| 1 | 1 | | I |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | 119THCONGRESS |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | 1 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | STSESSION H. R. 2718 |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | To establish Federal policies and procedures to notify the next-of-kin or |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | other emergency contact upon the death, or serious illness or serious |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | injury, of an individual in Federal custody, to provide model policies |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | for States, units of local government, and Indian Tribes to implement |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | and enforce similar policies and procedures, and for other purposes. |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | APRIL8, 2025 |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Ms. K |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | AMLAGER-DOVE(for herself, Mr. MOOREof Alabama, Mr. RUTHER- |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | FORD, Mr. IVEY, Ms. NORTON, and Mrs. MCIVER) introduced the fol- |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | A BILL |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | To establish Federal policies and procedures to notify the |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | next-of-kin or other emergency contact upon the death, |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | or serious illness or serious injury, of an individual in |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Federal custody, to provide model policies for States, |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | units of local government, and Indian Tribes to imple- |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | ment and enforce similar policies and procedures, and |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | for other purposes. |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1 |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 2 |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Family Notification 2 |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act of 2025’’. 3 |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 4 |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | Congress finds the following: 5 |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | (1) In the event an individual dies or becomes 6 |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | seriously ill or injured while being detained, ar-7 |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | rested, or while in law enforcement custody, their 8 |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | family members deserve to be notified in a timely 9 |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | and compassionate manner. Such notification is nec-10 |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | essary to uphold the basic human dignity of incar-11 |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | cerated people, a concept rooted in the Eighteenth 12 |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | Amendment and Due Process Clause of the Four-13 |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | teenth Amendment. 14 |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | (2) The lack of a national standard governing 15 |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | notification of death, illness, and injury that occur 16 |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | in prisons, jails and police custody can lead to inhu-17 |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | mane treatment of incarcerated people and their 18 |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | loved ones. Poor communication regarding the death 19 |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | of a loved one may exacerbate the grief and other 20 |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | physical and psychological reactions of surviving rel-21 |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | atives. 22 |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | (3) On Easter Sunday of 2016, Wakiesha Wil-23 |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | son was found dead in her cell in the Los Angeles 24 |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | Police Department’s Metropolitan Detention Center. 25 |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | Her mother called the police to determine Ms. Wil-26 |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 3 |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | son’s whereabouts but was not initially given any in-1 |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | formation. It was not until March 30, 3 days later, 2 |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | when Ms. Wilson’s mother was told to call the cor-3 |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | oner that she learned her daughter had died. 4 |
