117 HR 3480 IH: Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-05-25
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I
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3480
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 25, 2021
Mr. Carbajal (for himself, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Brownley, and Mrs. Dingell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To support State, Tribal, and local efforts to remove access to firearms from individuals who are a danger to themselves or others pursuant to court orders for this purpose.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021”.
2.

Extreme risk protection order grant program
(a)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means—
(A)
a State or Indian Tribe—
(i)
that enacts legislation described in subsection (c);
(ii)
with respect to which the Attorney General determines that the legislation described in clause (i) complies with the requirements under subsection (c)(1); and
(iii)
that certifies to the Attorney General that the State or Indian Tribe shall—
(I)
use the grant for the purposes described in subsection (b)(2); and
(II)
allocate not less than 25 percent and not more than 70 percent of the amount received under a grant under subsection (b) for the development and dissemination of training for law enforcement officers in accordance with subsection (b)(4); or
(B)
a unit of local government or other public or private entity that—
(i)
is located in a State or in the territory under the jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe that meets the requirements described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A); and
(ii)
certifies to the Attorney General that the unit of local government or entity shall—
(I)
use the grant for the purposes described in subsection (b)(2); and
(II)
allocate not less than 25 percent and not more than 70 percent of the amount received under a grant under this section for the development and dissemination of training for law enforcement officers in accordance with subsection (b)(4).
(2)

Extreme risk protection order
The term extreme risk protection order means a written order or warrant, issued by a State or Tribal court or signed by a magistrate (or other comparable judicial officer), the primary purpose of which is to reduce the risk of firearm-related death or injury by doing 1 or more of the following:
(A)
Prohibiting a named individual from having under the custody or control of the individual, owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm.
(B)
Having a firearm removed or requiring the surrender of firearms from a named individual.
(3)

Firearm
The term firearm has the meaning given the term in section 921 of title 18, United States Code.
(4)

Indian Tribe
The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term Indian tribe in section 1709 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10389).
(5)

Law enforcement officer
The term law enforcement officer means a public servant authorized by Federal, State, local, or Tribal law or by a Federal, State, local, or Tribal government agency to—
(A)
engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of an offense; or
(B)
supervise sentenced criminal offenders.
(6)

Petitioner
The term petitioner means an individual authorized under State or Tribal law to petition for an extreme risk protection order.
(7)

Respondent
The term respondent means an individual named in the petition for an extreme risk protection order or subject to an extreme risk protection order.
(8)

State
The term State means—
(A)
a State;
(B)
the District of Columbia;
(C)
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(D)
any other territory or possession of the United States.
(9)

Unit of local government
The term unit of local government has the meaning given the term in section 901 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10251).
(b)

Grant program established
(1)

In general
The Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services of the Department of Justice shall establish a program under which, from amounts made available to carry out this section, the Director may make grants to eligible entities to assist in carrying out the provisions of the legislation described in subsection (c).
(2)

Use of funds
Funds awarded under this subsection may be used by an applicant to—
(A)
enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies and the courts of a State, unit of local government, or Indian Tribe by providing personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection, and other resources to carry out enacted legislation described in subsection (c);
(B)
train judges, court personnel, health care and legal professionals, and law enforcement officers to more accurately identify individuals whose access to firearms poses a danger of causing harm to themselves or others by increasing the risk of firearms suicide or interpersonal violence;
(C)
develop and implement law enforcement and court protocols, forms, and orders so that law enforcement agencies and the courts may carry out the provisions of the enacted legislation described in subsection (c) in a safe, equitable, and effective manner, including through the removal and storage of firearms pursuant to extreme risk protection orders under the enacted legislation; and
(D)
raise public awareness and understanding of the enacted legislation described in subsection (c), including through subgrants to community-based organizations for the training of community members, so that extreme risk protection orders may be issued in appropriate situations to reduce the risk of firearms-related death and injury.
(3)

Application
An eligible entity desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require.
(4)

Training
(A)

In general
A recipient of a grant under this subsection shall provide training to law enforcement officers, including officers of relevant Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies, in the safe, impartial, effective, and equitable use and administration of extreme risk protection orders, including training to address—
(i)
bias based on race and racism, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, language proficiency, and classism in the use and administration of extreme risk protection orders;
(ii)
the appropriate use of extreme risk protection orders in cases of domestic violence, including the applicability of other policies and protocols to address domestic violence in situations that may also involve extreme risk protection orders and the necessity of safety planning with the victim before a law enforcement officer petitions for and executes an extreme risk protection order, if applicable;
(iii)
interacting with persons with a mental illness or emotional distress, including de-escalation and crisis intervention; and
(iv)
best practices for referring persons subject to extreme risk protection orders and associated victims of violence to social service providers that may be available in the jurisdiction and appropriate for those individuals, including health care, mental health, substance abuse, and legal services, employment and vocational services, housing assistance, case management, and veterans and disability benefits.
(B)

