Arsonist registration and notification program

(a)

Registry requirements for jurisdictions

(1)

Jurisdiction to maintain a registry

Each jurisdiction shall establish and maintain a jurisdiction-wide arsonist registry conforming to the requirements of this section. (2)

Guidelines and regulations

The Attorney General shall issue guidelines and regulations to interpret and implement this section. (b)

Registry requirements for criminal arsonists

(1)

In general

A criminal arsonist shall register, and shall keep the registration current, in each jurisdiction where the arsonist resides, where the arsonist is an employee, and where the arsonist is a student. For initial registration purposes only, a criminal arsonist shall also register in the jurisdiction in which convicted if such jurisdiction is different from the jurisdiction of residence. (2)

Initial registration

The criminal arsonist shall initially register— (A)before completing a sentence of imprisonment with respect to the offense giving rise to the registration requirement; or (B)not later than 5 business days after being sentenced for that offense, if the criminal arsonist is not sentenced to a term of imprisonment. (3)

Keeping the registration current

A criminal arsonist shall, not later than 10 business days after each change of name, residence, employment, or student status, appear in person in at least one jurisdiction involved pursuant to paragraph (1) and inform that jurisdiction of all changes in the information required for that arsonist in the arsonist registry involved. That jurisdiction shall immediately provide the revised information to all other jurisdictions in which the arsonist is required to register. (4)

Application of registration requirements

(A)

In general

Except as provided in guidelines under subparagraph (B), the requirements of this section, including the duties to register and to keep a registration current, shall apply only to a criminal arsonist who was convicted of a criminal offense involving arson on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, and who was notified of such duties and registered in accordance with subsection (f). (B)

Application to criminal arsonists unable to comply with paragraph (2)

(i)

Guidelines

The Attorney General shall establish guidelines in accordance with the provisions of this subparagraph for each jurisdiction for the application of the requirements of this section to criminal arsonists convicted before the date of the enactment of this Act or the date of its implementation in such a jurisdiction, and shall prescribe rules for the registration of any such criminal arsonists who are otherwise unable to comply with paragraph (2). (ii)

Information required to be included in registry

With respect to each criminal arsonist described in clause (i) convicted during the 10-year period preceding the date of the enactment of this Act, the guidelines under clause (i) shall provide for the inclusion in the arsonist registry of each applicable jurisdiction (and, in accordance with subsection (j), the provision by such jurisdiction to each entity described in such subsection) of the following information: (I)The name of the arsonist (including any alias used by the arsonist). (II)The Social Security number of the arsonist. (III)The most recent known address of the residence at which the arsonist has resided. (IV)A physical description of the arsonist. (V)The text of the provision of law defining the criminal offense related to arson for which the arsonist is convicted. (VI)A set of fingerprints and palm prints of the arsonist. (VII)A photocopy of a valid driver’s license or identification card issued to the arsonist by a jurisdiction, if available. (VIII)Any other information required by the Attorney General. (iii)

Notice required

The guidelines under clause (i) shall provide notice to each criminal arsonist included in an arsonist registry pursuant to this subparagraph of such inclusion. (5)

State penalty for failure to comply

Each jurisdiction, other than a Federally recognized Indian tribe, shall provide a criminal penalty that includes a maximum term of imprisonment that is greater than one year for the failure of a criminal arsonist to comply with the requirements of this section. (6)

Authority to exempt certain criminal arsonists from registry requirements

A jurisdiction shall have the authority to exempt a criminal arsonist who has been convicted of the offense of arson in violation of the laws of the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed or the United States for the first time from the registration requirements under this section in exchange for such arsonist’s substantial assistance in the investigation or prosecution of another person who has committed an offense. The Attorney General shall assure that any regulations promulgated under this section include guidelines that reflect the general appropriateness of exempting such an arsonist from the registration requirements under this section. (c)

Information required in registration

(1)

Provided by the arsonist

A criminal arsonist shall provide the following information to the appropriate official for inclusion in the arsonist registry of a jurisdiction in which such arsonist is required to register: (A)The name of the arsonist (including any alias used by the arsonist). (B)The Social Security number of the arsonist. (C)The address of each residence at which the arsonist resides or will reside. (D)The name and address of any place where the arsonist is an employee or will be an employee. (E)The name and address of any place where the arsonist is a student or will be a student. (F)The license plate number and a description of any vehicle owned or operated by the arsonist. (G)Any other information required by the Attorney General. (2)

Provided by the jurisdiction

The jurisdiction in which a criminal arsonist registers shall ensure that the following information is included in the registry for such arsonist: (A)A physical description of the arsonist. (B)The text of the provision of law defining the criminal offense for which the arsonist is registered. (C)The criminal history of the arsonist, including the date of all arrests and convictions; the status of parole, probation, or supervised release; registration status; and the existence of any outstanding arrest warrants for the arsonist. (D)A current photograph of the arsonist. (E)A set of fingerprints and palm prints of the arsonist. (F)A photocopy of a valid driver’s license or identification card issued to the arsonist by a jurisdiction. (G)Any other information required by the Attorney General. (d)

