment information as to progress in implementing this Act regarding: (1) information readily available to DOJ about trends in the incidence of tax return identity theft, (2) the effectiveness of statutory tools in aiding DOJ in prosecuting it, (3) recommendations on additional statutory tools that would aid in removing barriers to effective prosecution, and (4) the status of implementing DOJ's March 2010 audit report on DOJ efforts to combat identity theft.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2013-02-12 00:00:00

Stronger Enforcement of Civil Penalties Act of 2013 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to increase the money penalties in administrative and civil actions involving securities laws violations.

Prescribes a fourth tier penalty of triple monetary penalties for noncompliance with certain enforcement actions if the violator, within the five-year period preceding the prohibited act, was criminally convicted for securities fraud or became subject to a judgment or order imposing monetary, equitable, or administrative relief in any Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) action alleging fraud by such violator.

Applies the treatment as a separate offense each day that a violation of an SEC cease-and-desist order is committed through continuing noncompliance to violation of any action to enforce a federal court injunction or certain SEC orders that bar, suspend, place limitations on the activities or functions of, or prohibit the activities of, a person.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2013-03-18 00:00:00

Gideon's Promise Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require grant applicants under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to include in grant applications a comprehensive state-wide plan for the improvement of the administration of the criminal justice system. Makes it unlawful for government entities or their agents to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives indigent defendants of their constitutional rights to assistance of counsel in criminal proceedings.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2013-03-20 00:00:00

Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013 - Amends the federal criminal code to authorize a federal court to impose a sentence below a statutory minimum if necessary to avoid violating federal provisions prescribing factors courts must consider in imposing a sentence. Requires the court to give the parties notice of its intent to impose a lower sentence and to state in writing the factors requiring such a sentence.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Date: 2013-05-23 00:00:00

Fourth Amendment Preservation and Protection Act of 2013 - Prohibits the federal government or a state or local government from obtaining or seeking to obtain information relating to an individual or group of individuals held by a third party in a system of records, except as authorized by this Act. Deems information obtained otherwise to be inadmissible in a criminal prosecution in a court of law.

Permits the government to obtain, and a court to admit, information relating to an individual held by a third party in a system of records if: (1) the individual whose name or identification information the government is using to access the information provides express and informed consent to the search; or (2) the government obtains a warrant, upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2013-05-23 00:00:00

Military Crime Victims' Rights Act of 2013 - Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to provide specific rights for victims of offenses under the UCMJ, including the right to: (1) be protected from the accused; (2) reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public proceeding involving the offense; (3) not be excluded from such proceeding (with an exception), and to be heard; (4) confer with trial counsel in the case; (5) full and timely restitution; (6) proceedings free from unreasonable delay; and (7) be treated with fairness and respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.

Requires the military judge to ensure such rights in any court-martial proceeding, and requires all others involved in the matter (counsel, investigators, etc.) to make their best efforts to afford such rights. Provides for the enforcement of such rights throughout the process.

Provides for the assumption of such rights by a legal guardian, family member, or estate representative in the case of a victim who is under 18 years old, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased.

Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to modify the Manual for Courts-Martial to prescribe regulations for the enforcement of such rights.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2013-11-13 00:00:00

Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and the Second Chance Act of 2007 to revise and expand requirements for grant programs for adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects.

(Sec. 2) Extends through FY2018 the authorization of appropriations for grants for: (1) family-based substance abuse treatment, (2) the technology careers training demonstration program, and (3) the offender reentry substance abuse and criminal justice collaboration program.

Renames the program of mentoring grants to nonprofit organizations for offender reentry as the program of community-based mentoring and transitional service grants to nonprofit organizations. Provides for transitional services under such program to assist in the reintegration of offenders into the community. Reauthorizes the program through FY2018.

Directs the Attorney General to identify and publish best practices relating to academic and vocational education for offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities.

(Sec. 3) Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to periodically conduct audits of not less than 5% of all recipients of specified offender reentry grants under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and the Second Chance Act of 2007. Prohibits: (1) a grantee that is found to have an unresolved audit finding from receiving grant funds; and (2) the use of grant funds for lobbying DOJ representatives or representatives of a federal, state, local, or tribal government regarding the award of grant funding.

(Sec. 4) Amends the Second Chance Act of 2007 to: (1) modify and extend through FY2018 grant programs for reentry of federal prisoners into the community, including the program for placing elderly offenders (not less than 60 years of age) in home detention; (2) repeal programs under such Act relating to responsible reintegration of offenders, the study of the effectiveness of depot naltrexone for heroin addiction, and the satellite tracking and reentry training program; and (3) establish a program for partnering faith-based or community-based nonprofit organizations with prisons to conduct recidivism reduction activities.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Attorney General to establish an interagency task force on federal programs and activities for the reentry of offenders into the community. Requires the task force to: (1) identify and evaluate methods for improving such programs and activities, and (2) submit to Congress and annually update a report on barriers faced by offenders in reentering the community.

(Sec. 6) Amends the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 to exclude from the scope of such Act grant programs administered by the Office of Violence Against Women or funded under certain provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 or the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 during the four-year period after enactment of this Act.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2014-07-08 00:00:00

Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment Act of 2014 or the REDEEM Act - Amends the federal criminal code to provide a process for the sealing or expungement of records relating to nonviolent or juvenile offenses.

