US HB2917 | 2015-2016 | 114th Congress

Status

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 23-0)
Status: Introduced on June 25 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-07-09 - 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]

Summary

End Purchase of Firearms by Dangerous Individuals Act of 2015 This bill requires each state to establish a reporting system through which mental health professionals may report information about an individual committed to a mental institution who poses a danger to himself/herself or others or an individual who communicates a serious threat of physical violence against another individual. The legislation requires states to provide mental health records to the National Instant Criminal History Background Check System (NICS) for use in determining whether a person is disqualified from possessing or receiving a firearm. It sets forth provisions to ensure maintenance and removal of records, inclusion of an appeals process, and re-evaluation of disqualifications for individuals under age 18. The bill also requires states to establish a process related to temporary involuntary commitment of individuals at mental health facilities. The Department of Justice (DOJ) must report annually to Congress on states' progress implementing the reporting systems. The bill authorizes DOJ to reduce a state's formula grant allocation under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Program for failing to comply. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish guidelines for state reporting systems and state processes regarding temporary involuntary commitment. HHS must also establish a process to certify state compliance. The bill amends the federal criminal code to expand the prohibition against selling firearms or ammunition to persons committed to any mental institution to include persons who communicate to a mental health professional a serious threat to commit an act of violence. Miscellaneous provisions clarify the treatment of individuals temporarily involuntarily committed by a state process, limit civil liability for mental health professionals who fail to report, establish criteria for determining dangerousness, and require a comprehensive study of state statutes that require mental health professionals to directly report certain individuals into state firearm prohibition databases. The bill replaces various statutory references to persons adjudicated as a "mental defective" with persons adjudicated as "ineligible due to disqualifying mental status."

Tracking Information

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Title

End Purchase of Firearms by Dangerous Individuals Act of 2015

Sponsors


History

DateChamberAction
2015-07-09HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
2015-06-26HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Health.
2015-06-25HouseReferred to House Energy and Commerce
2015-06-25HouseReferred to House Judiciary
2015-06-25HouseReferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
2015-06-25HouseIntroduced in House

Subjects


US Congress State Sources


Bill Comments

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