Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 17, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Attorney General (AG), at the request of an appropriate law enforcement official of a state or political subdivision, to assist in the investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in a place of public use, and in the investigation of mass killings and attempted mass killings.

Defines "mass killings" as three or more killings in a single incident.

Authorizes the AG to pay rewards of up to $3 million (currently, $2 million), subject to exceptions, for assistance to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to permit the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), at the request of an appropriate law enforcement official of a state or political subdivision and through deployment of the Secret Service or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to assist in the investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in a place of public use, and in the investigation of mass killings and attempted mass killings.

Requires that any assistance provided under this Act be presumed to be within the scope of federal office or employment.

[112th Congress Public Law 265]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 126 STAT. 2435]]

Public Law 112-265
112th Congress

                                 An Act


 
    To amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify the statutory 
authority for the longstanding practice of the Department of Justice of 
    providing investigatory assistance on request of State and local 
  authorities with respect to certain serious violent crimes, and for 
         other purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 14, 2013 -  [H.R. 2076]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Investigative 
Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012. 6 USC 101 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Investigative Assistance for Violent 
Crimes Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN VIOLENT ACTS, SHOOTINGS, AND MASS 
                    KILLINGS.

    (a) Attorney General.--Title 28, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 530C(b)(1)(L)(i), by striking ``$2,000,000'' 
        and inserting ``$3,000,000''; and
            (2) in section 530C(b)(1), by adding at the end the 
        following--
                    ``(M)(i) At the request of an appropriate law 
                enforcement official of a State or political 
                subdivision, the Attorney General may assist in the 
                investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in 
                a place of public use and in the investigation of mass 
                killings and attempted mass killings. Any assistance 
                provided under this subparagraph shall be presumed to be 
                within the scope of Federal office or employment.
                    ``(i) <<NOTE: Definitions.>> For purposes of this 
                subparagraph--
                          ``(I) the term `mass killings' means 3 or more 
                      killings in a single incident; and
                          ``(II) the term `place of public use' has the 
                      meaning given that term under section 2332f(e)(6) 
                      of title 18, United States Code.''.

    (b) Secretary of Homeland Security.--Section 875 of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 455) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(d) Investigation of Certain Violent Acts, Shootings, and Mass 
Killings.--
            ``(1) In general.--At the request of an appropriate law 
        enforcement official of a State or political subdivision, the 
        Secretary, through deployment of the Secret Service or United 
        States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, may assist in the 
        investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in a place 
        of public use, and in the investigation of mass killings

[[Page 126 STAT. 2436]]

        and attempted mass killings. Any assistance provided by the 
        Secretary under this subsection shall be presumed to be within 
        the scope of Federal office or employment.
            ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `mass killings' means 3 or more 
                killings in a single incident; and
                    ``(B) the term `place of public use' has the meaning 
                given that term under section 2332f(e)(6) of title 18, 
                United States Code.''.

    Approved January 14, 2013.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2076 (S. 1793):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 112-186 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
                                                        Vol. 157 (2011):
                                    Sept. 12, considered and passed 
                                        House.
                                                        Vol. 158 (2012):
                                    Dec. 17, considered and passed 
                                        Senate, amended.
                                                        Vol. 158 (2013):
                                    Jan. 1, House concurred in Senate 
                                        amendment.

                                  <all>