Requires a court considering a petition to seal a nonviolent offense to balance factors including the harm of the protected information to the ability of the petitioner to secure and maintain employment.

Sets forth limitations on involuntary room confinements at juvenile detention facilities.

Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) to remove offenses relating to possession or use of a controlled substance from the categories of drug offenses that result in the convicted individual being ineligible for assistance under: (1) a state program funded with temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) grants under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; or (2) the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly the food stamp program) or any state program carried out under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

Prohibits the denial of such assistance and benefits if the convicted individual: (1) committed an offense related to a substance abuse disorder, (2) participates in a substance abuse treatment program, and (3) complies with all court-imposed obligations. Includes employment services among the categories of federal benefits that are not to be denied under PRWORA. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow the Attorney General, in awarding public safety and community policing grants, to give preferential consideration to an applicant in a state with laws similar to this Act.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2014-07-16 00:00:00

Amends the federal criminal code to require a business entity and any responsible corporate officer, after acquiring actual knowledge of a serious danger associated with a product, service, or business practice of such entity: (1) within 24 hours, to verbally inform an appropriate federal agency; (2) within 15 days, to inform an appropriate federal agency in writing; and (3) as soon as practicable, to warn affected employees in writing and to inform other individuals who may be exposed to the danger if such individuals can reasonably be identified.

Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act, but prohibits any fine imposed on an individual from being paid out of the assets of the business entity.

Prohibits knowingly discriminating against any person in hiring, retention, or the terms or conditions of employment because the person informed a federal agency, warned employees, or informed other individuals of such a danger.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2015-01-06 00:00:00

Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2015

 Amends the federal criminal code to direct the Bureau of Prisons, pursuant to a good time policy, to release a prisoner who has served one half or more of his or her term of imprisonment if that prisoner: (1) has attained age 45; (2) has never been convicted of a crime of violence; and (3) has not engaged in any violation, involving violent conduct, of institutional disciplinary regulations.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2015-01-12 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act of 2015 or the SAVE Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit knowingly: (1) advertising commercial sex acts involving a minor or an individual engaged in such an act through force, fraud, or coercion; or (2) benefitting financially or otherwise from such advertising knowing that the individual involved was a minor or victim of force, fraud, or coercion.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2015-02-04 00:00:00

Justice Safety Valve Act of 2015

 This bill authorizes a federal court to impose a sentence in a criminal proceeding that is below the minimum sentence required by statute if the court finds that a lower sentence is necessary to avoid violating statutory factors that the court must consider in imposing a sentence. The court must give parties to the proceeding notice of its intent to impose a lower sentence and state in writing the factors requiring such a sentence. This bill does not limit any right to appeal that would otherwise exist.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2015-02-09 00:00:00

Thin Blue Line Act

 Amends the federal criminal code to make the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder an aggravating factor in death penalty determinations.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2015-02-11 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Eliminating Pornography from Agencies Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidelines that prohibit the access of a pornographic or other explicit website from a federal computer.

The bill allows an exception to this prohibition if the computer is used for an investigative purpose that requires accessing a pornographic website.
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2015-02-26 00:00:00

Stopping Tax Offenders and Prosecuting Identity Theft Act of 2015 or the STOP Identity Theft Act of 2015

 Calls for the Attorney General to: (1) make use of all existing resources of the Department of Justice, including task forces, to bring more perpetrators of tax return identity theft to justice; and (2) take into account the need to concentrate efforts in areas of the country where the crime is most frequently reported, to coordinate with state and local authorities to prosecute and prevent such crime, and to protect vulnerable groups from becoming victims or otherwise being used in the offense.

Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) include organizations as victims for purposes of prohibitions against identity theft or aggravated identity theft, and (2) subject an identity theft offense committed during and in relation to tax fraud to a fine and/or up to 20 years' imprisonment.

Directs the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on: (1) trends in the incidence of tax return identity theft, (2) recommendations on additional statutory tools that would aid in the effective prosecution of tax return identity theft, and (3) the status of implementing DOJ's March 2010 Audit Report 10-21 entitled "The Department of Justice's Efforts to Combat Identity Theft."
Topic: Law and Crime — Criminal & Civil Code
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2015-03-04 00:00:00

Recidivism Clarification Act of 2015

 Amends the federal criminal code, with respect to additional penalties for using or carrying a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime, to: (1) modify the penalty to require an additional prison term of not more than 5 years, not more than 7 years if the firearm is brandished, and not more than 10 years if the firearm is discharged (currently, not less than 5, 7, or 10 years respectively); (2) allow a prison term for any term of years (currently, minimum mandatory term of 25 years) for a person who has a prior conviction that has become final; (3) require an additional prison term of not more than 15 years (currently, not less than 15 years) for using, carrying, or possessing armor piercing ammunition during the commission of a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime; and (4) eliminate the death penalty for cases in which the use of such ammunition results in a death.

Makes this Act applicable to conduct engaged in and sentences imposed before, on, or after the date of this Act's enactment.