Floor Situation

H.R. 5662 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage.  The legislation was introduced by Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) on July 1, 2010.  The House Committee on the Judiciary took no official action on H.R. 5662.

Bill Summary

H.R. 5662 would amend federal code to clarify that it is illegal for a person, “with intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate a person,” to engage “in any conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States that:

 

1. Causes or attempts to cause bodily injury or serious emotional distress to a person other than the person engaging in the conduct; or

 

1. Occurs in circumstances where the conduct would be reasonably expected to cause the other person serious emotional distress.”

 

The bill extends the prison time and/or sentence for an offense if the offense involves conduct in violation of a protection order, or if the victim of the offense is under the age of 18 years.

The bill would also require that an annual report be filed that includes an evaluation of Federal, tribal, state, and local efforts to enforce laws related to stalking, and identify and describe the elements that constitute the best practices for the enforcement of such laws.

Cost

The Congressional Budget Office has not produced a cost estimate for H.R. 5662 as of press time.