[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3859 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3859

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To ensure that homicides can be prosecuted under Federal law without 
regard to the time elapsed between the act or omission that caused the 
               death of the victim and the death itself.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Justice for Murder Victims Act''.

SEC. 2. HOMICIDE OFFENSES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1123. No maximum time period between act or omission and death 
              of victim
    ``(a) In General.--A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide 
offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed 
between--
            ``(1) the act or omission that caused the death of the 
        victim; and
            ``(2) the death of the victim.
    ``(b) Relation to Statute of Limitations.--Nothing in subsection 
(a) shall be construed to supersede the limitations period under 
section 3282(a), to the extent applicable.
    ``(c) Maximum Time Period Applicable if Death Penalty Imposed.--A 
sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this 
title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not 
more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between--
            ``(1) the act or omission that caused the death of the 
        victim; and
            ``(2) the death of the victim.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of sections for chapter 51 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``1123. No maximum time period between act or omission and death of 
                            victim.''.
    (c) Applicability.--Section 1123(a) of title 18, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an act or 
omission described in that section that occurs after the date of 
enactment of this Act.
    (d) Maximum Penalty for First-degree Murder Based on Time Period 
Between Act or Omission and Death of Victim.--Section 1111(b) of title 
18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after ``imprisonment 
for life'' the following: ``, unless the death of the victim occurred 
more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the 
death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment 
for any term of years or for life''.

            Passed the Senate February 29, 2024.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
118th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 3859

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 To ensure that homicides can be prosecuted under Federal law without 
regard to the time elapsed between the act or omission that caused the 
               death of the victim and the death itself.