116th US Congress Special Report on Police Reform June 2020

Jul 6, 2020

Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc.

Governmental Affairs

SPECIAL U.S. Congress Update

June 27, 2020

NEW BILLS of INTEREST – Law Enforcement “Reform”

In response to the national outcry for reform of law enforcement, members of Congress have continued to introduce bills meant to change the face of policing at the state and local level.

In an effort to stay current on these rapidly changing initiatives, we are presenting this special report for your information. Many of these bills were introduced in name only. The text of these bills will be provided at a later date by their sponsor. We encourage you to visit the US Congress website for more details on those bills of interest to you ( http://thomas.loc.gov/ ).

HR 7315 Title 18 USC Use of Force Penalty

This bill would amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the penalty for use of force. Intro: 6/24/2020 Rep. Omar (MN-5) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Thompson (MS-2)

Republicans: none

HR 7384 Policing Reform

This bill would propose reforms to policing.

Intro: 6/26/2020 Rep. Chabot (OH-1) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 4036 Qualified Immunity Reform

This bill would attempt to change qualified immunity under section 1979. Intro: 6/23/2020 Sen. Braun (IN) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 4064 De-escalation Training

This bill would provide for de-escalation training requirements for law enforcement. Intro: 6/24/2020 Sen. Cornyn (TX) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Cassidy (LA)

“REFORM” BILL UPDATES (Changes in Red)

HR 7085 Removal of Qualified Immunity

This bill would amend the Revised Statutes to remove the defense of qualified immunity. Intro: 6/4/2020 Rep. Amash (MI-3) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: McEachin (VA-4), Adams (NC-12), Scott (GA-13), Beyer (VA-8)

Republicans: none

HR 7089 To Reform Law Enforcement Practices This bill would propose to reform law enforcement. Intro: 6/4/2020 Rep. Castro (TX-20) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7100 Encourage Community Accountability of Law Enforcement

This bill would encourage greater community accountability into law enforcement activity. Intro: 6/4/2020 Rep. Lee (TX-18) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Thompson (MS-2), Cohen (TN-9), Johnson (GA-4), Sewell (AL-7), Adams (NC- 12), Butterfield (NC-1), Wexton (VA-10), Scott (GA-13), Connolly (VA-11)

Republicans: none

HR 7109 Rescind Appropriations from Department of Justice This bill would rescind some specific allocations from the DOJ. Intro: 6/4/2020 Rep. Nadler (NY-10) Status: Appropriations Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7120 Hold Law Enforcement Accountable **

This bill would hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies.

Intro: 6/8/2020 Rep. Bass (CA-37) Status: PASSED HOUSE Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Clyburn (SC-6), Lewis (GA-5), Adams (NC-12), Bishop (GA-2), Butterfield (NC- 1), Cohen (TN-9), Connolly (VA-11), Johnson (GA-4), McBath (GA-6), McEachin (VA-4),

Price (NC-4), Richmond (LA-2), Scott (VA-3), Scott (GA-13), Sewell (AL-7), Yamuth (KY-3), Beyer (VA-8), Thompson (MS-2), Cooper (TN-5), Luria (VA-2), Wexton (VA-10), Spanberger (VA-7), Cunningham (SC-1)

HR 7131 Amend Title 18 to Prohibit Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law

This bill would amend Title 18 of US Code.

Intro: 6/8/2020 Rep. Espaillat (NY-13) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7133 Demilitarize Law Enforcement

This bill would provide incentives for agencies to return purchases from LESO program. Intro: 6/8/2020 Rep. Haaland (NM-1) Status: Judiciary / Armed Services

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Johnson (GA-4), Cohen (TN-9), Sewell (AL-7)

Republicans: none

HR 7134 Amend Title 18 to Lower the Mens Rea Standard

This bill would lower the mens rea standard to “reckless” for deprivation under color of law. Intro: 6/8/2020 Rep. Kennedy (MA-4) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Sewell (AL-7), Butterfield (NC-1), Cohen (TN-9), Cooper (TN-5)

Republicans: none

HR 7136 Create National Law Enforcement Training Requirements

This bill would require adoption of minimum training requirements for law enforcement. Intro: 6/8/2020 Rep. Pocan (WI-2) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7137 Withhold Byrne Funds from Law Enforcement

This bill would prohibit, agencies that do not adopt congressionally created minimum operational standards, from receiving funds under the Byrne Assistance Program.

Intro: 6/8/2020 Rep. Richmond (LA-2) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7143 Repeal Military Surplus Program

This bill would repeal the military surplus program under Title 10 of US Code. Intro: 6/8/2020 Rep. Velazquez (NY-7) Status: Armed Services

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Beyer (VA-8)

HR 7144 Prohibit Reckless Use of Excessive Force

This bill would amend Title 18 of US Coed to prohibit the reckless use of “excessive” force (italics added).

Intro: 6/8/2020 Rep. Velazquez (NY-7) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7150 Require Use of Body Cameras

This bill would require use of body cameras for “Cops on the Beat” grants Intro: 6/11/2020 Rep. Stanton (AZ-9) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7188 Required Reporting of Lethal Force Use

This bill would require all agencies to report all uses of lethal force Intro: 6/11/2020 Rep. Timmons (SC-4) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Timmons (SC-4), Cline (VA-6), Bishop (NC-9)

HR 7191 Set Conditions on Byrne Grants

This bill would amend the Edward Byrne Grant Program to set conditions for funds. Intro: 6/11/2020 Rep. Trone (MD-6) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7196 Certain Riot Control Agents Civil Rights Violation

This bill would amend Title 18 to make use of certain “riot control agents” a violation of civil rights.