|---|
| 62 | 62 | | (4) In Georgia, Jennifer Bradley testified before 5 |
|---|
| 63 | 63 | | the General Assembly in September 2021 that she is 6 |
|---|
| 64 | 64 | | still waiting for answers about the stabbing death of 7 |
|---|
| 65 | 65 | | her 23-year-old son at Macon State Prison in March 8 |
|---|
| 66 | 66 | | 2020. She told the committee that it was an incar-9 |
|---|
| 67 | 67 | | cerated person, not a prison official, who first noti-10 |
|---|
| 68 | 68 | | fied her of her son’s death. As of the hearing, she 11 |
|---|
| 69 | 69 | | had not yet received his belongings. 12 |
|---|
| 70 | 70 | | (5) Jordan Fisher found out about the death of 13 |
|---|
| 71 | 71 | | her father, Thomas Willis, at Valdosta State Prison 14 |
|---|
| 72 | 72 | | in Georgia when a letter she had sent her father was 15 |
|---|
| 73 | 73 | | returned back to her stamped: ‘‘Return to sender: 16 |
|---|
| 74 | 74 | | inmate dead’’. She was unable to obtain further in-17 |
|---|
| 75 | 75 | | formation about her father’s death from prison offi-18 |
|---|
| 76 | 76 | | cials. What information she uncovered came from 19 |
|---|
| 77 | 77 | | letters from her father’s cellmate. 20 |
|---|
| 78 | 78 | | (6) Sara Roth did not receive notice from the 21 |
|---|
| 79 | 79 | | Clayton County Jail in Georgia that her mother, Re-22 |
|---|
| 80 | 80 | | gina Salman, had fallen and suffered serious inju-23 |
|---|
| 81 | 81 | | ries, including a collapsed lung that required hos-24 |
|---|
| 82 | 82 | | pitalization. When her mother’s longtime boyfriend 25 |
|---|
| 83 | 83 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 84 | 84 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 4 |
|---|
| 85 | 85 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 86 | 86 | | went to visit the jail, he was told Ms. Salman was 1 |
|---|
| 87 | 87 | | no longer there but was not provided additional in-2 |
|---|
| 88 | 88 | | formation. More than a month later, the hospital 3 |
|---|
| 89 | 89 | | called Ms. Roth and informed her that her mother 4 |
|---|
| 90 | 90 | | was on a ventilator and dying of a severe brain 5 |
|---|
| 91 | 91 | | tumor. Her mother was taken off the ventilator 3 6 |
|---|
| 92 | 92 | | days later without ever regaining consciousness. 7 |
|---|
| 93 | 93 | | (7) The failure to release autopsy results can 8 |
|---|
| 94 | 94 | | prevent families and loved ones from seeking justice 9 |
|---|
| 95 | 95 | | for wrongful deaths. After Harvey Hill was arrested 10 |
|---|
| 96 | 96 | | for trespassing and booked into jail in Canton, Mis-11 |
|---|
| 97 | 97 | | sissippi, guards beat him severely and kicked him re-12 |
|---|
| 98 | 98 | | peatedly in the head. Mr. Hill died in an isolation 13 |
|---|
| 99 | 99 | | cell. The State medical examiner’s report recorded 14 |
|---|
| 100 | 100 | | his death as a homicide, but it was not released until 15 |
|---|
| 101 | 101 | | 25 months after his death and 13 months after the 16 |
|---|
| 102 | 102 | | statute of limitations expired for assault. 17 |
|---|
| 103 | 103 | | (8) In recent years, deaths in custody have 18 |
|---|
| 104 | 104 | | reached the highest levels on record. In 2018, two 19 |
|---|
| 105 | 105 | | years prior to the rapid spread of COVID–19 behind 20 |
|---|
| 106 | 106 | | bars, at least 1,120 people died while detained in 21 |
|---|
| 107 | 107 | | local jails and 4,513 people died in the custody of 22 |
|---|
| 108 | 108 | | State and Federal prisons. This represented an all- 23 |
|---|
| 109 | 109 | | time high in the number of deaths in both local jails 24 |
|---|
| 110 | 110 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 111 | 111 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 5 |
|---|
| 112 | 112 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 113 | 113 | | and State prisons since the Bureau of Justice Sta-1 |
|---|
| 114 | 114 | | tistics (BJS) started collecting mortality data. 2 |
|---|
| 115 | 115 | | (9) The spread of COVID–19 behind bars sig-3 |
|---|
| 116 | 116 | | nificantly increased the death toll of people in cus-4 |
|---|
| 117 | 117 | | tody. At least 2,700 people are estimated to have 5 |
|---|
| 118 | 118 | | died of COVID–19 in prisons, jails and detention 6 |
|---|
| 119 | 119 | | centers, and the COVID–19 death rate in State and 7 |
|---|
| 120 | 120 | | Federal prisons between April 2020 and April 2021 8 |
|---|
| 121 | 121 | | was more than double that of the general population. 9 |
|---|
| 122 | 122 | | This is likely a significant undercount, given uneven 10 |
|---|
| 123 | 123 | | and inconsistent reporting. In some instances, people 11 |
|---|
| 124 | 124 | | are released from local jails to die in hospitals, 12 |
|---|
| 125 | 125 | | whether of COVID–19 or other causes, and their 13 |
