--- kind: "section" citation: "34 U.S.C. § 20927" title: "34" title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement" number: "20927" heading: "Failure of jurisdiction to comply" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/20927" units: - "Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons" - "Chapter 209 — Child Protection and Safety" - "Subchapter I — Sex Offender Registration and Notification" - "Part A — Sex Offender Registration and Notification" --- # §20927. Failure of jurisdiction to comply - (a) **In general—** For any fiscal year after the end of the period for implementation, a [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) that fails, as determined by the Attorney General, to substantially implement this subchapter shall not receive 10 percent of the funds that would otherwise be allocated for that fiscal year to the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ([42 U.S.C. 3750](/usc/42/3750.md) et seq.).[^1] - (b) **State constitutionality—** - (1) **In general—** When evaluating whether a [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) has substantially implemented this subchapter, the Attorney General shall consider whether the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) is unable to substantially implement this subchapter because of a demonstrated inability to implement certain provisions that would place the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) in violation of its constitution, as determined by a ruling of the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10)’s highest court. - (2) **Efforts—** If the circumstances arise under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), then the Attorney General and the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) shall make good faith efforts to accomplish substantial implementation of this subchapter and to reconcile any conflicts between this subchapter and the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10)’s constitution. In considering whether compliance with the requirements of this subchapter would likely violate the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10)’s constitution or an interpretation thereof by the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10)’s highest court, the Attorney General shall consult with the chief executive and chief legal officer of the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) concerning the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10)’s interpretation of the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10)’s constitution and rulings thereon by the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10)’s highest court. - (3) **Alternative procedures—** If the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) is unable to substantially implement this subchapter because of a limitation imposed by the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10)’s constitution, the Attorney General may determine that the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) is in compliance with this chapter if the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) has made, or is in the process of implementing[^2] reasonable alternative procedures or accommodations, which are consistent with the purposes of this chapter. - (4) **Funding reduction—** If a [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) does not comply with [paragraph (3)](#b-3), then the [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) shall be subject to a funding reduction as specified in [subsection (a)](#a). - (c) **Reallocation—** Amounts not allocated under a program referred to in this section to a [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) for failure to substantially implement this subchapter shall be reallocated under that program to [jurisdictions](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) that have not failed to substantially implement this subchapter or may be reallocated to a [jurisdiction](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) from which they were withheld to be used solely for the purpose of implementing this subchapter. - (d) **Rule of construction—** The provisions of this subchapter that are cast as directions to [jurisdictions](/usc/34/20911.md?p=10) or their officials constitute, in relation to [States](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), only conditions required to avoid the reduction of Federal funding under this section. ## Footnotes [^1]: See References in Text note below. [^2]: So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 109–248, title I, § 125, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 598.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text This subchapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of Pub. L. 109–248, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 590, known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Short Title of 2006 Act note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables. The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 90–351, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 197. Subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Act was classified generally to part A (§ 3750 et seq.) of subchapter V of chapter 46 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification as part A (§ 10151 et seq.) of subchapter V of chapter 101 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1968 Act note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 109–248, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 587, known as the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2006 Act note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables. ### Codification Section was formerly classified to section 16925 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.