Latest Action: 11/19/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10607)

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A bill making supplemental appropriations for job creation and preservation, infrastructure investment, and economic and energy assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 10/01/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10326)

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A bill to create a grant program for collaboration programs that ensure coordination among criminal justice agencies, adult protective services agencies, victim assistance programs, and other agencies or organizations providing services to individuals with disabilities in the investigation and response to abuse of or crimes committed against such individuals. 10/1/2008--Introduced. Crime Victims with Disabilities Act of 2008 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to states, local governments, Indian tribes, or tribal organizations to plan for or implement a collaboration program to investigate and remediate abuse of or crimes committed against individuals with disabilities and to provide services to such individuals. Requires the Attorney General to establish a national center to evaluate the effectiveness of such programs.Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish a [...]

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Latest Action: 09/25/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9516)

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A bill to authorize funding for the National Crime Victim Law Institute to provide support for victims of crime under Crime Victims Legal Assistance Programs as a part of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.

9/25/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Justice for All Act of 2004 to extend through FY2013 funding for the grant program to provide legal assistance to victims of crime.

Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

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To provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts. 9/26/2008--Introduced. Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act - Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to delegate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to administer the veteran's treatment courts program established by this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states and other entities: (1) to develop, implement, or enhance veteran's treatment courts or to expand operational drug courts to serve veterans; and (2) for programs that involve continuing judicial supervision over nonviolent offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems who have served in the U.S. military. Requires such programs to include mandatory periodic testing for the use of drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, opportunities for diversion, probation, or supervised release, and programmatic, offender management, and aftercare [...]

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Latest Action: 09/25/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A bill to encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert plans throughout the United States, to authorize grants for the assistance of organizations to find missing adults, and for other purposes. 9/25/2008--Introduced. National Silver Alert Act - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish a national Silver Alert communications network within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist regional and local search efforts for missing seniors; (2) assign a DOJ officer to serve as the Silver Alert Coordinator to coordinate the network with states; and (3) award grants to states for support of Silver Alert plans and the network. Defines "missing senior" as any individual who is reported as missing to or by a law enforcement agency and who meets state requirements for designation as a missing senior. Directs the Coordinator to: (1) establish minimum standards for the issuance and dissemination of alerts issued through the network; and (2) make available to states,[...]

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Latest Action: 10/15/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
A bill to authorize funding for the National Crime Victim Law Institute to provide support for victims of crime under Crime Victims Legal Assistance Programs as a part of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.

10/15/2008--Public Law.    (There is 1 other summary)

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

Amends the Justice for All Act of 2004 to extend through FY2013 funding for the grant program to provide legal assistance to victims of crime.

Latest Action: 09/17/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

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To amend and improve the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, and for other purposes. 9/17/2008--Introduced. Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2008 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to: (1) revise the definition of "contact" in such Act to include any sight or sound interaction between a juvenile in custody and an adult inmate; (2) expand eligibility for participation in grant programs under such Act to certain individuals and organizations with an interest in the juvenile justice system ("juvenile justice stakeholders"); (3) require state plans under such Act to provide for increased protections for juveniles in custody, provide for culturally and linguistically appropriate services to juveniles at risk, and establish policies and strategies to identify and reduce racial and ethnic disparities among youths in the juvenile justice system; (4) require the inclusion on state juvenile delinquency prevention [...]

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Latest Action: 09/08/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 944.

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A bill to provide for the investigation of certain unsolved civil rights crimes, and for other purposes. 8/1/2008--Introduced. Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death. Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the DOJ to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before January 1, 1970, and resulted in a death. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of such cases. Amends the Crime Control [...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A bill to provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act - Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to delegate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to administer the veteran's treatment courts program established by this Act.Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states and other entities: (1) to develop, implement, or enhance veteran's treatment courts or to expand operational drug courts to serve veterans; and (2) for programs that involve continuing judicial supervision over nonviolent offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems who have served in the U.S. military. Requires such programs to include mandatory periodic testing for the use of drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, opportunities for diversion, probation, or supervised release, and programmatic, offender management, and aftercare [...]

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Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8017-8019)

Bill Text
A bill to provide for the investigation of certain unsolved civil rights crimes, and for other purposes. 7/28/2008--Introduced. Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death. Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the DOJ to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before January 1, 1970, and resulted in a death. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of such cases. Amends the Crime Control [...]

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Latest Action: 07/28/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 906.

Bill Text
A bill to defend against child exploitation and child pornography through improved Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and enhanced tools to block illegal images, and to eliminate the unwarranted release of convicted sex offenders. 7/26/2008--Introduced. Protecting Children from Pornography and Internet Exploitation Act of 2008 - Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act of 2008 or the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to create and implement a National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction and to submit such Strategy to Congress by February 1 of each year.Establishes within the Department of Justice (DOJ) a National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program consisting of state and local law enforcement task forces (including at least one ICAC Task Force for each state) to address online enticement of children, child exploitation, and child [...]

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Latest Action: 10/13/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-403.

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A bill to enhance remedies for violations of intellectual property laws, and for other purposes. 10/13/2008--Public Law.    (There is 1 other summary) Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 - Title I: Enhancements to Civil Intellectual Property Laws - (Sec. 101) Amends federal copyright law to provide that copyright registration requirements apply to civil (not criminal) infringement actions and provide a safe harbor for copyright registrations that contain inaccurate information.(Sec. 102) Allows a court, while an infringement action is pending, to impound records documenting the manufacture, sale, or receipt of related things, requiring a protective order to ensure that confidential, private, proprietary, or privileged information is not improperly disclosed or used.Amends trademark seizure provisions to broaden protective order requirements.(Sec. 103) Amends the Trademark Act to revise [...]