Duration of registration requirement; expunging registries of information for certain juvenile criminal arsonists

(1)

Duration of registration requirement

A criminal arsonist shall keep the registration information provided under subsection (c) current for the full registration period (excluding any time the arsonist is in custody). For purposes of this subsection, the full registration period— (A)shall commence on the later of the date on which the arsonist is convicted of an offense of arson in violation of the laws of the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed or the United States, the date on which the arsonist is released from prison for such conviction, or the date on which such arsonist is placed on parole, supervised release, or probation for such conviction; and (B)shall be— (i)five years for an arsonist who has been convicted of such an offense for the first time; (ii)ten years for an arsonist who has been convicted of such an offense for the second time; and (iii)for the life of the arsonist for an arsonist who has been convicted of such an offense more than twice. (2)

Expunging registries of information for certain juvenile criminal arsonists

(A)

In general

In the case of a criminal arsonist described in subparagraph (B), a jurisdiction shall expunge the arson registry of such jurisdiction of information related to such criminal arsonist as of the date that is 5 years after the last day of the applicable full registration period under paragraph (1). (B)

Criminal arsonist described

For purposes of subparagraph (A), a criminal arsonist described in this subparagraph is a criminal arsonist who— (i)was a juvenile tried as an adult for the offense giving rise to the duty to register; and (ii)was not convicted of any other criminal felony during the period beginning on the first day of the applicable full registration period under paragraph (1) and ending on the last day of the 5-year period described in subparagraph (A). (C)

Application to other databases

The Attorney General shall establish a process to ensure that each entity that receives information under subsection (j) with respect to a criminal arsonist described in subparagraph (B) shall expunge the applicable database of such information as of the date that is 5 years after the last day of the applicable full registration period under paragraph (1). (e)

Annual verification

Not less than once in each calendar year during the full registration period, a criminal arsonist required to register under this section shall— (1)appear in person at not less than one jurisdiction in which such arsonist is required to register; (2)allow such jurisdiction to take a current photograph of the arsonist; and (3)while present at such jurisdiction, verify the information in each registry in which that arsonist is required to be registered. (f)

Duty To notify criminal arsonists of registration requirements and To register

(1)

In general

An appropriate official shall, shortly before release of a criminal arsonist from custody, or, if the arsonist is not in custody, immediately after the sentencing of the arsonist for the offense giving rise to the duty to register— (A)inform the arsonist of the duties of the arsonist under this section and explain those duties in a manner that the arsonist can understand in light of the arsonist’s native language, mental capability, and age; (B)ensure that the arsonist understands the registration requirement, and if so, require the arsonist to read and sign a form stating that the duty to register has been explained and that the arsonist understands the registration requirement; (C)if the arsonist is unable to understand the registration requirements, the official shall sign a form stating that the arsonist is unable to understand the registration requirements; and (D)ensure that the arsonist is registered. (2)

Notification of criminal arsonists who cannot comply with paragraph (1)

The Attorney General shall prescribe rules to ensure the notification and registration of criminal arsonists in accordance with paragraph (1) who cannot be notified and registered at the time set forth in paragraph (1). (g)

Access to criminal arsonist information through the internet

(1)

In general

Except as provided in this subsection, each jurisdiction shall make available on the Internet, in a manner that is readily accessible to law enforcement personnel and fire safety officers located in the jurisdiction, all information about each criminal arsonist in the registry. The jurisdiction shall also include in the design of its Internet site all field search capabilities needed for full participation in the National criminal arsonist Internet site established under subsection (i) and shall participate in that Internet site as provided by the Attorney General in regulations which comply with this paragraph. (2)

Prohibition on access by the public

Such information about a criminal arsonist shall not be made available on the Internet to the public. (3)

Mandatory exemptions

A jurisdiction shall exempt from disclosure, with respect to information about a criminal arsonist— (A)any information about the arsonist involving conviction for an offense other than the offense or offenses for which the arsonist is registered; (B)any information about the arsonist if the arsonist is participating in a witness protection program and the release of such information could jeopardize the safety of the arsonist or any other individual; and (C)any other information identified as a mandatory exemption from disclosure by the Attorney General. (4)

Optional exemptions

A jurisdiction is authorized to exempt from disclosure, with respect to information about a criminal arsonist— (A)the name of an employer of the arsonist; and (B)the name of an educational institution where the arsonist is a student. (5)

Correction of errors

The Attorney General shall establish guidelines for each jurisdiction for a process to seek correction of information included in the Internet site established by the jurisdiction pursuant to paragraph (1) in the case that an individual contends such information is erroneous. Such guidelines shall provide for an adequate period following the date on which the individual has knowledge of the information’s inclusion in the Internet site for the individual to seek such correction of information. (6)