|---|
| 126 | 126 | | deaths are not recorded as a death in custody. 14 |
|---|
| 127 | 127 | | SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 15 |
|---|
| 128 | 128 | | In this Act: 16 |
|---|
| 129 | 129 | | (1) C |
|---|
| 130 | 130 | | USTODIAL RECORD.—The term ‘‘custodial 17 |
|---|
| 131 | 131 | | record’’ means the central file of an individual in 18 |
|---|
| 132 | 132 | | custody. 19 |
|---|
| 133 | 133 | | (2) D |
|---|
| 134 | 134 | | ETENTION AGENCY.—The term ‘‘detention 20 |
|---|
| 135 | 135 | | agency’’ means any government agency, including a 21 |
|---|
| 136 | 136 | | law enforcement agency or correctional agency, that 22 |
|---|
| 137 | 137 | | has the authority to detain people for violations or 23 |
|---|
| 138 | 138 | | alleged violations of criminal or civil law. 24 |
|---|
| 139 | 139 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 140 | 140 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 6 |
|---|
| 141 | 141 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 142 | 142 | | (3) IN CUSTODY OF A DETENTION AGENCY .— 1 |
|---|
| 143 | 143 | | The term ‘‘in the custody of a detention agency’’ in-2 |
|---|
| 144 | 144 | | cludes, but is not limited to, a person who is de-3 |
|---|
| 145 | 145 | | tained, under arrest, or is in the process of being ar-4 |
|---|
| 146 | 146 | | rested, is en route to be incarcerated, or is incarcer-5 |
|---|
| 147 | 147 | | ated at a jail, prison, boot camp prison, contract cor-6 |
|---|
| 148 | 148 | | rectional facility, community correctional facility, or 7 |
|---|
| 149 | 149 | | other correctional facility (including any juvenile de-8 |
|---|
| 150 | 150 | | tention facility). 9 |
|---|
| 151 | 151 | | (4) T |
|---|
| 152 | 152 | | AKING CUSTODY.—The term ‘‘taking cus-10 |
|---|
| 153 | 153 | | tody’’ means the point at which the detention agency 11 |
|---|
| 154 | 154 | | takes custody or control of an individual, including 12 |
|---|
| 155 | 155 | | during or prior to booking or intake screening as a 13 |
|---|
| 156 | 156 | | new commitment, in transfer from another institu-14 |
|---|
| 157 | 157 | | tion, as a court return, as a return from a writ, or 15 |
|---|
| 158 | 158 | | as a holdover. 16 |
|---|
| 159 | 159 | | SEC. 4. EMERGENCY CONTACT NOTIFICATION POLICIES 17 |
|---|
| 160 | 160 | | AND PROCEDURES. 18 |
|---|
| 161 | 161 | | (a) E |
|---|
| 162 | 162 | | MERGENCYCONTACTNOTIFICATIONPOLICIES 19 |
|---|
| 163 | 163 | | ANDPROCEDURES.—Not later than 1 year after the date 20 |
|---|
| 164 | 164 | | of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall, con-21 |
|---|
| 165 | 165 | | sistent with the requirements in this section— 22 |
|---|
| 166 | 166 | | (1) implement policies and procedures for the 23 |
|---|
| 167 | 167 | | detention agencies of the Department of Justice to 24 |
|---|
| 168 | 168 | | notify the next-of-kin or other emergency contact in 25 |
|---|
| 169 | 169 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 170 | 170 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 7 |
|---|
| 171 | 171 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 172 | 172 | | the event of the death, or serious illness or serious 1 |
|---|
| 173 | 173 | | injury, of an individual in the custody of a detention 2 |
|---|
| 174 | 174 | | agency of the Department of Justice; and 3 |
|---|
| 175 | 175 | | (2) develop and distribute model policies and 4 |
|---|
| 176 | 176 | | procedures for detention agencies of States, terri-5 |
|---|
| 177 | 177 | | tories of the United States, Tribes, and units of 6 |
|---|
| 178 | 178 | | local government to notify the next-of-kin or other 7 |
|---|
| 179 | 179 | | emergency contact in the event of the death, or seri-8 |
|---|
| 180 | 180 | | ous illness or serious injury, of an individual in the 9 |
|---|
| 181 | 181 | | custody of that detention agency, and provide assist-10 |
|---|
| 182 | 182 | | ance to such detention agencies so that the agencies 11 |
|---|
| 183 | 183 | | may implement such procedures or substantially 12 |
|---|
| 184 | 184 | | similar processes. 13 |
|---|
| 185 | 185 | | (b) C |
|---|
| 186 | 186 | | ONTENTS OFEMERGENCYCONTACTNOTIFICA-14 |
|---|
| 187 | 187 | | TIONPOLICIES ANDPROCEDURES.— 15 |
|---|
| 188 | 188 | | (1) E |
|---|
| 189 | 189 | | MERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION .—The 16 |
|---|
| 190 | 190 | | policies and procedures described in subsection (a) 17 |
|---|
| 191 | 191 | | shall address the collection and use of emergency 18 |
|---|
| 192 | 192 | | contact information for individuals in custody, in-19 |
|---|
| 193 | 193 | | cluding the following: 20 |
|---|
| 194 | 194 | | (A) E |
|---|
| 195 | 195 | | MERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION 21 |
|---|
| 196 | 196 | | REQUESTED UPON TAKING CUSTODY .—In the 22 |
|---|
| 197 | 197 | | case of an individual taken into the custody of 23 |
|---|
