US Congress House Bill 491 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Introduced on January 22 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-02-19 - 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]

GPS Act Geolocational Privacy and Surveillance Act Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit intentionally: (1) intercepting geolocation information pertaining to another person; (2) disclosing to any other person such information pertaining to another, knowing that the information was obtained in violation of this Act; (3) using geolocation information, knowing that the information was obtained in violation of this Act; or (4) disclosing to any other person the geolocation information pertaining to another person intercepted by means authorized under this Act, knowing that the information was obtained in connection with a criminal investigation, having obtained or received information in connection with a criminal investigation, with intent to improperly obstruct, impede, or interfere with a duly authorized criminal investigation. Sets penalties for violations. Makes specified exceptions for interceptions involving: (1) information acquired by a provider of covered services (electronic communication service, remote computing service, or geolocation information service) in the normal course of business; (2) federal officers, employees, or agents conducting foreign intelligence surveillance; (3) persons having given prior consent; (4) public information; (5) emergency information; (6) theft; and (7) a warrant.Prohibits: (1) a person providing covered services from intentionally divulging geolocation information pertaining to another person, with exceptions; and (2) the use of such information, and evidence derived from it, as evidence. Authorizes: (1) the use of geolocation information by investigative or law enforcement officers, or by a state's principal prosecuting attorney, to intercept such information under specified emergency circumstances; and (2) the recovery of civil damages by any person whose geolocation information is intercepted, disclosed, or intentionally used in violation of this Act.Modifies the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to require a search warrant to acquire geolocation information. Amends the federal criminal code to include any geolocation information service within the definition of a "covered entity" for purposes of provisions prohibiting obtaining confidential phone records information from such an entity by fraud or related activity. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of fraud and related activity in connection with obtaining certain confidential phone records information. Prohibits acquiring geolocation information of a person for protective activities or law enforcement or intelligence purposes except pursuant to a warrant issued under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

GPS Act Geolocational Privacy and Surveillance Act

Rep. Jason Chaffetz [R-UT]	Sen. Peter Welch [D-VT]	Rep. John Conyers [D-MI]	Rep. Stephen Lynch [D-MA]
Rep. Ted Poe [R-TX]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-02-19	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
2015-01-22	House	Referred to House Intelligence (Permanent)
2015-01-22	House	Referred to House Judiciary
2015-01-22	House	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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.
2015-01-22	House	Introduced in House

SB237 (Related) 2015-01-22 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
HB656 (Related) 2015-03-17 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/491/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr491/BILLS-114hr491ih.pdf