Consultation with experts
A recipient of a grant under this subsection, in developing law enforcement training required under subparagraph (A), shall seek advice from domestic violence service providers (including culturally specific (as defined in section 40002 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291)) organizations), social service providers, suicide prevention advocates, violence intervention specialists, and other community groups working to reduce suicides and violence, including domestic violence, within the State or the territory under the jurisdiction of the Indian Tribe, as applicable, that enacted the legislation described in subsection (c) that enabled the grant recipient to be an eligible entity.
(5)

Incentives
For each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, the Attorney General shall give affirmative preference in awarding any discretionary grant awarded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to a State or Indian Tribe that has enacted legislation described in subsection (c) or to a unit of local government or other public or private entity located in such a State or in the territory under the jurisdiction of such an Indian Tribe.
(6)

Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
(c)

Eligibility for extreme risk protection order grant program
(1)

Requirements
Legislation described in this subsection is legislation that establishes requirements that are substantially similar to the following:
(A)

Application for extreme risk protection order
A petitioner, including a law enforcement officer, may submit an application to a State or Tribal court, on a form designed by the court or a State or Tribal agency, that—
(i)
describes the facts and circumstances justifying that an extreme risk protection order be issued against the named individual; and
(ii)
is signed by the applicant, under oath.
(B)

Notice and due process
The individual named in an application for an extreme risk protection order as described in subparagraph (A) shall be given written notice of the application and an opportunity to be heard on the matter in accordance with this paragraph.
(C)

Issuance of extreme risk protection orders
(i)

Hearing
(I)

In general
Upon receipt of an application described in subparagraph (A) or request of an individual named in such an application, the court shall order a hearing to be held within a reasonable time, and not later than 30 days after the date of the application or request.
(II)

Determination
If the court finds at the hearing ordered under subclause (I), by a preponderance of the evidence or according to a higher evidentiary standard established by the State or Indian Tribe, that the respondent poses a danger of causing harm to self or others by having access to a firearm, the court may issue an extreme risk protection order.
(ii)

Duration of extreme risk protection order
An extreme risk protection order shall be in effect—
(I)
until an order terminating or superseding the extreme risk protection order is issued; or
(II)
for a set period of time.
(D)

Ex parte extreme risk protection orders
(i)

In general
Upon receipt of an application described in subparagraph (A), the court may issue an ex parte extreme risk protection order, if—
(I)
the application for an extreme risk protection order alleges that the respondent poses a danger of causing harm to self or others by having access to a firearm; and
(II)
the court finds there is reasonable cause to believe, or makes a finding according to a higher evidentiary standard established by the State or Indian Tribe, that the respondent poses a danger of causing harm to self or others by having access to a firearm.
(ii)

Duration of ex parte extreme risk protection order
An ex parte extreme risk protection order shall remain in effect only until the hearing required under subparagraph (C)(i).
(E)

Storage of removed firearms
(i)

Availability for return
All firearms removed or surrendered pursuant to an extreme risk protection order shall only be available for return to the named individual when the individual has regained eligibility under Federal and State law, and, where applicable, Tribal law to possess firearms.
(ii)

Consent required for disposal or destruction
Firearms owned by a named individual may not be disposed of or destroyed during the period of the extreme risk protection order without the consent of the named individual.
(F)

Notification
(i)

In general
(I)

Requirement
A State or Tribal court that issues an extreme risk protection order shall notify the Attorney General or the comparable State or Tribal agency, as applicable, of the order as soon as practicable or within a designated period of time.
(II)

Form and manner
A State or Tribal court shall submit a notification under subclause (I) in an electronic format, in a manner prescribed by the Attorney General or the comparable State or Tribal agency.
(ii)

Update of databases
As soon as practicable or within the time period designated by State or Tribal law after receiving a notification under clause (i), the Attorney General or the comparable State or Tribal agency shall ensure that the extreme risk protection order is reflected in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
(2)

Additional provisions
Legislation described in this subsection may—
(A)
provide procedures for the termination of an extreme risk protection order;
(B)
provide procedures for the renewal of an extreme risk protection order;
(C)
establish burdens and standards of proof for issuance of orders described in paragraph (1) that are substantially similar to or higher than the burdens and standards of proof set forth in that paragraph;
(D)
limit the individuals who may submit an application described in paragraph (1), provided that, at a minimum, law enforcement officers are authorized to do so; and
(E)
include any other authorizations or requirements that the State or Tribal authorities determine appropriate.
(3)