| 198 | 198 | | a detention agency, the agency shall, at the 24 |
|---|
| 199 | 199 | | time of taking custody, ask the individual— 25 |
|---|
| 200 | 200 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 201 | 201 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 8 |
|---|
| 202 | 202 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 203 | 203 | | (i) for the name, last known address, 1 |
|---|
| 204 | 204 | | telephone number, and email of any person 2 |
|---|
| 205 | 205 | | or persons who shall be notified in the 3 |
|---|
| 206 | 206 | | event of the individual in custody’s death 4 |
|---|
| 207 | 207 | | or serious illness or serious injury, and 5 |
|---|
| 208 | 208 | | who are authorized to receive the individ-6 |
|---|
| 209 | 209 | | ual’s body; 7 |
|---|
| 210 | 210 | | (ii) the order in which the individual 8 |
|---|
| 211 | 211 | | in custody prefers the emergency contacts 9 |
|---|
| 212 | 212 | | described in clause (i) to be notified; 10 |
|---|
| 213 | 213 | | (iii) whether the individual in custody 11 |
|---|
| 214 | 214 | | would like a faith leader to participate in 12 |
|---|
| 215 | 215 | | such notification process and, if so, of 13 |
|---|
| 216 | 216 | | what denomination; and 14 |
|---|
| 217 | 217 | | (iv) whether the individual has in 15 |
|---|
| 218 | 218 | | place a medical proxy decision maker or 16 |
|---|
| 219 | 219 | | medical power of attorney, advanced direc-17 |
|---|
| 220 | 220 | | tive, or do not resuscitate order. 18 |
|---|
| 221 | 221 | | (B) E |
|---|
| 222 | 222 | | MERGENCY CONTACT LIST MODIFICA -19 |
|---|
| 223 | 223 | | TION.—The detention agency shall permit an 20 |
|---|
| 224 | 224 | | individual in custody to modify their emergency 21 |
|---|
| 225 | 225 | | contact information at any time and provide a 22 |
|---|
| 226 | 226 | | periodic opportunity, but not less than annually, 23 |
|---|
| 227 | 227 | | for individuals in custody to update their emer-24 |
|---|
| 228 | 228 | | gency contact information and to fill out a med-25 |
|---|
| 229 | 229 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 230 | 230 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 9 |
|---|
| 231 | 231 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 232 | 232 | | ical power of attorney, health care proxy, ad-1 |
|---|
| 233 | 233 | | vanced directive, a do not resuscitate order, or 2 |
|---|
| 234 | 234 | | any other similar document that complies with 3 |
|---|
| 235 | 235 | | the State law in the location of detention. 4 |
|---|
| 236 | 236 | | (C) D |
|---|
| 237 | 237 | | ISCLOSURE OF PURPOSE AND PER -5 |
|---|
| 238 | 238 | | MISSIBLE USES OF EMERGENCY CONTACT IN -6 |
|---|
| 239 | 239 | | FORMATION.—The detention agency shall pro-7 |
|---|
| 240 | 240 | | vide the individual in custody information about 8 |
|---|
| 241 | 241 | | the purpose and permissible uses of the emer-9 |
|---|
| 242 | 242 | | gency contact information provided pursuant to 10 |
|---|
| 243 | 243 | | this section. 11 |
|---|
| 244 | 244 | | (D) S |
|---|
| 245 | 245 | | TANDARDIZED EMERGENCY CONTACT 12 |
|---|
| 246 | 246 | | FORM.—The policies and procedures described 13 |
|---|
| 247 | 247 | | in subsection (a) shall include a template form 14 |
|---|
| 248 | 248 | | for recording the individual in custody’s next-of- 15 |
|---|
| 249 | 249 | | kin or other emergency contact and other infor-16 |
|---|
| 250 | 250 | | mation under subsection (b)(1)(A). 17 |
|---|
| 251 | 251 | | (E) C |
|---|
| 252 | 252 | | USTODIAL RECORD .—The detention 18 |
|---|
| 253 | 253 | | agency shall record the individual’s next-of-kin 19 |
|---|
| 254 | 254 | | or other emergency contact information on the 20 |
|---|
| 255 | 255 | | form described in subparagraph (D) and in-21 |
|---|
| 256 | 256 | | clude that form in the individual’s custodial 22 |
|---|
| 257 | 257 | | record. 23 |
|---|
| 258 | 258 | | (2) N |
|---|
| 259 | 259 | | OTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEATH , 24 |
|---|
| 260 | 260 | | SERIOUS ILLNESS, AND SERIOUS INJURY WHILE IN 25 |
|---|
| 261 | 261 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 262 | 262 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 10 |
|---|
| 263 | 263 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 264 | 264 | | CUSTODY.—The policies and procedures described in 1 |
|---|
| 265 | 265 | | subsection (a) shall describe the notification require-2 |
|---|
| 266 | 266 | | ments in the event an individual dies, is seriously in-3 |
|---|
| 267 | 267 | | jured or becomes seriously ill while in the custody of 4 |
|---|
| 268 | 268 | | a detention agency, including the following: 5 |
|---|
| 269 | 269 | | (A) N |
|---|
| 270 | 270 | | OTIFICATION TIMEFRAME .— 6 |
|---|
| 271 | 271 | | (i) N |
|---|
| 272 | 272 | | OTIFICATION OF DEATH .—In the 7 |
|---|
| 273 | 273 | | event an individual dies while in the cus-8 |
|---|
| 274 | 274 | | tody of the detention agency, the detention 9 |
