110 HR 2640 EH: NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007
U.S. House of Representatives
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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.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Title I—Transmittal of records
Sec. 101. Enhancement of requirement that Federal departments and agencies provide relevant information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
Sec. 102. Requirements to obtain waiver.
Sec. 103. Implementation assistance to States.
Sec. 104. Penalties for noncompliance.
Sec. 105. Relief from disabilities program required as condition for participation in grant programs.
Title II—Focusing Federal assistance on the improvement of relevant records
Sec. 201. Continuing evaluations.
Title III—Grants to State court systems for the improvement in automation and transmittal of disposition records
Sec. 301. Disposition records automation and transmittal improvement grants.
Title IV—GAO audit
Sec. 401. GAO audit.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)Approximately 916,000 individuals were prohibited from purchasing a firearm for failing a background check between November 30, 1998, (the date the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) began operating) and December 31, 2004.
(2)From November 30, 1998, through December 31, 2004, nearly 49,000,000 Brady background checks were processed through NICS.
(3)Although most Brady background checks are processed through NICS in seconds, many background checks are delayed if the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) does not have automated access to complete information from the States concerning persons prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under Federal or State law.
(4)Nearly 21,000,000 criminal records are not accessible by NICS and millions of criminal records are missing critical data, such as arrest dispositions, due to data backlogs.
(5)The primary cause of delay in NICS background checks is the lack of—
(A)updates and available State criminal disposition records; and
(B)automated access to information concerning persons prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm because of mental illness, restraining orders, or misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence.
(6)Automated access to this information can be improved by—
(A)computerizing information relating to criminal history, criminal dispositions, mental illness, restraining orders, and misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence; or
(B)making such information available to NICS in a usable format.
(7)Helping States to automate these records will reduce delays for law-abiding gun purchasers.
(8)On March 12, 2002, the senseless shooting, which took the lives of a priest and a parishioner at the Our Lady of Peace Church in Lynbrook, New York, brought attention to the need to improve information-sharing that would enable Federal and State law enforcement agencies to conduct a complete background check on a potential firearm purchaser. The man who committed this double murder had a prior disqualifying mental health commitment and a restraining order against him, but passed a Brady background check because NICS did not have the necessary information to determine that he was ineligible to purchase a firearm under Federal or State law.
3.As used in this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)The term court order includes a court order (as described in section 922(g)(8) of title 18, United States Code).
(2)The terms adjudicated as a mental defective, committed to a mental institution, and related terms have the meanings given those terms in regulations implementing section 922(g)(4) of title 18, United States Code, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3)Misdemeanor crime of domestic violenceThe term misdemeanor crime of domestic violence has the meaning given the term in section 921(a)(33) of title 18, United States Code.
<enum>I</enum><header>Transmittal of records</header>
<section id="HBADF613004DB4BF30083865708C75C4C"><enum>101.</enum><header>Enhancement of requirement that Federal departments and agencies provide relevant information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System</header>
<subsection id="HB294FAD3198F4E2484A53CD85F495D02"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 103(e)(1) of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">18 U.S.C. 922</external-xref> note) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H7B2A249CD0064846A6F7B18B0077E3B9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Notwithstanding</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H744EC2C738224B26A9A7D59403B24BEB">
<subparagraph id="H351DC352882B4374A723A25D306EBCD5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCA00809E18624ADA8FCC9900C0C6C16F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>On request</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H66D2B8F07B0F437D8E22BA18E4445FA">
<subparagraph id="HFB1B2AE207254558A47F7BD93003902"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Request of Attorney General</header><text>On request</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1E9B239497C943B3AE6FDEF6589987D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking <quote>furnish such information</quote> and inserting <quote>furnish electronic versions of the information described under subparagraph (A)</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H17A7DC5399E149C081A08DF297F8E576"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H5B49D114EC9847D591D58DE622C28304">
<subparagraph id="HF9DA628B222849B6BCCE633B0022E2F9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Quarterly submission to Attorney General</header><text>If a department or agency under subparagraph (A) has any record of any person demonstrating that the person falls within one of the categories described in subsection (g) or (n) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, the head of such department or agency shall, not less frequently than quarterly, provide the pertinent information contained in such record to the Attorney General.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H95983F5504E44133A645F71CEEC61D4C"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Information updates</header><text>The agency, on being made aware that the basis under which a record was made available under subparagraph (A) does not apply, or no longer applies, shall—</text>
