Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2015”.
Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2015
A BILL
To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to repeal certain provisions relating to criminal penalties and violations of foreign laws, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Criminal penalties
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “or in violation of any foreign law”; and
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (i), by striking “, or any foreign law,”;
in clause (ii), by striking “or any foreign law”; and
in clause (iii), by striking “, or under any foreign law,”; and
in paragraph (3)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “foreign law or ”; and
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (i), by striking “, or any foreign law,”;
in clause (ii), by striking “or any foreign law”; and
in clause (iii), by striking “, or under any foreign law, ”.
in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
“(1) Assessment
“(A) In general—Any person who engages in conduct prohibited by any provision of this Act (other than subsections (b), (d), and (f) of section 3) and in the exercise of due care should know that the fish, wildlife, or plants were taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of, or in a manner unlawful under, any underlying law, treaty, or regulation, and any person who knowingly violates subsection (d) or (f) of section 3, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary for each violation in accordance with subparagraph (B) or (C), as applicable.
“(B) Market value of less than $350—If a violation under subparagraph (A) involves fish or wildlife or plants with a market value of less than $350 and involves only the transportation, acquisition, or receipt of fish, wildlife, or plants taken or possessed in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States, tribal law, or any law or regulation of a State, the penalty assessed under subparagraph (A) for the violation shall not exceed the lesser of—
“(i) the maximum amount of the penalty provided for violation of the law or regulation; or
“(ii) $10,000.
“(C) Other violations—For any violation under subparagraph (A) that is not described in subparagraph (B), the penalty assessed under that subparagraph shall not exceed $200,000.”
by striking subsections (d) and (e).
by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the following:
“(a) In general—All fish, wildlife, or plants imported, exported, transported, sold, received, acquired, or purchased in violation of section 3 (other than subsection (b) of that section), or any regulation issued under that section, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States notwithstanding any culpability requirements for civil penalty assessment under section 4.”
by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively; and
in subsection (b) (as redesignated), by striking “convicted of an offense, or assessed a civil penalty,” and inserting “assessed a civil penalty”.
Enforcement—
by striking subsection (b);
by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively;
in subsection (b) (as redesignated), by striking the third sentence; and
in the first sentence of subsection (c) (as redesignated)—
by striking “an arrest, a criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property” and inserting “a civil penalty assessment or forfeiture of property”; and
by striking “or criminal”.
Conforming amendments—
Section 3(c)(3) of the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 742l(c)(3)) is amended by striking “section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(d))” and inserting “section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(c))”.
Section 503(b) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1423b(b)) is amended—
by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through “The Secretary may utilize” in paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
“(b) Utilization of other government resources and authorities—The Secretary may utilize”
by striking paragraph (2).
Section 11(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1540(d)) is amended in the fourth sentence by striking “section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(d))” and inserting “section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(c))”.
Section 7(f) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 5305a(f)) is amended by striking “section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(d))” and inserting “section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(c))”.
Section 524(c)(4)(A) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking “section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(d))” and inserting “section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(c))”.
Section 1402(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(b)(1)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking “section 6(d) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(d))” and inserting “section 6(c) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3375(c))”.
Exceptions— Section 8 of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3377) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
“(b) Activities regulated by Tuna Convention Acts—Paragraphs (1), (2)(A), and (3)(A) of subsection 3(a) shall not apply to any activity regulated by the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.) or the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.).”