|---|
| 275 | 275 | | agency shall notify the individual’s emer-10 |
|---|
| 276 | 276 | | gency contact not later than 12 hours after 11 |
|---|
| 277 | 277 | | the declaration of death and between the 12 |
|---|
| 278 | 278 | | hours of 6:00 a.m. and to midnight local 13 |
|---|
| 279 | 279 | | time. 14 |
|---|
| 280 | 280 | | (ii) N |
|---|
| 281 | 281 | | OTIFICATION OF SERIOUS ILL -15 |
|---|
| 282 | 282 | | NESS OR SERIOUS INJURY .—Notice to the 16 |
|---|
| 283 | 283 | | next-of-kin or other emergency contact 17 |
|---|
| 284 | 284 | | shall be made as soon as practicable after 18 |
|---|
| 285 | 285 | | the serious injury or serious illness occurs, 19 |
|---|
| 286 | 286 | | but in any event not later than 48 hours 20 |
|---|
| 287 | 287 | | from such determination and between the 21 |
|---|
| 288 | 288 | | hours of 6:00 a.m. and to midnight local 22 |
|---|
| 289 | 289 | | time. The notification should occur prior to 23 |
|---|
| 290 | 290 | | any required medical procedure, where 24 |
|---|
| 291 | 291 | | practical and if such timeframe will not 25 |
|---|
| 292 | 292 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 293 | 293 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 11 |
|---|
| 294 | 294 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 295 | 295 | | delay treatment, but in any event, not later 1 |
|---|
| 296 | 296 | | than any medical discharge or clearance. 2 |
|---|
| 297 | 297 | | (B) D |
|---|
| 298 | 298 | | EATH NOTIFICATION INFORMATION 3 |
|---|
| 299 | 299 | | REQUIRED.— 4 |
|---|
| 300 | 300 | | (i) I |
|---|
| 301 | 301 | | N GENERAL.—Such notification 5 |
|---|
| 302 | 302 | | shall include all pertinent circumstances 6 |
|---|
| 303 | 303 | | surrounding the death, including— 7 |
|---|
| 304 | 304 | | (I) the official time of death; 8 |
|---|
| 305 | 305 | | (II) the cause of death (if deter-9 |
|---|
| 306 | 306 | | mined); and 10 |
|---|
| 307 | 307 | | (III) whether the individual’s 11 |
|---|
| 308 | 308 | | death is under investigation and the 12 |
|---|
| 309 | 309 | | reason for opening an investigation. 13 |
|---|
| 310 | 310 | | (ii) N |
|---|
| 311 | 311 | | O CAUSE OF DEATH DETER -14 |
|---|
| 312 | 312 | | MINED.—If the cause of death has not 15 |
|---|
| 313 | 313 | | been determined at the time of the notifi-16 |
|---|
| 314 | 314 | | cation, the detention agency shall follow up 17 |
|---|
| 315 | 315 | | with the individual’s emergency contact 18 |
|---|
| 316 | 316 | | once such a determination has been made 19 |
|---|
| 317 | 317 | | to provide that information within 24 20 |
|---|
| 318 | 318 | | hours of such determination. 21 |
|---|
| 319 | 319 | | (C) S |
|---|
| 320 | 320 | | ERIOUS ILLNESS OR SERIOUS INJURY 22 |
|---|
| 321 | 321 | | NOTIFICATION INFORMATION REQUIRED .—Such 23 |
|---|
| 322 | 322 | | notification shall include pertinent details of the 24 |
|---|
| 323 | 323 | | serious injury or serious illness, including— 25 |
|---|
| 324 | 324 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 325 | 325 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 12 |
|---|
| 326 | 326 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 327 | 327 | | (i) the cause and nature of the serious 1 |
|---|
| 328 | 328 | | injury or serious illness event; 2 |
|---|
| 329 | 329 | | (ii) whether the individual is incapaci-3 |
|---|
| 330 | 330 | | tated, unconscious, or unable to speak; 4 |
|---|
| 331 | 331 | | (iii) whether any medical procedures 5 |
|---|
| 332 | 332 | | or lifesaving measures were, or will be, per-6 |
|---|
| 333 | 333 | | formed in response to the incident; and 7 |
|---|
| 334 | 334 | | (iv) contact information of the facility 8 |
|---|
| 335 | 335 | | and provider that is providing medical 9 |
|---|
| 336 | 336 | | treatment. 10 |
|---|
| 337 | 337 | | (D) D |
|---|
| 338 | 338 | | EFINITION OF SERIOUS ILLNESS OR 11 |
|---|
| 339 | 339 | | SERIOUS INJURY.—The policies and procedures 12 |
|---|
| 340 | 340 | | described in subsection (a) shall define when a 13 |
|---|
| 341 | 341 | | medical event, episode, condition, accident, or 14 |
|---|
| 342 | 342 | | other incident constitutes a serious illness or se-15 |
|---|
| 343 | 343 | | rious injury. In defining such term, the Attor-16 |
|---|
| 344 | 344 | | ney General shall require notification at least in 17 |
|---|
| 345 | 345 | | cases in which— 18 |
|---|
| 346 | 346 | | (i) without immediate treatment for 19 |
|---|
| 347 | 347 | | the condition, death is imminent; 20 |
|---|
| 348 | 348 | | (ii) admission to a hospital is re-21 |
|---|
| 349 | 349 | | quired; 22 |
|---|
| 350 | 350 | | (iii) an individual is unconscious or in-23 |
|---|
| 351 | 351 | | capacitated such that they are incapable of 24 |
|---|
| 352 | 352 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:27 Apr 17, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 353 | 353 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 13 |
