Overview
Title
To authorize peace officer standards and training agencies to access criminal history records, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to let special groups, who help decide how police officers should be trained and behave, see people’s criminal records. This will help them make sure police officers are doing the right thing.
Summary AI
The bill S. 5472, titled the "Criminal History Access Act of 2024," is proposed to allow peace officer standards and training agencies to access criminal history records. These agencies are responsible for setting standards for hiring, training, and maintaining ethical conduct for law enforcement officers in various states and U.S. territories. To implement this, the bill calls for changes to existing federal regulations under Title 28 of the United States Code to include these agencies in the list of entities authorized to access criminal history information. The Attorney General is tasked with updating the pertinent regulations within 180 days of the bill’s enactment.
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AnalysisAI
The proposed bill, introduced in the U.S. Senate as S. 5472, is titled the "Criminal History Access Act of 2024." The key objective of this legislation is to authorize peace officer standards and training agencies to access criminal history records. These agencies, typically at the state level, are responsible for establishing criteria for the recruitment, training, and maintenance of law enforcement officers. By permitting these agencies access to criminal history data, the bill aims to enhance law enforcement standards across the United States and its territories.
General Summary of the Bill
The Criminal History Access Act of 2024 defines essential terms such as "peace officer standards and training agency" and "State." It proposes amendments to Section 534(e) of title 28 of the United States Code to include these agencies among the entities allowed to access criminal history records. Additionally, it mandates the Attorney General to update the relevant federal regulations within 180 days to ensure compliance with the act.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the primary issues identified with the bill is the potential for legal ambiguity in defining "peace officer standards and training agencies." The definition is critical to ensuring that the right agencies gain access to criminal history records. If the definition is not clear or enacted properly, it could result in confusion or misuse of access rights.
Another concern is the 180-day timeline for the Attorney General to amend federal regulations to align them with the provisions of the bill. This timeframe might be insufficient given the complexity of the necessary changes, potentially impacting the thoroughness and effectiveness of the implementation.
Impact on the Public
Broadly speaking, the bill could lead to improvements in law enforcement practices by ensuring that agencies tasked with maintaining standards have access to comprehensive background information on individuals. This enhancement could contribute to more informed hiring and training decisions within law enforcement, thereby potentially improving public safety and trust in law enforcement agencies.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For peace officer standards and training agencies, this bill simplifies the process of accessing essential criminal history information, empowering them to fulfill their duties more effectively. This could lead to better-prepared law enforcement personnel and improved ethical standards within the forces.
However, there may also be concerns about privacy and the handling of sensitive information. Stakeholders, including privacy advocacy groups, might argue that increased access to criminal records requires robust oversight to prevent misuse of data and protect individual privacy rights.
In conclusion, while the bill aims to enhance law enforcement frameworks across states by improving access to critical data, it must address potential ambiguities and timing challenges to ensure effective and responsible implementation.
Issues
The dependence on the definition of 'peace officer standards and training agencies' provided in section 2 for amendments to section 534(e) of title 28 may create legal ambiguity if the future enactment or definition is not adequately clear or established. This lack of clarity can result in confusion about which agencies are eligible for access to criminal history records. (Section 3)
The Attorney General is tasked with amending section part 20 of title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations within 180 days to carry out the provisions of this Act. This timeline might be considered insufficient for a thorough evaluation and comprehensive implementation, possibly impacting the quality and effectiveness of the regulatory amendments. (Section 3)
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this act states its official title, which is "Criminal History Access Act of 2024."
2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section of the bill defines two key terms: (1) A "peace officer standards and training agency" is an agency in a State responsible for setting rules about hiring, training, and maintaining law enforcement officers through certifications or licenses. (2) The term "State" includes all U.S. States, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and other U.S. territories.
3. Amendments Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendments to Section 534(e) of title 28 of the United States Code involve changes to the list of entities by removing specific punctuation and adding "peace officer standards training agencies" to the list. Additionally, the Attorney General is required to update certain federal regulations within 180 days to align with the Act's provisions.