104 HR 8538 IH: Body Armor Safety Act of 2022 U.S. House of Representatives 2022-07-27 text/xml EN 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.

I117th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8538IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 27, 2022Mr. Nehls (for himself, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Banks, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Costa, Mr. Steube, Mr. Issa, Mr. Bost, and Mr. Gimenez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo ensure body armor complies with safety standards, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Body Armor Safety Act of 2022.

2.

Limitation on importation

(a)

In general

The President shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that no body armor for law enforcement use may be imported into the customs territory of the United States unless it meets the applicable requirements of and receives recognition of compliance from the Compliance Testing Program of the National Institute of Justice as described in section 232 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 162).(b)

Definitions

In this section:(1)The term customs territory of the United States has the meaning given the term in General Note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.(2)The term body armor means ballistic-resistant or stab-resistant panels or plates designed to protect the torso and worn in a carrier against the body.

3.

Criminal penalty

(a)

In general

Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1041.

Fraud in connection with body armor

(a)

Forgery

Whoever forges, counterfeits, or falsely alters any National Institute of Justice Standard certificate, validation, mark, or any other recognition of compliance with respect to any body armor shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.(b)

Misleading claims of compliance

Whoever engages in any conduct with intent to convey false or misleading claims of compliance with respect to any body armor such that recognition of compliance may reasonably be believed to have been issued by the National Institute of Justice or its Compliance Testing program shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.(c)

Body armor defined

In this section, the term body armor means ballistic-resistant or stab-resistant panels or plates designed to protect the torso and worn in a carrier against the body.

.(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:1041. Fraud in connection with body armor..

4.

Limitation on evaluations and testing

Section 232 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 162) is amended by adding at the end the following:(h)

Limitation

Law enforcement technology products manufactured at any company on the Entity List of the Export Administration Regulations of the Bureau of Industry Security may not be tested or evaluated or otherwise certified, validated, marked, or recognized as in compliance with standards established and maintained by the Office in accordance with the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law 104–113)..