|---|
| 354 | 354 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 355 | 355 | | providing consent for medical treatment; 1 |
|---|
| 356 | 356 | | and 2 |
|---|
| 357 | 357 | | (iv) an individual has been diagnosed 3 |
|---|
| 358 | 358 | | with a terminal illness. 4 |
|---|
| 359 | 359 | | (E) A |
|---|
| 360 | 360 | | DDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS RELATED 5 |
|---|
| 361 | 361 | | TO NOTIFICATION.—The policies and proce-6 |
|---|
| 362 | 362 | | dures described in subsection (a) shall include 7 |
|---|
| 363 | 363 | | the following: 8 |
|---|
| 364 | 364 | | (i) C |
|---|
| 365 | 365 | | OMPASSIONATE AND PROFES -9 |
|---|
| 366 | 366 | | SIONAL NOTIFICATION .—Standards for 10 |
|---|
| 367 | 367 | | providing notification in a compassionate 11 |
|---|
| 368 | 368 | | and professional manner to minimize con-12 |
|---|
| 369 | 369 | | fusion and trauma suffered by the next-of- 13 |
|---|
| 370 | 370 | | kin or other emergency contact, includ-14 |
|---|
| 371 | 371 | | ing— 15 |
|---|
| 372 | 372 | | (I) a description of what informa-16 |
|---|
| 373 | 373 | | tion cannot be included in a voicemail, 17 |
|---|
| 374 | 374 | | such as notification of death or seri-18 |
|---|
| 375 | 375 | | ous illness; 19 |
|---|
| 376 | 376 | | (II) an offer for an in-person or 20 |
|---|
| 377 | 377 | | virtual face-to-face meeting in the 21 |
|---|
| 378 | 378 | | event a notification of a death in cus-22 |
|---|
| 379 | 379 | | tody is provided to the emergency con-23 |
|---|
| 380 | 380 | | tact during a live conversation over 24 |
|---|
| 381 | 381 | | the phone; and 25 |
|---|
| 382 | 382 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:27 Apr 17, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 383 | 383 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 14 |
|---|
| 384 | 384 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 385 | 385 | | (III) a requirement that notifica-1 |
|---|
| 386 | 386 | | tions are provided in a private setting 2 |
|---|
| 387 | 387 | | and, when practicable, in person and 3 |
|---|
| 388 | 388 | | by a mental health professional, des-4 |
|---|
| 389 | 389 | | ignated case worker, or chaplain 5 |
|---|
| 390 | 390 | | trained in notification best practices. 6 |
|---|
| 391 | 391 | | (3) N |
|---|
| 392 | 392 | | OTIFICATION OPT OUT.—Standards to en-7 |
|---|
| 393 | 393 | | sure that notifications should not occur where the 8 |
|---|
| 394 | 394 | | individual is advised of their right to notification and 9 |
|---|
| 395 | 395 | | instructs the agency not to do so, or where they re-10 |
|---|
| 396 | 396 | | quest the opportunity to provide such notification 11 |
|---|
| 397 | 397 | | personally, in which case the detention agency shall 12 |
|---|
| 398 | 398 | | provide an opportunity for the individual to deliver 13 |
|---|
| 399 | 399 | | such notification within the time period identified 14 |
|---|
| 400 | 400 | | above. 15 |
|---|
| 401 | 401 | | (4) B |
|---|
| 402 | 402 | | ELONGINGS AND REMAINS .—Standards 16 |
|---|
| 403 | 403 | | for handling the belongings and remains of an indi-17 |
|---|
| 404 | 404 | | vidual who died in custody, including— 18 |
|---|
| 405 | 405 | | (A) returning the individual’s belongings 19 |
|---|
| 406 | 406 | | and remains, if desired, to the next-of-kin or 20 |
|---|
| 407 | 407 | | other emergency contact and providing at least 21 |
|---|
| 408 | 408 | | 7 days for the emergency contact to make a de-22 |
|---|
| 409 | 409 | | cision as to the disposition of the belongings 23 |
|---|
| 410 | 410 | | and remains; 24 |
|---|
| 411 | 411 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 412 | 412 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 15 |
|---|
| 413 | 413 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 414 | 414 | | (B) following up with the individual’s next- 1 |
|---|
| 415 | 415 | | of-kin or other emergency contact in the event 2 |
|---|
| 416 | 416 | | of a death in custody with the outcome of any 3 |
|---|
| 417 | 417 | | critical incident review or other internal inves-4 |
|---|
| 418 | 418 | | tigations not available at the time of the initial 5 |
|---|
| 419 | 419 | | notification; and 6 |
|---|
| 420 | 420 | | (C) documenting and maintaining within 7 |
|---|
| 421 | 421 | | the individual’s custodial record any incident of 8 |
|---|
| 422 | 422 | | unclaimed or a rejected claim for the body or 9 |
|---|
| 423 | 423 | | property of the deceased, including a detailed 10 |
|---|
| 424 | 424 | | description of where any unclaimed body and 11 |
|---|
| 425 | 425 | | property have been disposed. 12 |
|---|
| 426 | 426 | | (5) D |
|---|
| 427 | 427 | | OCUMENTATION OF ATTEMPTS .—Require-13 |
|---|
| 428 | 428 | | ments that each notification attempt shall be docu-14 |
|---|
| 429 | 429 | | mented and maintained within the custodial record, 15 |
|---|
| 430 | 430 | | including— 16 |
|---|
