Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Stop Swatting in Our Schools Act of 2016”.
Stop Swatting in Our Schools Act of 2016
A BILL
To provide for a task force within the FBI to deal with certain malicious and false threats in order made to obtain a response by law enforcement, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Task force to prevent swatting
Creation— The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall create a Task Force to combat swatting by investigating and referring for prosecution Federal offenses involved in this activity.
Definition of swatting— The term “swatting” means activity of individuals who through the use of the mail, telephone, or other instrument of interstate or foreign commerce, or in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, willfully makes any threat, or maliciously conveys false information knowing the same to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made, or to be made, to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property by means of fire or an explosive with the intent to trigger a response by a law enforcement agency in the absence of circumstances requiring such a response.
Swatting considered domestic terrorism— For the purposes of its activities, the Task Force created under this section shall deem swatting to be a form of domestic terrorism.
Coordination with the Joint Terrorism Task Forces— The task force created under this section shall coordinate its activities with the Joint Terrorism Task Forces.
Authorization— There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.