US Congress House Bill 3401 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Introduced on July 29 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-09-08 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, And Investigations Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Stopping Over-Criminalization Act of 2015 This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish a default mens rea (guilty mind) standard for a federal criminal offense, unless the provision of law that defines such offense specifically provides otherwise. A federal criminal offense conviction requires proof that a defendant acted knowingly with respect to each element of the offense. If a defendant might lack reasonable awareness that conduct (e.g., a regulatory offense) is criminally punishable, then a conviction requires proof that the defendant had reason to know the conduct was unlawful. Additionally, the bill amends the federal judicial code to: (1) require the Department of Justice to develop, publish, and update an inventory of all federal criminal offenses, including agency rules that carry criminal penalties; and (2) prohibit prosecuting a defendant for a non-inventoried federal offense. Finally, it amends the Congressional Review Act to require congressional approval by joint resolution for a new rule with criminal penalties to take effect.

Stopping Over-Criminalization Act of 2015

Rep. Thomas Rooney [R-FL]

Rep. Cedric Richmond [D-LA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-09-08	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
2015-07-29	House	Referred to House Rules
2015-07-29	House	Referred to House Judiciary
2015-07-29	House	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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 concerned.
2015-07-29	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3401/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr3401/BILLS-114hr3401ih.pdf