“A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to punish criminal offenses targeting first responders, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a new federal offense at 18 U.S.C. §121 for knowingly assaulting—or attempting to assault—a first responder engaged in official duties and causing serious bodily injury, if the offense occurs during interstate or foreign travel by the defendant or victim; uses interstate or foreign commerce; employs a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device, or other weapon that has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce; interferes with or affects interstate or foreign commerce; or involves a federal first responder. Penalties include imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or for any term of years or life if death results or the offense includes kidnapping or attempted kidnapping or killing. Prosecution requires written certification by the Attorney General (or designee) that the state lacks jurisdiction, has requested federal jurisdiction, obtained a verdict or sentence leaving the federal interest in public safety unvindicated, or that federal prosecution is in the public interest and necessary for substantial justice. The section defines first responder by reference to 34 U.S.C. §10284 (i.e., firefighters, law enforcement officers, rescue squad or ambulance crew members) and adds officially recognized or designated employees or volunteers of paramedic ALS intercept services meeting specified regulatory requirements; it also makes a conforming amendment to the table of sections for 18 U.S.C. chapter 7.