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Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act, the Indian Tribal Justice Act, the Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal Assistance Act of 2000, and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to improve the prosecution of, and response to, crimes in Indian country, and for other purposes. 7/23/2008--Introduced. Tribal Law and Order Act of 2008 - Amends the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to submit to Congress a long-term plan to address incarceration in Indian country. Authorizes each U.S. Attorney serving a district that includes Indian country to appoint Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys to prosecute crimes in Indian country when the crime rate, or the rate at which criminal offenses are declined to be prosecuted, exceeds the national average. Establishes in the Department of Justice's (DOJ) criminal division an Office of Indian Country Crime.Requires the United States to maintain concurrent jurisdiction [...]

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Latest Action: 07/23/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7156)

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A bill to establish a Federal Polygamy Task Force, to authorize assistance for victims of polygamy, and for other purposes. 7/23/2008--Introduced. Victims of Polygamy Assistance Act of 2008 - Establishes within the Department of Justice a Federal Polygamy Task Force to strengthen federal law enforcement activities and provide state and local law enforcement officials the assistance they need to address the illegal activity of one or more polygamist organizations. Requires the Federal Polygamy Task Force to: (1) formulate effective responses to the unique set of crimes committed by polygamist organizations; (2) establish partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies to share relevant information and strengthen state and federal efforts to combat crimes perpetrated by polygamist organizations; (3) assist states by providing strategies and support for the protection of witnesses; (4) track the criminal behavior of polygamist organizations that cross state [...]

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Latest Action: 07/23/2008 - Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions

Bill Text
To amend the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act, the Indian Tribal Justice Act, the Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal Assistance Act of 2000, and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to improve the prosecution of, and response to, crimes in Indian country, and for other purposes. 7/23/2008--Introduced. Tribal Law and Order Act of 2008 - Amends the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to submit to Congress a long-term plan to address incarceration in Indian country. Authorizes each U.S. Attorney serving a district that includes Indian country to appoint Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys to prosecute crimes in Indian country when the crime rate, or the rate at which criminal offenses are declined to be prosecuted, exceeds the national average. Establishes in the Department of Justice's (DOJ) criminal division an Office of Indian Country Crime.Requires the United States to maintain concurrent jurisdiction to [...]

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Latest Action: 11/20/2008 - Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S10702)

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A bill to advance America's priorities. 7/22/2008--Introduced. Advancing America's Priorities Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) establish a system to collect data on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and establish a registry for such data; (2) provide for an education and information campaign to promote stroke prevention; and (3) award grants for a pilot project to improve stroke patient outcomes by coordinating health care delivery through telehealth networks.Establishes programs for research, rehabilitation, and quality of life for people with paralysis.Provides for support services to women suffering from postpartum depression and who receive a positive diagnosis of Down syndrome or other prenatally or postnatally diagnosed conditions. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states to provide vision care for children. Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to expand services for homeless youth [...]

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Latest Action: 07/21/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6974-6975)

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A bill to provide financial aid to local law enforcement officials along the Nation's borders, and for other purposes.

7/21/2008--Introduced.

Border Law Enforcement Relief Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible law enforcement agencies to assist such agencies in addressing border-related criminal activity within their jurisdictions. Defines "eligible law enforcement agency" as a tribal, state, or local law enforcement agency located or performing duties in a county that is within 100 miles of the Mexican or Canadian border or a county that has been certified by the Attorney General as a high impact area.

Latest Action: 09/22/2008 - Received in the Senate.

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To amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to reauthorize the Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program. 9/17/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program Reauthorization of 2008 - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to reauthorize the Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program through FY2015 and to revise program requirements to: (1) provide for competitive grants to nonprofit organizations to assist in locating missing patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; (2) expand such program to include locating other missing elderly individuals; (3) require the Attorney General to solicit grants for program applications in the Federal Register and on the Department of Justice (DOJ) website;[...]

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Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-472. Additional and Minority views filed.

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A bill to reauthorize and improve the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, and for other purposes. 6/18/2008--Introduced. Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (Act) to reauthorize through FY2013 the juvenile delinquency prevention programs of such Act. Requires the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (Office) to include in the annual report of the Office information on juveniles held in state and local secure detention and correctional facilities, the treatment of status offenders (e.g., runaways, truants), and evidence based programs for juvenile delinquency prevention. Expands requirements for state plans under the Act to require: (1) statewide compliance with the core requirement of the Act for protection of incarcerated juveniles; (2) alternatives to detention for juveniles who are status or first-time [...]

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Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5821-5822)

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A bill to assist law enforcement agencies in locating, arresting, and prosecuting fugitives from justice. 6/17/2008--Introduced. Capture Arrest and Transport Charged Fugitives Act of 2008 - Amends the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000 to authorize appropriations through FY2015 for establishing new Regional Fugitive Task Forces and for hiring criminal investigators and providing training for such Task Forces. Requires the Attorney General to: (1) provide transportation services to state and local governments for the extradition of fugitives through the U.S. Marshal Service Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation Service; (2) make grants to states for the extradition of fugitives to other states for prosecution; and (3) make grants to states for establishing or upgrading information and identification technologies for serious misdemeanor and felony warrants. Makes state compliance with felony and serious misdemeanor warrant reporting requirements a condition [...]

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Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with amendments. Without written report.

Bill Text
A bill to encourage the entry of felony warrants into the NCIC database by States and provide additional resources for extradition. 9/18/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Fugitive Information Networked Database Act of 2008 or the FIND Act - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to states for use by states or Indian tribes to develop and implement or upgrade secure electronic warrant management systems for the preparation, submission, and validation of state felony warrants that are compatible and interoperable with the National Crime Information Center Database (NCIC Database). Provides for set asides of grant funds to hire additional perso