| 431 | 431 | | (A) the staff name and corresponding 17 |
|---|
| 432 | 432 | | agency or department contact information for 18 |
|---|
| 433 | 433 | | each individual responsible for carrying out the 19 |
|---|
| 434 | 434 | | notification; 20 |
|---|
| 435 | 435 | | (B) the date and time of each successful 21 |
|---|
| 436 | 436 | | and unsuccessful contact; and 22 |
|---|
| 437 | 437 | | (C) the name and contact information to 23 |
|---|
| 438 | 438 | | which each attempt was made, and any reason 24 |
|---|
| 439 | 439 | | for failed or unsuccessful contact. 25 |
|---|
| 440 | 440 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 441 | 441 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 16 |
|---|
| 442 | 442 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 443 | 443 | | (6) ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES IN THE EVENT 1 |
|---|
| 444 | 444 | | OF SERIOUS ILLNESS OR INJURY .—Standards to en-2 |
|---|
| 445 | 445 | | sure that detention agencies— 3 |
|---|
| 446 | 446 | | (A) implement medical proxy decision 4 |
|---|
| 447 | 447 | | maker or medical power of attorney, advanced 5 |
|---|
| 448 | 448 | | directive, or ‘‘do not resuscitate’’ orders; 6 |
|---|
| 449 | 449 | | (B) provide meaningful opportunity for 7 |
|---|
| 450 | 450 | | communication between the emergency contact 8 |
|---|
| 451 | 451 | | and medical staff caring for an individual in 9 |
|---|
| 452 | 452 | | custody; 10 |
|---|
| 453 | 453 | | (C) ensure emergency contacts are given 11 |
|---|
| 454 | 454 | | the meaningful opportunity to visit with a seri-12 |
|---|
| 455 | 455 | | ously ill or seriously injured individual in cus-13 |
|---|
| 456 | 456 | | tody, with the opportunity for in-person visita-14 |
|---|
| 457 | 457 | | tion when practicable; and 15 |
|---|
| 458 | 458 | | (D) provide information about an individ-16 |
|---|
| 459 | 459 | | ual’s emergency contact to an outside hospital 17 |
|---|
| 460 | 460 | | facility, and allow the hospital to follow its es-18 |
|---|
| 461 | 461 | | tablished bylaws concerning communication 19 |
|---|
| 462 | 462 | | with next-of-kin or other emergency contacts. 20 |
|---|
| 463 | 463 | | (7) A |
|---|
| 464 | 464 | | UTOPSY NOTIFICATIONS .—Requirements 21 |
|---|
| 465 | 465 | | that, in the event an autopsy is performed following 22 |
|---|
| 466 | 466 | | a death in custody— 23 |
|---|
| 467 | 467 | | (A) the next-of-kin or other emergency 24 |
|---|
| 468 | 468 | | contact shall be informed not later than 12 25 |
|---|
| 469 | 469 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:27 Apr 17, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 470 | 470 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 17 |
|---|
| 471 | 471 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 472 | 472 | | hours after any determination that an autopsy 1 |
|---|
| 473 | 473 | | shall be performed and given the option to re-2 |
|---|
| 474 | 474 | | ceive the results of the autopsy described in 3 |
|---|
| 475 | 475 | | subparagraph (B). Such notification shall in-4 |
|---|
| 476 | 476 | | clude the reason that the autopsy is being per-5 |
|---|
| 477 | 477 | | formed and the procedures by which the next- 6 |
|---|
| 478 | 478 | | of-kin or other emergency contact can obtain 7 |
|---|
| 479 | 479 | | the autopsy report; and 8 |
|---|
| 480 | 480 | | (B) pursuant to subparagraph (A), a copy 9 |
|---|
| 481 | 481 | | of the autopsy report and results shall be made 10 |
|---|
| 482 | 482 | | available to the next-of-kin or emergency con-11 |
|---|
| 483 | 483 | | tact upon completion. 12 |
|---|
| 484 | 484 | | (c) W |
|---|
| 485 | 485 | | RITTENNOTIFICATIONPLAN.—The policies 13 |
|---|
| 486 | 486 | | and procedures described in subsection (a) shall instruct 14 |
|---|
| 487 | 487 | | detention agencies to develop a written notification plan, 15 |
|---|
| 488 | 488 | | or revise an existing written notification plan, that pro-16 |
|---|
| 489 | 489 | | vides for notification of a death, serious illness, or serious 17 |
|---|
| 490 | 490 | | injury of an individual in custody that conforms with the 18 |
|---|
| 491 | 491 | | policies described in subsection (b). Such written notifica-19 |
|---|
| 492 | 492 | | tion plans shall be published on the detention agency’s 20 |
|---|
| 493 | 493 | | website and made accessible to individuals in the agency’s 21 |
|---|
| 494 | 494 | | custody through inclusion in any intake information, 22 |
|---|
| 495 | 495 | | manuals, or other materials distributed or made available 23 |
|---|
| 496 | 496 | | to individuals upon being taken into custody. 24 |
|---|
| 497 | 497 | | (d) A |
|---|
| 498 | 498 | | DDITIONALREQUIREMENTS.— 25 |
|---|
| 499 | 499 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 500 | 500 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 18 |
|---|
| 501 | 501 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 502 | 502 | | (1) DOJ SUPPORT OF STATE AND LOCAL IM -1 |
