H.R. 4760 — Introduced in House

I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4760 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 16, 2016 Mr. Buck (for himself, Mr. Gowdy, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Chaffetz, and Mr. Ratcliffe) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To make an attack on a police officer a hate crime, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Blue Lives Matter Act of 2016. 2. Hate crime against police officers (a) In general Chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 250. Hate crimes against police officers (a) In general Whoever, in any circumstance described in section 249(a)(2)(B) of this title, knowingly causes bodily injury to any person, or attempts to do so, because of the actual or perceived status of the person as a police officer— (1) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and (2) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if— (A) death results from the offense; or (B) the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill. (b) Certification requirement (1) In general No prosecution of any offense described in this section may be undertaken by the United States, except under the certification in writing of the Attorney General, or a designee, that— (A) the State does not have jurisdiction; (B) the State has requested that the Federal Government assume jurisdiction; (C) the verdict or sentence obtained pursuant to State charges left demonstratively unvindicated the Federal interest in eradicating bias-motivated violence; or (D) a prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice. (2) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of Federal officers, or a Federal grand jury, to investigate possible violations of this section. (c) Guidelines All prosecutions conducted by the United States under this section shall be undertaken pursuant to guidelines issued by the Attorney General, or the designee of the Attorney General, to be included in the United States Attorneys' Manual that shall establish neutral and objective criteria for determining whether a crime was committed because of the actual or perceived status of any person. (d) Statute of limitations (1) Offenses not resulting in death Except as provided in paragraph (2), no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense under this section unless the indictment for such offense is found, or the information for such offense is instituted, not later than 7 years after the date on which the offense was committed. (2) Offenses resulting in death An indictment or information alleging that an offense under this section resulted in death may be found or instituted at any time without limitation. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Police officer The term police officer means any officer or employee of the United States, any State, or any political subdivision of a State, while engaged in the enforcement or prosecution of any of the criminal laws of the United States, a State, or any political subdivision of a State. (2) State The term State includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 250. Hate crimes against police officers. .