[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4121 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4121

 To amend title 18, United States Code, to penalize those who endanger 
                    children in hostage situations.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 1996

  Mr. Frank of Massachusetts introduced the following bill; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 18, United States Code, to penalize those who endanger 
                    children in hostage situations.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Child Hostage Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. ENDANGERMENT OF CHILDREN DURING LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 73 (relating to obstruction of justice) of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 1518. Endangerment of children during law enforcement situations
    ``(a) Whoever, having custody or control over an individual under 
the age of 18 years, knowingly keeps that individual, with reckless 
disregard for the safety of the individual, in a situation in which the 
individual could be endangered during a Federal law enforcement action 
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 2 
years, or both.
    ``(b) As used in this section the term `Federal law enforcement 
action' means any action to enforce a criminal law in which a Federal 
law enforcement officer participates.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 73 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new item:

``1518. Endangerment of children during law enforcement situations.''.
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