<clause id="H579196503AFA48E593CE6E24D0A8003C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>update, correct, modify, or remove the record from any database that the agency maintains and makes available to the Attorney General, in accordance with the rules pertaining to that database; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HF9F08252CA9E4EBFBBD3908678BDE8E3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>notify the Attorney General that such basis no longer applies so that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System is kept up to date.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6A0B832EEEB942A5AB00608B6B624292"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>The Attorney General shall submit an annual report to Congress that describes the compliance of each department or agency with the provisions of this paragraph.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H45BD7E3CEDEC44329378F97F259907AB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Provision and maintenance of NICS records</header>
<paragraph id="H6E39F238F8E24E5FAEF9FE6D677430C5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Department of Homeland Security</header><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make available to the Attorney General—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2560EA9D6B6E44A288B6BD1D8C60EB72"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">records, updated not less than quarterly, which are relevant to a determination of whether a person is disqualified from possessing or receiving a firearm under subsection (g) or (n) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, for use in background checks performed by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA1F79CD9199A414EB4011D1287784E00"><enum>(B)</enum><text>information regarding all the persons described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph who have changed their status to a category not identified under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922(g)(5)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, for removal, when applicable, from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2D69BCB08EB74507833C003E85D7254F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Department of Justice</header><text>The Attorney General shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H798B0D926621482BBCDCC373CB007387"><enum>(A)</enum><text>ensure that any information submitted to, or maintained by, the Attorney General under this section is kept accurate and confidential, as required by the laws, regulations, policies, or procedures governing the applicable record system;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0E0D9DFDF3294D5FB2106E4733AF929"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide for the timely removal and destruction of obsolete and erroneous names and information from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H58C432E466F140A29B56270578BD42E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>work with States to encourage the development of computer systems, which would permit electronic notification to the Attorney General when—</text>
<clause id="H8553CEDAD0CB4FEB8D81D77F4C5615E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a court order has been issued, lifted, or otherwise removed by order of the court; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H11903A1C90BB4C65944C2324A91245E5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a person has been adjudicated as mentally defective or committed to a mental institution.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HFF2FBE5B11B74CF0A8E2E026B0920159"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Standard for adjudications, commitments, and determinations related to mental health</header>
<paragraph id="HA9951A316CFA4A8A9466C85F209C372F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>No department or agency of the Federal Government may provide to the Attorney General any record of an adjudication or determination related to the mental health of a person, or any commitment of a person to a mental institution if—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC91C04267D34497F93083B6526322BA7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the adjudication, determination, or commitment, respectively, has been set aside or expunged, or the person has otherwise been fully released or discharged from all mandatory treatment, supervision, or monitoring;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA671E02ED00A4D9B9CD9F4EE53EB7B5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the person has been found by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority to no longer suffer from the mental health condition that was the basis of the adjudication, determination, or commitment, respectively, or has otherwise been found to be rehabilitated through any procedure available under law; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC0081F1F8B9745288B7C6F59B43B94FF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the adjudication, determination, or commitment, respectively, is based solely on a medical finding of disability, without a finding that the person is a danger to himself or to others or that the person lacks the mental capacity to manage his own affairs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H71EFC547C8DF4FB3B31000CF6BE6BFB9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Treatment of certain adjudications, determinations, and commitments</header>
<subparagraph id="H90F1A1EB73364B92B9034198495045A5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Program for relief from disabilities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each department or agency of the United States that makes any adjudication or determination related to the mental health of a person or imposes any commitment to a mental institution, as described in subsection (d)(4) and (g)(4) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, shall establish a program that permits such a person to apply for relief from the disabilities imposed by such subsections. Relief and judicial review shall be available according to the standards prescribed in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/925">section 925(c)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4781726977074D11A4A908F40094D8CE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Relief from disabilities</header><text>In the case of an adjudication or determination related to the mental health of a person or a commitment of a person to a mental institution, a record of which may not be provided to the Attorney General under paragraph (1), including because of the absence of a finding described in subparagraph (C) of such paragraph, or from which a person has been granted relief under a program established under subparagraph (A), the adjudication, determination, or commitment, respectively, shall be deemed not to have occurred for purposes of subsections (d)(4) and (g)(4) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H3307C6CAD6A14172AD4C832801A6F429"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Information excluded from NICS records</header>
<paragraph id="HEAA0F0030EE04F3E0000155F963CC376"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No department or agency of the Federal Government may make available to the Attorney General, for use by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (nor may the Attorney General make available to such system), the name or any other relevant identifying information of any person adjudicated or determined to be mentally defective or any person committed to a mental institution for purposes of assisting the Attorney General in enforcing subsections (d)(4) and (g)(4) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, unless such adjudication, determination, or commitment, respectively, included a finding that the person is a danger to himself or to others or that the person lacks the mental capacity to manage his own affairs.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8372CD44EB5841919BC2BF6CE013C4C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (1) shall apply to names and other information provided before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. Any name or information provided in violation of paragraph (1) before such date shall be removed from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H0A5670C6C4404B88B7BF8700A2000034"><enum>102.</enum><header>Requirements to obtain waiver</header>
<subsection id="H729F963F18CD40E5BDFB16053566304"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, a State shall be eligible to receive a waiver of the 10 percent matching requirement for National Criminal History Improvement Grants under the Crime Identification Technology Act of 1988 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/14601">42 U.S.C. 14601</external-xref>) if the State provides at least 90 percent of the information described in subsection (c). The length of such a waiver shall not exceed 2 years.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H849E5A99C04E4F2C87796027009524E0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>State estimates</header>
<paragraph id="HB1CAEB5FD34F4871B17F3427F338D686"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Initial State estimate</header>
<subparagraph id="HB3E9617700B14BB99F82EDC042001CF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To assist the Attorney General in making a determination under subsection (a) of this section, and under section 104, concerning the compliance of the States in providing information to the Attorney General for the purpose of receiving a waiver under subsection (a) of this section, or facing a loss of funds under section 104, by a date not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each State shall provide the Attorney General with a reasonable estimate, as calculated by a method determined by the Attorney General, of the number of the records described in subparagraph (C) applicable to such State that concern persons who are prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under subsection (g) or (n) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF06D56E733DE44A6BD6074FCE526D12D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Failure to provide initial estimate</header><text>A State that fails to provide an estimate described in subparagraph (A) by the date required under such subparagraph shall be ineligible to receive any funds under section 103, until such date as it provides such estimate to the Attorney General.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7E6C85CB0DC54028B20152AA96B095A1"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Record defined</header><text>For purposes of subparagraph (A), a record is the following:</text>
<clause id="H4E960D59657A429997ED00550085BDB0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>A record that identifies a person arrested for a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and for which a record of final disposition is available electronically or otherwise.</text></clause>
<clause id="H3E91855224BD4BE5A79238D7374DDA5F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>A record that identifies a person for whose arrest a warrant or process has been issued that is valid under the laws of the State involved, as of the date of the estimate.</text></clause>
<clause id="H500BFC95405847A5936D501219E2A905"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A record that identifies a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance (as such terms <quote>unlawful user</quote> and <quote>addicted</quote> are respectively defined in regulations implementing <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922(g)(3)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act) and whose record is not protected from disclosure to the Attorney General under any provision of State or Federal law.</text></clause>
<clause id="HC297DCA8DDE240AE84345B609DCDC228"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>A record that identifies a person who has been adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution (as determined in regulations implementing <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922(g)(4)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act) and whose record is not protected from disclosure to the Attorney General under any provision of State or Federal law.</text></clause>
<clause id="HC1F7927F1BA44A4600972B38EE5E6E03"><enum>(v)</enum><text>A record that is electronically available and that identifies a person who, as of the date of such estimate, is subject to a court order described in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922(g)(8)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code.</text></clause>
<clause id="H818E1A7F947F44EAA1E8C071654BEF03"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>A record that is electronically available and that identifies a person convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/921">section 921(a)(33)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H700E5ADF0EF8480F91DBD397A3FBEC5E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Scope</header><text>The Attorney General, in determining the compliance of a State under this section or section 104 of this Act for the purpose of granting a waiver or imposing a loss of Federal funds, shall assess the total percentage of records provided by the State concerning any event occurring within the prior 30 years, which would disqualify a person from possessing a firearm under subsection (g) or (n) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6B5EA62E7D5F4E6F91C2CE18B2E00B7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Clarification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding paragraph (2), States shall endeavor to provide the National Instant Criminal Background Check System with all records concerning persons who are prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under subsection (g) or (n) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, regardless of the elapsed time since the disqualifying event.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H194CD267C9C54E3A93C18B431BFBCF86"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligibility of State records for submission to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System</header>
<paragraph id="HD5D19F3292444AD5834356FC90B35C62"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirements for eligibility</header>
<subparagraph id="HE19C895023444561BC2EC9BE22002C86"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>From information collected by a State, the State shall make electronically available to the Attorney General records relevant to a determination of whether a person is disqualified from possessing or receiving a firearm under subsection (g) or (n) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, or applicable State law.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3A5CF36F7E334E4DA17327333802B2D4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>NICS updates</header><text>The State, on being made aware that the basis under which a record was made available under subparagraph (A) does not apply, or no longer applies, shall, as soon as practicable—</text>
<clause id="HC6F912ED914943B7B949BF001EB26517"><enum>(i)</enum><text>update, correct, modify, or remove the record from any database that the Federal or State government maintains and makes available to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, consistent with the rules pertaining to that database; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H935215B0F28B4CFA892CE1C0E6AFF737"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>notify the Attorney General that such basis no longer applies so that the record system in which the record is maintained is kept up to date.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HEB4B7A03E9A342A19191E9B41028C8E3"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Certification</header><text>To remain eligible for a waiver under subsection (a), a State shall certify to the Attorney General, not less than once during each 2-year period, that at least 90 percent of all information described in subparagraph (A) has been made electronically available to the Attorney General in accordance with subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H654AFBB6BC264E04B1CE22BE111493D"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Inclusion of all records</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this paragraph, a State shall identify and include all of the records described under subparagraph (A) without regard to the age of the record.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB39ED43BCF394BBB9D81B9DC854947B4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Application to persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence</header><text>The State shall make available to the Attorney General, for use by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, records relevant to a determination of whether a person has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. With respect to records relating to such crimes, the State shall provide information specifically describing the offense and the specific section or subsection of the offense for which the defendant has been convicted and the relationship of the defendant to the victim in each case.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0496A2A9D9B645ECB58486A6000097BA"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Application to persons who have been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution</header><text>The State shall make available to the Attorney General, for use by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, the name and other relevant identifying information of persons adjudicated as mentally defective or those committed to mental institutions to assist the Attorney General in enforcing <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922(g)(4)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HE390F6792C8F4EED8461A35E3ED5E9D5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Privacy protections</header><text>For any information provided to the Attorney General for use by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, relating to persons prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922(g)(4)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, the Attorney General shall work with States and local law enforcement and the mental health community to establish regulations and protocols for protecting the privacy of information provided to the system. The Attorney General shall make every effort to meet with any mental health group seeking to express its views concerning these regulations and protocols and shall seek to develop regulations as expeditiously as practicable.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HA2F3BCF5CEBD4AEF938E19FC00DDCA9B"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Attorney General report</header><text>Not later than January 31 of each year, the Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of States in automating the databases containing the information described in subsection (b) and in making that information electronically available to the Attorney General pursuant to the requirements of subsection (c).</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HA1A9669A2B44407696F3F7B8094B17C8"><enum>103.</enum><header>Implementation assistance to States</header>
<subsection id="H426A6B7878384E2781150403E243EBF4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorization</header>
<paragraph id="H99E7F07E0CEF4D1696D31B12677E4284"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>From amounts made available to carry out this section and subject to section 102(b)(1)(B), the Attorney General shall make grants to States and Indian tribal governments, in a manner consistent with the National Criminal History Improvement Program, which shall be used by the States and Indian tribal governments, in conjunction with units of local government and State and local courts, to establish or upgrade information and identification technologies for firearms eligibility determinations.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8C6BEF48ED7E4050A454EC9C64315822"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Grants to Indian tribes</header><text>Up to 5 percent of the grant funding available under this section may be reserved for Indian tribal governments, including tribal judicial systems.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H059818E81CE44C738D496456F400F168"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of grant amounts</header><text>Grants awarded to States or Indian tribes under this section may only be used to—</text>