Annual report
Not later than 1 year after the date on which an eligible entity receives a grant under subsection (b), and annually thereafter for the duration of the grant period, the entity shall submit to the Attorney General a report that includes, with respect to the preceding year—
(A)
the number of petitions for ex parte extreme risk protection orders filed, as well as the number of such orders issued and the number denied, disaggregated by—
(i)
the jurisdiction;
(ii)
the individual authorized under State or Tribal law to petition for an extreme risk protection order, including the relationship of the individual to the respondent; and
(iii)
the alleged danger posed by the respondent, including whether the danger involved a risk of suicide, unintentional injury, domestic violence, or other interpersonal violence;
(B)
the number of petitions for extreme risk protection orders filed, as well as the number of such orders issued and the number denied, disaggregated by—
(i)
the jurisdiction;
(ii)
the individual authorized under State or Tribal law to petition for an extreme risk protection order, including the relationship of the individual to the respondent; and
(iii)
the alleged danger posed by the respondent, including whether the danger involved a risk of suicide, unintentional injury, domestic violence, or other interpersonal violence;
(C)
the number of petitions for renewals of extreme risk protection orders filed, as well as the number of such orders issued and the number denied;
(D)
the number of cases in which a court imposed a penalty for false reporting or frivolous petitions;
(E)
demographic data of petitioners, including race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, age, disability, and English language proficiency, if available;
(F)
demographic data of respondents, including race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, age, disability, and English language proficiency, if available; and
(G)
the number of firearms removed, if available.
3.

Federal firearms prohibition
Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in paragraph (8)(B)(ii), by striking “or” at the end;
(B)
in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
“(10)
is subject to a court order, the primary purpose of which is to reduce the risk of firearm-related death or injury by prohibiting such person from having under the person's custody or control, owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving any firearms, provided that the order—
(A)
is issued in a manner consistent with the due process rights of the person; and
(B)
is based on a finding that the person poses a danger of causing harm to self or others by having access to a firearm.”; and
(2)
in subsection (g)—
(A)
in paragraph (8)(C)(ii), by striking “or” at the end;
(B)
in paragraph (9), by striking the comma at the end and inserting “; or”; and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
“(10)
is subject to a court order, the primary purpose of which is to reduce the risk of firearm-related death or injury by prohibiting such person from having under the person's custody or control, owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving any firearms, provided that the order—
(A)
is issued in a manner consistent with the due process rights of the person; and
(B)
is based on a finding that the person poses a danger of causing harm to self or others by having access to a firearm,”.
4.

Identification records
Section 534 of title 28, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (3), by striking “and” at the end;
(B)
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
“(4)
(A)
subject to subparagraph (B), acquire, collect, classify, and preserve records from Federal, Tribal, and State courts and other agencies identifying individuals subject to extreme risk protection orders, as defined in section 2(a) of the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021; and
(B)
destroy each record acquired or collected under subparagraph (A) when the applicable extreme risk protection order expires or is terminated or dissolved; and”;
(2)
in subsection (b), by striking “(a)(4)” and inserting “(a)(5)”; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
“(g)

Extreme risk protection orders in national crime information databases
A Federal, Tribal, or State criminal justice agency or criminal or civil court may—
(1)
include extreme risk protection orders, as defined in section 2 of the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021, in national crime information databases, as that term is defined in subsection (f)(3) of this section; and
(2)
have access to information regarding extreme risk protection orders through the national crime information databases.”.
5.

Conforming amendment
Section 3(1) of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 40903(1)) is amended by striking “section 922(g)(8)” and inserting “paragraph (8) or (10) of section 922(g)”.
6.

Full faith and credit
(a)

Definitions
In this section, the terms extreme risk protection order, Indian Tribe, and State have the meanings given those terms in section 2(a).
(b)

Full faith and credit required
Any extreme risk protection order issued under a State or Tribal law enacted in accordance with this Act shall be accorded the same full faith and credit by the court of another State or Indian Tribe (referred to in this subsection as the enforcing State or Indian Tribe) and enforced by the court and law enforcement personnel of the other State or Tribal government as if it were the order of the enforcing State or Indian Tribe.
(c)

Applicability to protection orders
(1)

In general
Subsection (b) shall apply to a protection order issued by a State or Tribal court if—
(A)
the court has jurisdiction over the parties and matter under the law of the State or Indian Tribe; and
(B)
reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard is given to the person against whom the order is sought sufficient to protect that person’s right to due process.
(2)

Ex parte protection orders
For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), in the case of an ex parte protection order, notice and opportunity to be heard shall be provided within the time required by State or Tribal law, and in any event within a reasonable time after the order is issued, sufficient to protect the due process rights of the respondent.
(d)

Tribal court jurisdiction
For purposes of this section, a court of an Indian Tribe shall have full civil jurisdiction to issue and enforce a protection order involving any person, including the authority to enforce any order through civil contempt proceedings, to exclude violators from Indian land, and to use other appropriate mechanisms, in matters arising anywhere in the Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code) of the Indian Tribe or otherwise within the authority of the Indian Tribe.
7.

Severability
If any provision of this Act, or an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this Act, or an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected.