Criminal arsonist and criminal bomber registration and notification program

(a)

National criminal arsonist and criminal bomber registry and Internet site

(1)

National Criminal Arsonist and Criminal Bomber Registry

(A)

In general

The Attorney General shall maintain a national database at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for each criminal arsonist or criminal bomber. The database shall be known as the National Criminal Arsonist and Criminal Bomber Registry and shall be referred to in this section as the National Registry. Such registry shall be used for law enforcement purposes only and information maintained in such registry may only be disclosed in connection with such purposes. (B)

Electronic forwarding

The Attorney General shall ensure (through the national registry or otherwise) that updated information about a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber is immediately available to all relevant jurisdictions. (C)

Notification to jurisdictions

The Attorney General shall provide notification to a jurisdiction in which the offender resides or will reside, is an employee, or is a student. Immediately after the Attorney General receives information (or updated information) under this section from a jurisdiction for inclusion in the National Registry, with respect to a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber, the Attorney General shall ensure that such information (or updated information), other than any information exempted from disclosure by the Attorney General, is provided to each jurisdiction in which the offender resides or will reside, is an employee, or is a student. (2)

National arsonist and bomber Internet site

(A)

In general

The Attorney General shall establish and maintain a national arsonist and bomber Internet site. The Internet site shall include relevant information for each criminal arsonist or criminal bomber. The Internet site shall allow law enforcement officers and fire safety officers to obtain relevant information for each criminal arsonist or criminal bomber 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. (B)

Use for law enforcement purposes only

The Internet site established under subparagraph (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 action in violation of the previous sentence may result in a civil or criminal penalty. (C)

Exemptions from disclosure

The Attorney General may exempt from disclosure on the Internet site established under this paragraph such information as the Attorney General deems appropriate. (3)

Prohibition on access by the public

Information about a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber shall not be made available under paragraph (1) or (2) to the public. (4)

Correction of errors

The Attorney General shall establish guidelines for a process to seek correction of information included in the national database under paragraph (1) or the Internet site under paragraph (2) in the case that an individual contends such information is erroneous. Such guidelines shall provide for an adequate period for the individual to seek such correction of information. (5)

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 this subsection, such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014. (b)

Registry requirements for jurisdictions

(1)

Jurisdiction to participate in National Registry

Each jurisdiction shall participate in the National Registry by providing information, with respect to criminal arsonists and criminal bombers, to the National Registry in accordance with this section. Such information, with respect to a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber, shall be provided by a jurisdiction— (A)to the Attorney General for inclusion in the National Registry immediately after the criminal arsonist or criminal bomber provides information (or provides updated information), other than information exempted from disclosure by the Attorney General, to the jurisdiction under this section; and (B)in an electronic format as specified by the Attorney General. (2)

Guidelines and regulations

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

Registry requirements for criminal arsonists and bombers

(1)

In general

A criminal arsonist or criminal bomber shall provide information described in subsection (d)(1) to (and shall keep such information current with) each jurisdiction where the criminal arsonist or criminal bomber resides, where the criminal arsonist or criminal bomber is an employee, and where the criminal arsonist or criminal bomber is a student. For the initial provision of information only, a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber shall also provide such information to the jurisdiction in which the arsonist or bomber was convicted if such jurisdiction is different from the jurisdiction of residence. (2)

Initial registration

The criminal arsonist or criminal bomber shall initially provide information described in subsection (d)(1)— (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 or criminal bomber is not sentenced to a term of imprisonment. (3)

Keeping the registration current

A criminal arsonist or criminal bomber 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 criminal arsonist or criminal bomber for purposes of inclusion in the National Registry. That jurisdiction shall immediately provide the revised information to the National Registry. (4)

Application of registration requirements

(A)

Offender registration requirements applicable only prospectively and with notification

A criminal arsonist or criminal bomber is required to provide information to a jurisdiction, and to keep such information current, under this section for inclusion in the National Registry only to the extent— (i)that such criminal arsonist or criminal bomber— (I)was convicted of a criminal offense involving arson or bombing on or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (II)was notified of such requirements in accordance with subsection (g); and (ii)the jurisdiction involved participates in the National Registry. (B)

Jurisdiction of conviction required to submit information on offenders convicted before date of enactment and on those not notified

(i)

Guidelines

The Attorney General shall establish guidelines, in accordance with the provisions of this subparagraph, under which each jurisdiction is required to provide to the National Registry information described in subsection (d)(2) with respect to— (I)each criminal arsonist or criminal bomber who was convicted in such jurisdiction of a criminal offense involving arson or bombing during the 10-year period ending on the date of the enactment of this Act; and (II)each criminal arsonist or criminal bomber who was convicted on or after the date of the enactment of the Act in such jurisdiction of such an offense and who has not been notified, in accordance with subsection (g), of the requirements to provide information, and to keep such information current, under this section. (ii)

Notice required

Under the guidelines established under clause (i), a jurisdiction shall be required to provide notice to each criminal arsonist or criminal bomber included in the National Registry pursuant to this subparagraph of such inclusion. (5)

Actions to be taken when criminal arsonist or criminal bomber fails to comply

An appropriate official of each jurisdiction shall notify the Attorney General and appropriate law enforcement agencies of any failure by a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber to provide information, and keep such information current, under this section. The Attorney General shall revise the National Registry to reflect the nature of such failure. The appropriate official, the Attorney General, and each law enforcement agency involved shall take any appropriate action to ensure compliance. (6)

Authority to exempt certain persons from registry requirements

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

Information required for inclusion in National Registry

(1)

Prospective convictions with notification

(A)

Provided by arsonist or bomber

A criminal arsonist or criminal bomber convicted of a criminal offense involving arson or bombing on or after the date of the enactment of this Act shall provide the following information to the appropriate official of the jurisdiction involved for inclusion in the National Registry: (i)The name of the person (including any alias used by the person). (ii)The Social Security number of the person. (iii)The address of each residence at which the person resides or will reside. (iv)The name and address of any place where the person is an employee or will be an employee. (v)The name and address of any place where the person is a student or will be a student. (vi)The license plate number and a description of any vehicle owned or operated by the person. (vii)Any other information required by the Attorney General. (B)

Provided by the jurisdiction

The jurisdiction to which a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber described in subparagraph (A) provides information shall ensure that the following information, with respect to such arsonist or bomber, is provided to the National Registry: (i)The information described in subparagraph (A), as provided by the arsonist or bomber. (ii)A physical description of the person. (iii)The text of the provision of law defining the criminal offense for which the person is required to be registered under this section. (iv)A current photograph of the person. (v)A set of fingerprints and palm prints of the person. (vi)A photocopy of a valid driver’s license or identification card issued to the person by a jurisdiction. (vii)Any other information required by the Attorney General. (2)

Provided by jurisdiction of convictions in case of convictions before date of enactment and failures to notify

Each jurisdiction in which a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber described in subclause (I) or (II) of subsection (c)(4)(B)(i) was convicted shall ensure that the following information is provided to the National Registry: (A)The name of the criminal arsonist or criminal bomber (including any alias used by the person). (B)The Social Security number of the person. (C)The most recent known address of the residence at which the person has resided. (D)A physical description of the person. (E)The text of the provision of law defining the criminal offense for which the person is convicted. (F)A set of fingerprints and palm prints of the person, if available to the jurisdiction. (G)A photocopy of a valid driver’s license or identification card issued to the person by a jurisdiction, if available. (H)Any other information required by the Attorney General. (e)

Duration of registration requirement; expunging registries of information for certain juvenile criminals

(1)

Duration of registration requirement

A criminal arsonist or criminal bomber shall keep the registration information provided under subsection (d)(1)(A) current for the full registration period (excluding any time the person is in custody). For purposes of this subsection, the full registration period— (A)shall commence on the later of the date on which the person is convicted of an offense of arson or bombing in violation of the laws of the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed or the United States, the date on which the person is released from prison for such conviction, or the date on which the person is placed on parole, supervised release, or probation for such conviction; and (B)shall be— (i)five years for a person who has been convicted of such an offense for the first time; (ii)ten years for a person who has been convicted of such an offense for the second time; and (iii)for the life of the person for a person who has been convicted of such an offense more than twice. (2)

Expunging registries of information for certain juvenile criminals

(A)

In general

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

Criminal arsonist or criminal bomber described

For purposes of subparagraph (A), a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber described in this subparagraph is a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber who— (i)was a juvenile tried as an adult for the offense giving rise to the duty to register under this section; 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 (i) with respect to a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber 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). (f)

Annual verification

Not less than once in each calendar year during the full registration period, a criminal arsonist or criminal bomber required to provide information to a jurisdiction under this section shall— (1)appear in person at not less than one such jurisdiction; (2)allow such jurisdiction to take a current photograph of the person; and (3)while present at such jurisdiction, verify the information contained in the National Registry for such person. (g)

Duty to notify criminal arsonists and criminal bombers of registration requirements and to register

(1)

In general

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

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

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

Development and availability of registry management and website software

(1)

Duty to develop and support

The Attorney General shall develop and support software to enable jurisdictions to participate in the National Registry and the national Internet site established under subsection (a)(2). (2)

Criteria

The software described in paragraph (1) should facilitate— (A)immediate exchange of information among jurisdictions through the national Internet site established under subsection (a)(2); (B)access over the Internet by authorized persons to appropriate information, including the number of registered criminal arsonists or criminal bombers in each jurisdiction on a current basis; and (C)full compliance with the requirements of this section. (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. (i)

Period for implementation by jurisdictions

(1)

Deadline

To be in compliance with this section, a jurisdiction shall participate in the National Registry in accordance with 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 (h) 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). (3)

Failure of jurisdiction to comply

For any fiscal year after the expiration of the deadline specified in paragraph (1) (and any extension under paragraph (2)), a jurisdiction that fails, as determined by the Attorney General, to substantially implement this section shall, at the discretion of the Attorney General, be subject to not more than a 10 percent reduction of the funds that would otherwise be allocated for that fiscal year to the jurisdiction under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq.), whether characterized as the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Programs, the Local Government Law Enforcement Block Grants Program, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, or otherwise. (j)

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 section 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 section until such time as the tribe elects to carry out this section. (2)

Cooperation between tribal authorities and other jurisdictions

(A)

Nonduplication

A tribe subject to this section is not required to duplicate functions under this section 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 section with respect to criminal arsonists or criminal bombers subject to the tribe’s jurisdiction; and (ii)arrange for such a jurisdiction to carry out any function of the tribe under this section with respect to criminal arsonists and criminal bombers subject to the tribe’s jurisdiction. (3)

Law enforcement authority in Indian country

Enforcement of this section 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. (k)

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. (l)

Criminal arsonist and criminal bomber management assistance program

(1)

In general

The Attorney General shall, subject to appropriations, establish and implement a Criminal Arsonist and Bomber Management Assistance program (in this subsection referred to as the Assistance Program), under which the Attorney General shall award grants to jurisdictions to offset the costs of implementing the other provisions of this section. (2)

Application

The chief executive of a jurisdiction desiring a grant under this subsection, with respect to a fiscal year, shall for each such fiscal year submit to the Attorney General an application in such form and containing such information as the Attorney General may require. (3)

Increased grant payments for prompt compliance

A jurisdiction that, as determined by the Attorney General, has substantially implemented the other provisions of this section not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act is eligible for a bonus payment in addition to the amount of grant funds available to such jurisdiction under paragraph (1). The Attorney General may, with respect to a jurisdiction, make such a bonus payment to the jurisdiction for the first fiscal year beginning after the date such determination is made. The amount of the bonus payment shall be as follows: (A)In the case of a determination that the jurisdiction has substantially implemented this section by a date that is not later than the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 10 percent of the total grant funds available to the jurisdiction under paragraph (1) for such fiscal year. (B)In the case of a determination that the jurisdiction has substantially implemented this section by a date that is later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, but not later than the date that is two years after such date of enactment, 5 percent of such total. (4)

Authorization of appropriations

In addition to any amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General, to be available to carry out this subsection, such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014. (m)

Definitions

For purposes of this section: (1)

Criminal arsonist

The term criminal arsonist means an individual who is convicted of any criminal offense for committing arson, attempting arson, or conspiracy to commit arson in violation of the laws of the jurisdiction in which such offense was committed or the United States. Such term shall not include a juvenile who is convicted of such an offense unless such juvenile was tried as an adult for such offense. (2)

Criminal bomber

The term criminal bomber means an individual who is convicted of any criminal offense for committing a bombing, attempting a bombing, or conspiracy to commit a bombing in violation of the laws of the jurisdiction in which such offense was committed or the United States. Such term shall not include a juvenile who is convicted of such an offense unless such juvenile was tried as an adult for such offense. (3)

Criminal offense

The term criminal offense means a Federal, State, local, tribal, foreign, or military offense (to the extent specified by the Secretary of Defense under section 115(a)(8)(C)(i) of Public Law 105–119 (10 U.S.C. 951 note)) or other criminal offense. (4)

Employee

The term employee includes an individual who is self-employed or works for any other entity, whether compensated or not. (5)

Fire safety officer

The term fire safety officer means an individual serving in an official capacity as a fire investigator, or other arson or bomber investigator, as defined by the jurisdiction for the purposes of this section. (6)

Jurisdiction

The term jurisdiction means any of the following: (A)A State. (B)The District of Columbia. (C)The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (D)Guam. (E)American Samoa. (F)The Northern Mariana Islands. (G)The United States Virgin Islands. (H)To the extent provided and subject to the requirements of subsection (j), a federally recognized Indian tribe. (7)

Law enforcement officer

The term law enforcement officer has the meaning given such term in section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Street Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b). (8)

National Registry

The terms National Registry and arsonist and bomber registry mean the registry of criminal arsonists and criminal bombers established under subsection (a)(1). (9)

Resides

The term resides means, with respect to an individual, the location of the individual’s home or other place where the individual habitually lives. (10)

Student

The term student means an individual who enrolls in or attends an educational institution (whether public or private), including a secondary school, trade or professional school, and institution of higher education.