Warning

An Internet site established by a jurisdiction pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include a warning that information on the site is to be used for law enforcement purposes only and may only be disclosed in connection with such purposes. The warning shall note that any such action could result in civil or criminal penalties. (h)

National Criminal Arsonist Registry

(1)

In general

The Attorney General shall maintain a national database at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for each criminal arsonist. The database shall be known as the National Arsonist Registry. (2)

Electronic forwarding

The Attorney General shall ensure (through the National Arsonist Registry or otherwise) that updated information about a criminal arsonist is immediately transmitted by electronic forwarding to all relevant jurisdictions. (i)

National arsonist internet site

The Attorney General shall establish and maintain a national arsonist Internet site. The Internet site shall include relevant information for each criminal arsonist. The Internet site shall allow law enforcement officers and fire safety officers to obtain relevant information for each such arsonist by a single query for any given zip code or geographical radius set by the user in a form and with such limitations as may be established by the Attorney General and shall have such other field search capabilities as the Attorney General may provide. (j)

Notification procedures

Under an arsonist registration program established by a jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a), immediately after a criminal arsonist registers or updates a registration, an appropriate official in the jurisdiction shall provide the information in the registry (other than information exempted from disclosure by this section or by the Attorney General) about that offender to the following entities: (1)The Attorney General, who shall include that information in the National Arsonist Registry. (2)Appropriate law enforcement agencies (including probation agencies, if appropriate) in each area in which the offender resides, is an employee, or is a student. (3)Each jurisdiction where the offender resides, is an employee, or is a student, and each jurisdiction from or to which a change of residence, employment, or student status occurs.

Information about a criminal arsonist shall not be made available on the Internet to the public.

(k)

Actions To be taken when criminal arsonist fails To comply

Under an arsonist registration program established by a jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a), an appropriate official of the jurisdiction shall notify the Attorney General and appropriate law enforcement agencies of any failure by a criminal arsonist to comply with the requirements of the arsonist registry for such jurisdiction, and shall revise the registry to reflect the nature of such failure. The appropriate official, the Attorney General, and each such law enforcement agency shall take any appropriate action to ensure compliance. (l)

Development and availability of registry management and website software

(1)

Duty to develop and support

The Attorney General shall, in consultation with the jurisdictions, develop and support software to enable jurisdictions to establish and operate uniform arsonist registries and Internet sites. (2)

Criteria

The software described in paragraph (1) should facilitate— (A)immediate exchange of information among jurisdictions; (B)access over the Internet to appropriate information, including the number of registered criminal arsonists in each jurisdiction on a current basis; (C)full compliance with the requirements of this section; and (D)communication of information as required under subsection (j). (3)

Deadline

The Attorney General shall make the first complete edition of this software available to jurisdictions not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (m)

Period for implementation by jurisdictions

(1)

Deadline

To be in compliance with this section, a jurisdiction shall implement this section before the later of— (A)three years after the date of the enactment of this Act; or (B)one year after the date on which the software described in subsection (l) is made available to such jurisdiction. (2)

Extensions

The Attorney General may authorize not more than two one-year extensions of the deadline under paragraph (1). (n)

Election by indian tribes

(1)

Election

(A)

In general

A federally recognized Indian tribe may, by resolution or other enactment of the tribal council or comparable governmental body, elect to carry out this subtitle as a jurisdiction subject to its provisions. (B)

Implementation

If a tribe does not, within one year of the enactment of this Act, make an election to take on these duties, it shall, by resolution or other enactment of the tribal council or comparable governmental body, enter into a cooperative agreement to arrange for a jurisdiction to carry out any function of the tribe under this Act until such time as the tribe elects to carry out this Act. (2)

Cooperation between tribal authorities and other jurisdictions

(A)

Nonduplication

A tribe subject to this subtitle is not required to duplicate functions under this subtitle which are fully carried out by another jurisdiction or jurisdictions within which the territory of the tribe is located. (B)

Cooperative agreements

A tribe may, through cooperative agreements with such a jurisdiction or jurisdictions— (i)arrange for the tribe to carry out any function of such a jurisdiction under this subtitle with respect to arsonists subject to the tribe’s jurisdiction; and (ii)arrange for such a jurisdiction to carry out any function of the tribe under this subtitle with respect to arsonists subject to the tribe’s jurisdiction. (3)

Law enforcement authority in indian country

Enforcement of this Act in Indian country, as defined in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code, shall be carried out by Federal, Tribal, and State governments under existing jurisdictional authorities. (o)

Immunity for good faith conduct

The Federal Government, jurisdictions, political subdivisions of jurisdictions, and their agencies, officers, employees, and agents shall be immune from liability for good faith conduct under this section. (p)

Authorization of appropriations

In addition to any amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General, to carry out subsections (h) and (i) of this section, such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2014.