Public Law 116–249: To amend title 18, United States Code, with regard to stalking.Public Law249Public Law 116–249134 Stat. 11262020-12-222020-12-22United States Government Publishing OfficeNational Archives and Records AdministrationOffice of the Federal Registertext/xmlENPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.GPO Locator to USLM Converter 4.15.31;Stage2.202507022026-01-02116publicPUBLIC LAW 116–249—DEC. 22, 2020134 STAT. 1126Public Law116–249116th CongressAn Act To amend title 18, United States Code, with regard to stalking.
Dec. 22, 2020
[S. 134]
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Combat Online Predators Act.
SECTION 1.
18 USC 1 note.
SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Combat Online Predators Act”.SEC. 2. ENHANCED PENALTY FOR STALKERS OF CHILDREN.(a) In General.—Chapter 110A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2261A the following:“§ 2261B.
18 USC 2261B.
Enhanced penalty for stalkers of children“(a) In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b), if the victim of an offense under section 2261A is under the age of 18 years, the maximum imprisonment for the offense is 5 years greater than the maximum term of imprisonment otherwise provided for that offense in section 2261.“(b) Limitation.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to a person who violates section 2261A if—“(1) the person is subject to a sentence under section 2261(b)(5); and“(2)(A) the person is under the age of 18 at the time the offense occurred; or“(B) the victim of the offense is not less than 15 nor more than 17 years of age and not more than 3 years younger than the person who committed the offense at the time the offense occurred.”.(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 110A of title 18, United States Code,
22 USC 2261 prec.
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2261A the following new item:“2261B. (c) Conforming Amendment.—Section 2261A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking “section 2261(b) of this title” and inserting “section 2261(b) or section 2261B, as the case may be”.SEC. 3. REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES REGARDING ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI-STALKING LAWS. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report to Congress, which shall—134 STAT. 1127(1)
Evaluation.
include an evaluation of Federal, Tribal, State, and local efforts to enforce laws relating to stalking; and(2) identify and describe those elements of such efforts that constitute the best practices for the enforcement of such laws.ApprovedDecember 22, 2020.LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 134:CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:Vol. 165 (2019):