| 114th Congress House Joint Resolution 45 |
| Introduced April 16, 2015 Sponsored by Reps. Trent Franks [R-AZ8 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to protect the rights of crime victims. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:`Article– “Section 1. The following rights of a crime victim, being capable of protection without denying the constitutional rights of the accused, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State. The crime victim shall have the rights to reasonable notice of, and shall not be excluded from, public proceedings relating to the offense, to be heard at any release, plea, sentencing, or other proceeding involving any right established by this article, to proceedings free from unreasonable delay, to reasonable notice of the release or escape of the accused, to due consideration of the crime victim’s safety, dignity, and privacy, and to restitution. The crime victim or the crime victim’s lawful representative has standing to assert and enforce these rights. Nothing in this article provides grounds for a new trial or any claim for damages. Review of the denial of any right established herein, which may include interlocutory relief, shall be subject to the standards of ordinary appellate review. “Section 2. For purposes of this article, a crime victim includes any person against whom the criminal offense is committed or who is directly and proximately harmed by the commission of an act, which, if committed by a competent adult, would constitute a crime.‘‘SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it has been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within 14 years after the date of its submission to the States by the Congress. This article shall take effect on the 180th day after the date of its ratification.’’.For more information please go to http://www.nvcap.org/legis.html |
| PARENTAL BEREAVEMENT ACT OF 2015 Amending FMLA to Include Loss of a Child as a Covered Condition |
| Summary: Inspired by the Farley-Kluger Initiative, in the 114th Congress, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced The Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger Act/Parental Bereavement Act in the Senate (S.1302), while a companion bill, was introduced by Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) and Representative Paul Gosar (RAZ) in the House (HR.2260), the first bi-partisan effort.Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to include the “death of a son or daughter” as an eligible reason to take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Without this protection, grieving parents are at the mercy of their employers to determine how long they can be away without risking job loss. Certainly many supervisors and employers are generous to bereaved parents. But unfortunately, others are not.The Family Medical Leave Act defines a “son or daughter” as under the age of 18. |
| S.1549 — 113th Congress- Stop the Sale of Murderabilia Act of 2013 |
| Stop the Sale of Murderabilia Act of 2013 – Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit a federal or state prison inmate convicted of a crime of violence from knowingly placing in the mail or causing to be delivered in interstate or foreign commerce any property, article, or object. Sets forth exceptions for a mailing or delivery of title to real property, title to motor vehicles, or a security to satisfy debt that is: (1) imposed by law or a court order; or (2) incurred through a contract for legal services, a mortgage on the primary residence of the immediate family of the inmate, the education or medical care of the inmate or a member of the immediate family of the inmate, or life, health, home, or car insurance. Provides for civil and criminal forfeiture of real or personal property used to commit such a crime or obtained as a result of such crime. Provides civil remedies, including injunctions, damages, and attorney fees, for persons aggrieved by prisoners using the mail in violation of this Act. |
| VOCA |
| In March of 2016, POMC joined other victim organizations to request the Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriators set the FY 17 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA cap) as high as possible to support core Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) assistance programs and fulfill the needs of victims across the country.” |
| National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims |
| Legislation Passed: September 25th was established as a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims as a result of unanimously passed resolutions by the U.S. Senate on October 16, 2007 (S. Res. 326), and the U.S. House of Representatives on May 14, 2007 (H.Res 223). |