David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2021 or David’s Law This bill adds hate crime offenses and penalties to the criminal civil rights statute that prohibits interference with federally protected activities. Current law already prohibits and penalizes similar offenses under the criminal civil rights statute that prohibits hate crime offenses. Additionally, the bill authorizes state and local grants to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. It also authorizes the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Justice to hire additional personnel to prevent and respond to alleged criminal civil rights offenses involving interference with federally protected activities. Finally, the bill directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to study whether it is appropriate to provide a sentencing enhancement for adult defendants who recruit minors to commit hate crime offenses.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Sponsored bills
Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2021 This bill establishes a new early release option for certain federal prisoners. Specifically, the Bureau of Prisons must release early an offender who has completed at least half of his or her sentence if such offender has attained age 45, has never been convicted of a crime of violence, and has not received any institutional disciplinary violations.
Federal Information Resource to Strengthen Ties with State and Local Law Enforcement Act of 2021 or the FIRST State and Local Law Enforcement Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security's Office for State and Local Law Enforcement to report annually on its activities.
Effective and Humane Treatment of Youth Act of 2021 or Kalief's Law This bill establishes requirements for the treatment of youth in the criminal justice system at the federal, state, and local levels. A youth is an individual who is 21 years of age or younger. At the federal level, the bill requires federal law enforcement officers to record youth custodial interrogations, limits the use of solitary confinement for youth at federal facilities, and limits the use of restraints on youth during federal court proceedings. At the state and local levels, the bill places conditions on existing grants and establishes a new grant to incentivize the implementation of similar policies with respect to youth. First, the bill reauthorizes the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program for FY2021-FY2025. To be eligible for grant funds, state and local governments must implement policies that, with respect to youth, provide a right to speedy trial, provide a right to timely bail consideration, and restrict the use of solitary confinement. Second, a state or local government that receives funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program or the Community Oriented Policing Services program must implement policies and training on police-youth interaction. Third, the bill directs the Department of Justice to award grants to help state and local governments record youth custodial interrogations.
Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the storage of firearms and ammunition on residential premises. Specifically, the bill requires firearms and ammunition on residential premises to be safely stored if a minor is likely to gain access without permission or if an individual who resides at the residence is ineligible to possess a firearm. The firearms and ammunition must be safely stored in one of two ways: (1) secured, unloaded, and separated in a safe and locked with a trigger lock; or (2) off the premises at a storage facility or gun range. Safes, trigger locks, and storage facilities must be certified by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Finally, an individual who violates the safe storage requirements is subject to penalties—criminal penalties if the violation results in the discharge of a firearm, or civil penalties if the violation does not result in the discharge of a firearm. Additionally, DOJ must seize and safely store the individual's firearms and ammunition.
Mental Health Access and Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2021 This bill authorizes FY2022 appropriations for the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Social Security Administration to (1) increase access to mental health care treatment and services, and (2) promote reporting of mental health information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
No More Tulias: Drug Law Enforcement Evidentiary Standards Improvement Act of 2021 This bill establishes new requirements for states that receive funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program or under another law enforcement assistance program of the Department of Justice. Specifically, to be eligible for funds, states must either not fund antidrug task forces or have in effect laws that require convictions for drug offenses to be supported by evidence other than eyewitness testimony of a law enforcement officer or other individual acting on behalf of a law enforcement officer, and ensure law enforcement officers who participate in antidrug task forces are evaluated for integrity and honesty. Additionally, an eligible state that receives funds because these laws are in effect must collect and report data on criminal charges, including the racial distribution, nature, and location of such charges.
Reforming Alternatives to Incarceration and Sentencing to Establish a Better Path for Youth Act of 2021 or the RAISE Act of 2021 This bill modifies requirements and procedures related to the sentencing, confinement, and release of youth who are involved in the federal criminal justice system. The term youth means an individual who is prosecuted or sentenced for a criminal offense committed at age 21 or younger. The bill modifies federal sentencing options for youth, including by allowing courts to depart from the statutory mandatory minimum for certain nonviolent offenses, to reduce the prison term of a youth who has completed 20 years of the sentence, and to treat as discretionary a statutory mandatory life prison term. Additionally, it requires the Bureau of Prisons to separately designate youth correctional facilities, minimize contact between youth and other offenders, and establish programs regarding youth education, skills training, reentry, and mental and emotional health. Finally, the bill promotes reentry and reintegration into the community, including by providing an early release option for youth offenders who complete one half or more of their prison term and meet certain criteria; authorizing home confinement for a longer period of time; limiting the maximum prison term for technical violations of probation; establishing pilot programs for mentorship, government service, and animal service; and establishing pilot programs for diversion of high-risk, victimized, and primary caretaker youth.
Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act This bill establishes a process for the licensing and registration of firearms. It also prohibits the possession of certain ammunition and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. First, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives must establish (1) a licensing system for the possession of firearms or ammunition, and (2) a registration system for firearms. In addition, the Department of Justice (DOJ) must establish and maintain a publicly available database of all registered firearms. Next, the bill creates licensing requirements for the possession of a firearm and ammunition. DOJ shall issue such a license if the individual is 21 years of age or older, undergoes a criminal background check and psychological evaluation, completes a certified training course, and has an insurance policy. It also outlines the circumstances under which DOJ must deny a license (e.g., the individual was hospitalized with a mental illness). It also establishes additional requirements for an antique firearm display license and a military-style weapons license. The bill generally prohibits and penalizes the possession of a firearm or ammunition unless the individual complies with licensing and registration requirements. Further, it prohibits the transfer of a firearm or ammunition to an unlicensed person. Finally, it generally prohibits and penalizes (1) the possession of ammunition that is 0.50 caliber or greater, and (2) the possession of a large capacity ammunition feed device.
Gun Safety: Not Sorry Act of 2021 This bill modifies firearms-related background check requirements for transfers involving a semiautomatic firearm, silencer, armor-piercing ammunition, or large capacity ammunition magazine. For transfers by a federally licensed dealer, manufacturer, or importer to a private party, the bill lengthens the number of business days—from three to seven—that the federal licensee must wait for the background check results prior to completing the transfer. For transfers between private parties, the bill establishes a minimum seven-day waiting period.