<paragraph id="HA733602AD20C4839AC12BA93DE5DA56"><enum>(1)</enum><text>create electronic systems, which provide accurate and up-to-date information which is directly related to checks under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (referred to in this section as <quote>NICS</quote>), including court disposition and corrections records;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H114687BF8F9C46A78800DCDF00CB7283"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assist States in establishing or enhancing their own capacities to perform NICS background checks;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3912A7B9450B43BC8663CEBD7271BF33"><enum>(3)</enum><text>supply accurate and timely information to the Attorney General concerning final dispositions of criminal records to databases accessed by NICS;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H501F78E17A184481A29CB7EC3AC3549"><enum>(4)</enum><text>supply accurate and timely information to the Attorney General concerning the identity of persons who are prohibited from obtaining a firearm under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922(g)(4)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, to be used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation solely to conduct NICS background checks;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE4CD56D85C684846AB14BE8E62F86650"><enum>(5)</enum><text>supply accurate and timely court orders and records of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence for inclusion in Federal and State law enforcement databases used to conduct NICS background checks; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1D3E5F8880F84A79B892F0BD7EE4903F"><enum>(6)</enum><text>collect and analyze data needed to demonstrate levels of State compliance with this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HBA2E2E5D0F574429AF6DD0CD9E5762D3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>To be eligible for a grant under this section, a State shall certify, to the satisfaction of the Attorney General, that the State has implemented a relief from disabilities program in accordance with section 105.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HAE0A3DF83B324B519F3268A7B9964321"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Condition</header><text>As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, a State shall specify the projects for which grant amounts will be used, and shall use such amounts only as specified. A State that violates this subsection shall be liable to the Attorney General for the full amount of the grant received under this section.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H2F34D51ED41B4E429E04DEC05B06A37B"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $250,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H14ADE5B447524ED9B0634067B8736CCB"><enum>(f)</enum><header>User fee</header><text>The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall not charge a user fee for background checks pursuant to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922(t)</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H9E606AE8E9794B399194135DCBBB7BB"><enum>104.</enum><header>Penalties for noncompliance</header>
<subsection id="H84D786A056764AB88C67C6AAE00B129"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Attorney General report</header>
<paragraph id="HACA72C9E2770485BB31600461EEB6233"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than January 31 of each year, the Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the States in automating the databases containing information described under sections 102 and 103, and in providing that information pursuant to the requirements of sections 102 and 103.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7523FC7897044E89A0381439B44D4779"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Justice, such funds as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H08B924FBDA174176965EB2B8B6083C26"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Penalties</header>
<paragraph id="H9A8A816BBC324B9CA3248F42B47CFAAB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Discretionary reduction</header><text>During the 2-year period beginning 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General may withhold not more than 3 percent of the amount that would otherwise be allocated to a State under section 506 of the <act-name parsable-cite="OCCSS">Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/3756">42 U.S.C. 3756</external-xref>) if the State provides less than 60 percent of the information required to be provided under sections 102 and 103.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H81120A5EC6084D6F986CA6AF06C4DB51"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mandatory reduction</header><text>After the expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall withhold 5 percent of the amount that would otherwise be allocated to a State under section 506 of the <act-name parsable-cite="OCCSS">Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/3756">42 U.S.C. 3756</external-xref>), if the State provides less than 90 percent of the information required to be provided under sections 102 and 103.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9F35DFB4279F49EFA12DCF1F383D2133"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Waiver by Attorney General</header><text>The Attorney General may waive the applicability of paragraph (2) to a State if the State provides substantial evidence, as determined by the Attorney General, that the State is making a reasonable effort to comply with the requirements of sections 102 and 103.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H3C8C36BF4A344E35A2DA154B94EBB3BA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reallocation</header><text>Any funds that are not allocated to a State because of the failure of the State to comply with the requirements of this title shall be reallocated to States that meet such requirements.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H70CFA76E32A54B91BD5C6718E4A4CAC7"><enum>105.</enum><header>Relief from disabilities program required as condition for participation in grant programs</header>
<subsection id="H9AFDAC3E2DC94B73BBCF326F8D6112C8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program described</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A relief from disabilities program is implemented by a State in accordance with this section if the program—</text>
<paragraph id="HE333D4D9BFC6417488D517CC6078E330"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">permits a person who, pursuant to State law, has been adjudicated as described in subsection (g)(4) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code, or has been committed to a mental institution, to apply to the State for relief from the disabilities imposed by subsections (d)(4) and (g)(4) of such section by reason of the adjudication or commitment;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB0A15412A4ED467194E207EABEBD6C8C"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provides that a State court, board, commission, or other lawful authority shall grant the relief, pursuant to State law and in accordance with the principles of due process, if the circumstances regarding the disabilities referred to in paragraph (1), and the person’s record and reputation, are such that the person will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that the granting of the relief would not be contrary to the public interest; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H245F8A7D1CC84AB99B0099F62ED10458"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">permits a person whose application for the relief is denied to file a petition with the State court of appropriate jurisdiction for a de novo judicial review of the denial.</text></paragraph> </subsection>
