[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2883 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.2883
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four
An Act
To amend the International Child Abduction Remedies Act to limit the
tort liability of private entities or organizations that carry out
responsibilities of the United States Central Authority under that Act.
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 ``Prevention of Child Abduction
Partnership Act''.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.
Section 7 of the International Child Abduction Remedies Act (42
U.S.C. 11606) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(f) Limited Liability of Private Entities Acting Under the
Direction of the United States Central Authority.--
``(1) Limitation on liability.--Except as provided in
paragraphs (2) and (3), a private entity or organization that
receives a grant from or enters into a contract or agreement with
the United States Central Authority under subsection (e) of this
section for purposes of assisting the United States Central
Authority in carrying out its responsibilities and functions under
the Convention and this Act, including any director, officer,
employee, or agent of such entity or organization, shall not be
liable in any civil action sounding in tort for damages directly
related to the performance of such responsibilities and functions
as defined by the regulations issued under subsection (c) of this
section that are in effect on October 1, 2004.
``(2) Exception for intentional, reckless, or other
misconduct.--The limitation on liability under paragraph (1) shall
not apply in any action in which the plaintiff proves that the
private entity, organization, officer, employee, or agent described
in paragraph (1), as the case may be, engaged in intentional
misconduct or acted, or failed to act, with actual malice, with
reckless disregard to a substantial risk of causing injury without
legal justification, or for a purpose unrelated to the performance
of responsibilities or functions under this Act.
``(3) Exception for ordinary business activities.--The
limitation on liability under paragraph (1) shall not apply to any
alleged act or omission related to an ordinary business activity,
such as an activity involving general administration or operations,
the use of motor vehicles, or personnel management.''.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.