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Bill116th CongressFiled Jun 8, 2020Crime and Law Enforcement
H.R. 7120

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house (Jun 25, 2020)

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020

This bill addresses a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. It increases accountability for law enforcement misconduct, restricts the use of certain policing practices, enhances transparency and data collection, and establishes best practices and training requirements.

The bill enhances existing enforcement mechanisms to remedy violations by law enforcement. Among other things, it does the following:

  • lowers the criminal intent standard—from willful to knowing or reckless—to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct in a federal prosecution,
  • limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer, and
  • grants administrative subpoena power to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in pattern-or-practice investigations.

It establishes a framework to prevent and remedy racial profiling by law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels. It also limits the unnecessary use of force and restricts the use of no-knock warrants, chokeholds, and carotid holds.

The bill creates a national registry—the National Police Misconduct Registry—to compile data on complaints and records of police misconduct. It also establishes new reporting requirements, including on the use of force, officer misconduct, and routine policing practices (e.g., stops and searches).

Finally, it directs DOJ to create uniform accreditation standards for law enforcement agencies and requires law enforcement officers to complete training on racial profiling, implicit bias, and the duty to intervene when another officer uses excessive force.

What just happenedJul 20, 2020

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 490.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37](D-CA)Sponsor
230 cosponsors230 D
Read on Congress.gov
230cosponsors3committees29actions1amendments13related bills58subjects
  1. Jul 20, 2020Calendars

    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 490.

  2. Jul 2, 2020Calendars

    Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

  3. Jun 29, 2020IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate.

  4. Jun 25, 2020FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  5. Jun 25, 2020FloorH37100

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 236 - 181 (Roll no. 119). (text: CR H2440-2453)

  6. Jun 25, 2020Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 236 - 181 (Roll no. 119).(text: CR H2440-2453)

  7. Jun 25, 2020FloorH36110

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 180 - 236 (Roll no. 118).

    Judiciary Committee
  8. Jun 25, 2020FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2504-2506)

  9. Jun 25, 2020FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions, the Chair put the question on the motion and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Stauber demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further consideration on the motion to recommit until a time to be announced.

  10. Jun 25, 2020FloorH8A000

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

  11. Jun 25, 2020FloorH8D000

    Floor summary: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Stauber motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to strike section 2 and all that follows of the bill and insert new text entitled, "George Floyd and Walter Scott Notification Act."

  12. Jun 25, 2020FloorH36100

    Mr. Stauber moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2491-2501)

    Judiciary Committee
  13. Jun 25, 2020FloorH35000

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  14. Jun 25, 2020FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with four hours of debate on H.R. 7120.

  15. Jun 25, 2020FloorH8D000

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1425, H.R. 5332, H.R. 7120, H.R. 7301 and H.J. Res. 90. The resolution provides that the provisions of section 125(c) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act shall not apply during the remainder of the 116th Congress and the resolution amends H.Res. 967, agreed to on May 15, 2020.

  16. Jun 25, 2020FloorH30000

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1017. (consideration: CR H2439-2503)

  17. Jun 24, 2020FloorH1L210

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1017 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1425, H.R. 5332, H.R. 7120, H.R. 7301 and H.J. Res. 90. The resolution provides that the provisions of section 125(c) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act shall not apply during the remainder of the 116th Congress and the resolution amends H.Res. 967, agreed to on May 15, 2020.

  18. Jun 19, 2020CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 348.

  19. Jun 19, 2020DischargeH12300

    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  20. Jun 19, 2020Committee5500

    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  21. Jun 19, 2020DischargeH12300

    Committee on Armed Services discharged.

    Armed Services Committee
  22. Jun 19, 2020Committee5500

    Committee on Armed Services discharged.

    Armed Services Committee
  23. Jun 19, 2020CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 116-434, Part I.

    Judiciary Committee
  24. Jun 19, 2020Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 116-434, Part I.

    Judiciary Committee
  25. Jun 8, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  26. Jun 8, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Armed Services Committee
  27. Jun 8, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Judiciary Committee
  28. Jun 8, 2020IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  29. Jun 8, 2020IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed HouseJun 25, 202053

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020

This bill addresses a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. It increases accountability for law enforcement misconduct, restricts the use of certain policing practices, enhances transparency and data collection, and establishes best practices and training requirements.

The bill enhances existing enforcement mechanisms to remedy violations by law enforcement. Among other things, it does the following:

  • lowers the criminal intent standard—from willful to knowing or reckless—to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct in a federal prosecution,
  • limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer, and
  • grants administrative subpoena power to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in pattern-or-practice investigations.

It establishes a framework to prevent and remedy racial profiling by law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels. It also limits the unnecessary use of force and restricts the use of no-knock warrants, chokeholds, and carotid holds.

The bill creates a national registry—the National Police Misconduct Registry—to compile data on complaints and records of police misconduct. It also establishes new reporting requirements, including on the use of force, officer misconduct, and routine policing practices (e.g., stops and searches).

Finally, it directs DOJ to create uniform accreditation standards for law enforcement agencies and requires law enforcement officers to complete training on racial profiling, implicit bias, and the duty to intervene when another officer uses excessive force.

Introduced in HouseJun 8, 2020

Justice in Policing Act of 2020

This bill 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.

The bill facilitates federal enforcement of constitutional violations (e.g., excessive use of force) by state and local law enforcement. Among other things, it does the following:

  • lowers the criminal intent standard—from willful to knowing or reckless—to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct in a federal prosecution,
  • limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer or state correctional officer, and
  • authorizes the Department of Justice to issue subpoenas in investigations of police departments for a pattern or practice of discrimination.

The bill also creates a national registry—the National Police Misconduct Registry—to compile data on complaints and records of police misconduct.

It establishes a framework to prohibit racial profiling at the federal, state, and local levels.

The bill establishes new requirements for law enforcement officers and agencies, including to report data on use-of-force incidents, to obtain training on implicit bias and racial profiling, and to wear body cameras.

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 — Informed