Intro: 6/15/2020 Rep. Adams (NC-12) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Sponsor Adams (NC-12), Thompson (MS-2), Sewell (AL-7)

Republicans: none

HR 7199 De-escalation Training Grants

This bill would provide grants to law enforcement for de-escalation training. Intro: 6/15/2020 Rep. Budd (NC-13) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Budd (NC-13), Murphy (NC-3)

HR 7206 Prohibit Use of Excessive Force

This bill would amend Title 18 to prohibit excessive force under color of law. Intro: 6/15/2020 Rep. Espaillat (NY-13) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7213 Civil Remedy for Rights Violation

This bill would provide civil remedy for rights violations by person acting under federal authority.

Intro: 6/15/2020 Rep. Johnson (GA-4) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Sponsor Johnson (GA-4)

Republicans: none

HR 7221 Prohibit Law Enforcement Use of Chemical Weapons

This bill would prohibit the use of “chemical weapons” in the course of policing activities. Intro: 6/15/2020 Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7245 “Community Outpost” Houses

This bill would direct the COPS program to initiate pilot program of community outpost houses. Intro: 6/18/2020 Rep. Emmer (MN-6) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 7278 Improve & Reform Policing Practices, Accountability and Transparency*

This bill would seek to reform policing.

Intro: 6/18/2020 Rep. Stauber (MN-8) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Fleischmann (TN-3), Timmons (SC-4), Ferguson (GA-3), Hudson (NC-8), Foxx (NC-5), Collins (GA-9), Rogers (AL-3), Hill (AR-2), Comer (KY-1), Murphy (NC-3), Carter

(GA-1), Walker (NC-6), Crawford (AR-1), Rogers (KY-5), Wilson (SC-2), Johnson (LA-4), Wittman (VA-1), Holding (NC-2), McKinley (WV-1), Womack (AR-3), Loudermilk (GA-11), Byrne (AL-1), Scalise (LA-1), Woodall (GA-7), Roby (AL-2), Budd (NC-13), Rose (TN-6), Palmer (AL-6), Burchett (TN-2), Riggleman (VA-5), Miller (WV-3), Green (TN-7), Rouzer (NC-7), Cline (VA-6), Rice (SC-7), Westerman (AR-4), Aderholt (AL-4), Kustoff (TN-8), Abraham (LA-5), Allen (GA-12), Graves (LA-6), Graves (GA-14), Duncan (SC-3), Kelly (MS- 1), Roe (TN-1), Guest (MS-3), Palazzo (MS-4), Scott (GA-8), Norman (SC-5)

HR 7284 Police-Community Relations Grants

This bill would provide grants to improve police-community relations Intro: 6/18/2020 Rep. Wasserman (FL-23) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 3873 Require Law Enforcement to Report Lethal Force

This bill would require law enforcement agencies to report uses of lethal force. Intro: 6/3/2020 Sen. Scott (SC) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Scott (SC)

S 3895 Amend Title 18 to Include Chokeholds as Deprivation of Rights

This bill would amend section 242 of Title 18 US Code, to include chokeholds and carotid holds as a deprivation of rights.

Intro: 6/4/2020 Sen. Gillibrand (NY) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 3912 Hold Law Enforcement Accountable

This bill would hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies.

Intro: 6/8/2020 Sen. Booker (NJ) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Jones (AL), Kaine (VA), Warner (VA),

Republicans: none

S 3931 Prevent Militarization of State/Local Law Enforcement

This bill would modify the federal military surplus to law enforcement program Intro: 6/10/2020 Sen. Paul (KY) Status: Armed Services

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 3955 Prohibit “No-Knock” Warrants

This bill would prohibit issuance and use of no-knock warrants Intro: 611//2020 Sen. Paul (KY) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 3956 Banning of Chokeholds and Carotid Holds

This bill would provide incentives to agencies that prohibit choke or carotid holds Intro: 6/11/2020 Sen. Klobuchar (MN) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 3968 Best Practices Award

This bill would create an award for law enforcement officers who exemplify best practices to reduce the excessive use of force or improve community policing.

Intro: 6/16/2020 Sen. Cotton (AR) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Cotton (AR)

S 3985 Policing Reform **

This bill would seek to improve and reform policing practices, accountability, and transparency. Intro: 6/17/2020 Sen. Scott (SC) Status: Placed on the Calendar

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Scott (SC), McConnell (KY), Graham (SC), Capito (WV), Alexander (TN), Tillis (NC), Burr (NC), Wicker (MS), Boozman (AR), Cotton (AR), Shelby (AL), Leoffler (GA), Kennedy (LA), Perdue (GA), Blackburn (TN), Hyde-Smith (MS), Cassidy (LA),

S 3987 Provide Special COPS Grants for Residency

This bill would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide that COPS grant funds may be used for local law enforcement recruits to attend schools or academics if the recruits agree to serve in precincts of law enforcement agencies in their communities.

Intro: 6/17/2020 Sen. Peters (MI) Status: Judiciary Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none