LYNN'S LIST
LYNN’S LIST FOR APRIL 26, 2021
Protection of Civil Liberties
Federal
The Senate overwhelmingly approved the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, S.937, hate-crimes legislation aimed at reducing violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and motivated, in part, by the Atlanta spa shootings that killed six women of Asian descent. Senator Raphael Warnock became one of the main champions of the legislation in the days after the deadly mass shooting. It now goes to the House, where a vote is expected on Thursday, April 29.
H.R.7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 addresses a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. It includes measures to increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct, to enhance transparency and data collection, and to eliminate discriminatory policing practices. Key points contained in the bill include:
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lowers the criminal intent standard to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct from willful to knowing or reckless in a federal prosecution;
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limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer or state correctional officer; and
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authorizes the Department of Justice to issue subpoenas in investigations of police departments for a pattern or practice of discrimination.
The bill creates a national registry called the National Police Misconduct Registry to compile data on complaints and records of police misconduct and establishes a framework to prohibit racial profiling at the federal, state, and local levels.
The bill now sits in the Senate.
There are 81 weeks until the 2022 midterm elections. As always, it’s a marathon and not a sprint.
The link to your legislators is here.
Stay safe and wear your mask, even if you are fully vaccinated.
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