3.0.0 3020 2023-01-14T22:48:29Z 2023-01-14T22:48:29Z Senate S S 2004-11-19 108 ssju00 Judiciary Committee Senate Standing Referred to 2004-11-20T01:31:54Z 2004-11-19 ssju00 Judiciary Committee Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR 11/20/2004 S11648) IntroReferral 2004-11-19 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 11/20/2004 S11646-11648) IntroReferral B00100 9 Library of Congress 2004-11-19 Introduced in Senate IntroReferral 10000 9 Library of Congress D000388 Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT] CHRISTOPHER DODD D CT JOHN N Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Broadcast journalism Confidential communications Crime and Law Enforcement Evidence (Law) Freedom of the press Government Operations and Politics Law Periodicals Photography Press organizations Reporters and reporting Science, Technology, Communications Subpoena Video tape recording Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues 00 2004-11-19 Introduced in Senate 2005-01-07T20:05:11Z Free Speech Protection Act of 2004 - Prohibits judicial, legislative, or executive branch entities of the Federal Government with the power to issue subpoenas or provide other compulsory process from compelling any person who engages in news or information gathering for dissemination to the public (covered person) through the news media to disclose: (1) the source of news or information, or any information that would tend to identify the source, whether or not the source has been promised confidentiality; or (2) any news or information procurred while providing services to the news media that is not itself communicated to the news media. Extends this protection to supervisors, employers, or other persons assisting a covered person.

Renders inadmissible in any Federal action, proceeding, or hearing news or information obtained in violation of this Act.

Creates an exception from the prohibition on compelled disclosure for news or information not communicated to the news media if a court finds that the requesting party has established by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) disclosure is critical and necessary to the resolution of a significant legal issue; (2) the news or information could not be obtained by alternative means; and (3) there is an overriding public interest in disclosure.

States that publication by the news media, or dissemination by a person while providing services for the news media, of a source of news or information shall not constitute a waiver of the protections provided by this Act.

]]> Free Speech Protection Act of 2004 Display Title Free Speech Protection Act of 2004 Official Title as Introduced A bill to establish protections against compelled disclosure of sources, and news or information, by persons providing services for the news media. Introduced in Senate IS Short Titles as Introduced Free Speech Protection Act of 2004 Introduced in Senate 2004-11-19T05:00:00Z 2004-11-19 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR 11/20/2004 S11648) text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.