<subsection id="H0C5FC91BDB2C4DF59E192B95031BFB63"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority To provide relief from certain disabilities with respect to firearms</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If, under a State relief from disabilities program implemented in accordance with this section, an application for relief referred to in subsection (a)(1) of this section is granted with respect to an adjudication or a commitment to a mental institution, the adjudication or commitment, as the case may be, is deemed not to have occurred for purposes of subsections (d)(4) and (g)(4) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/922">section 922</external-xref> of title 18, United States Code.</text> </subsection></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Focusing Federal assistance on the improvement of relevant records</header>
<section id="H67D2EB212BAD49C5822208DF16F65D14"><enum>201.</enum><header>Continuing evaluations</header>
<subsection id="H91658E2D7EF44D6BB163C843A61FECD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Evaluation required</header><text>The Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (referred to in this section as the <quote>Director</quote>) shall study and evaluate the operations of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Such study and evaluation shall include compilations and analyses of the operations and record systems of the agencies and organizations necessary to support such System.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H38ABBDDE5FE24EDA9F5DC41FF7EFFA14"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report on grants</header><text>Not later than January 31 of each year, the Director shall submit to Congress a report containing the estimates submitted by the States under section 102(b).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H7842CB0F0F2E492DBDE9C8DCD8B04964"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report on best practices</header><text>Not later than January 31 of each year, the Director shall submit to Congress, and to each State participating in the National Criminal History Improvement Program, a report of the practices of the States regarding the collection, maintenance, automation, and transmittal of information relevant to determining whether a person is prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm by Federal or State law, by the State or any other agency, or any other records relevant to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, that the Director considers to be best practices.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H25B15D5A9ECC4379BC76AFBA6039EEB0"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010 to complete the studies, evaluations, and reports required under this section.</text></subsection></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Grants to State court systems for the improvement in automation and transmittal of disposition records</header>
<section id="H3D786002F67F44028B49191E79D4B234"><enum>301.</enum><header>Disposition records automation and transmittal improvement grants</header>
<subsection id="H532AF7FBEF8D48C5BF4E0051FCF41ED3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants authorized</header><text>From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Attorney General shall make grants to each State, consistent with State plans for the integration, automation, and accessibility of criminal history records, for use by the State court system to improve the automation and transmittal of criminal history dispositions, records relevant to determining whether a person has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, court orders, and mental health adjudications or commitments, to Federal and State record repositories in accordance with sections 102 and 103 and the National Criminal History Improvement Program.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H6BCF2D687E72408EA565B0F710475DE8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grants to Indian tribes</header><text>Up to 5 percent of the grant funding available under this section may be reserved for Indian tribal governments for use by Indian tribal judicial systems.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H0688E9D094704E949329FC86A9B624DE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>Amounts granted under this section shall be used by the State court system only—</text>
<paragraph id="H043CEEA7846A4D35AC0085006E00574C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to carry out, as necessary, assessments of the capabilities of the courts of the State for the automation and transmission of arrest and conviction records, court orders, and mental health adjudications or commitments to Federal and State record repositories; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5D2FE4C529C24397AFE0406C1D68F908"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to implement policies, systems, and procedures for the automation and transmission of arrest and conviction records, court orders, and mental health adjudications or commitments to Federal and State record repositories.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HD3B6286CE46844359C5CBD271FEBD7E0"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall certify, to the satisfaction of the Attorney General, that the State has implemented a relief from disabilities program in accordance with section 105.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HDBC0206A3D984EE3B9F2CC1E44703587"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out this section $125,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010.</text></subsection></section>
<enum>IV</enum><header>GAO audit</header>
<section id="HA83C4D6794154C959175E6B6DB7E2C4F"><enum>401.</enum><header>GAO audit</header>
<subsection id="H24A90712412346919EF4F353A006907"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an audit of the expenditure of all funds appropriated for criminal records improvement pursuant to section 106(b) of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/103/159">Public Law 103–159</external-xref>) to determine if the funds were expended for the purposes authorized by the Act and how those funds were expended for those purposes or were otherwise expended.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H55C66E3C156B44D2A06FCF5B29F7BCE3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress describing the findings of the audit conducted pursuant to subsection (a).</text></subsection></section>
Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2007.Lorraine C. Miller,Clerk.