|---|
| 503 | 503 | | PLEMENTATION OF MODEL POLICIES .—To support 2 |
|---|
| 504 | 504 | | implementation of the model policies and procedures 3 |
|---|
| 505 | 505 | | described in subsection (a)(2), the Attorney General 4 |
|---|
| 506 | 506 | | shall provide ongoing online training and directed 5 |
|---|
| 507 | 507 | | outreach to law enforcement, prosecution and de-6 |
|---|
| 508 | 508 | | fense agencies through national and State member-7 |
|---|
| 509 | 509 | | ship associations and by other means. 8 |
|---|
| 510 | 510 | | (2) P |
|---|
| 511 | 511 | | UBLICATION OF EMERGENCY CONTACT 9 |
|---|
| 512 | 512 | | POLICIES AND PROCEDURES .—The Attorney Gen-10 |
|---|
| 513 | 513 | | eral, acting through the Assistant Attorney General 11 |
|---|
| 514 | 514 | | of the Office of Justice Programs, shall publish the 12 |
|---|
| 515 | 515 | | policies and procedures described in subsection (b) 13 |
|---|
| 516 | 516 | | on its website and shall include a copy of the proce-14 |
|---|
| 517 | 517 | | dures described subsection (b)(1) in any intake in-15 |
|---|
| 518 | 518 | | formation, manuals, or other materials distributed 16 |
|---|
| 519 | 519 | | or made available to individuals upon being taken 17 |
|---|
| 520 | 520 | | into custody of a detention agency of the Depart-18 |
|---|
| 521 | 521 | | ment of Justice. 19 |
|---|
| 522 | 522 | | (3) I |
|---|
| 523 | 523 | | NTERGOVERNMENTAL SERVICE CON -20 |
|---|
| 524 | 524 | | TRACTS.—Any Department of Justice detention 21 |
|---|
| 525 | 525 | | agency, including the U.S. Marshals Service, that 22 |
|---|
| 526 | 526 | | contracts with State, municipality, Tribal, private, or 23 |
|---|
| 527 | 527 | | other entities to house individuals in custody shall 24 |
|---|
| 528 | 528 | | require adoption of the procedures or substantially 25 |
|---|
| 529 | 529 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 530 | 530 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 19 |
|---|
| 531 | 531 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 532 | 532 | | similar processes as described in subsection (b)(2) as 1 |
|---|
| 533 | 533 | | a condition of such contract or contract renewal as 2 |
|---|
| 534 | 534 | | soon as practicable but not later than 7 days of tak-3 |
|---|
| 535 | 535 | | ing the individual into custody. 4 |
|---|
| 536 | 536 | | (4) D |
|---|
| 537 | 537 | | EPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF IN -5 |
|---|
| 538 | 538 | | SPECTOR GENERAL TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH 6 |
|---|
| 539 | 539 | | NOTIFICATION AND COMMUNICATION REQUIRE -7 |
|---|
| 540 | 540 | | MENTS.—The Attorney General shall appoint an 8 |
|---|
| 541 | 541 | | Ombudsman within the Department of Justice with 9 |
|---|
| 542 | 542 | | the authority to receive and investigate complaints 10 |
|---|
| 543 | 543 | | regarding the failure to provide the notifications re-11 |
|---|
| 544 | 544 | | quired in the Act, and inadequate notifications, and 12 |
|---|
| 545 | 545 | | the failure to provide opportunities for communica-13 |
|---|
| 546 | 546 | | tion and visitation in accordance with this Act. 14 |
|---|
| 547 | 547 | | (e) C |
|---|
| 548 | 548 | | ONFIDENTIALITY.—Information collected under 15 |
|---|
| 549 | 549 | | this Act by a detention agency, or any agent working on 16 |
|---|
| 550 | 550 | | behalf of such detention agency, may not be disclosed or 17 |
|---|
| 551 | 551 | | used for any purpose except as provided in this Act. 18 |
|---|
| 552 | 552 | | (f) V |
|---|
| 553 | 553 | | OLUNTARYCOLLECTION.— 19 |
|---|
| 554 | 554 | | (1) R |
|---|
| 555 | 555 | | ULE OF CONSTRUCTION .—Nothing in this 20 |
|---|
| 556 | 556 | | Act shall be construed to require the individual in 21 |
|---|
| 557 | 557 | | custody to provide the emergency contact informa-22 |
|---|
| 558 | 558 | | tion described in subsection (a). 23 |
|---|
| 559 | 559 | | (2) N |
|---|
| 560 | 560 | | O COERCION.—The detention agency may 24 |
|---|
| 561 | 561 | | not— 25 |
|---|
| 562 | 562 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 563 | 563 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 20 |
|---|
| 564 | 564 | | •HR 2718 IH |
|---|
| 565 | 565 | | (A) attempt to coerce or persuade the indi-1 |
|---|
| 566 | 566 | | vidual in custody to provide the information de-2 |
|---|
| 567 | 567 | | scribed in subsection (a); or 3 |
|---|
| 568 | 568 | | (B) impose a penalty, fine, or fee on the 4 |
|---|
| 569 | 569 | | individual for the individual’s failure or refusal 5 |
|---|
| 570 | 570 | | to provide the information requested or for pro-6 |
|---|
| 571 | 571 | | viding information that is later determined to 7 |
|---|
| 572 | 572 | | be inaccurate. 8 |
|---|
| 573 | 573 | | (g) I |
|---|
| 574 | 574 | | NADMISSIBILITY.—No information disclosed or 9 |
|---|
| 575 | 575 | | used in violation of this Act may be admitted into any 10 |
|---|
| 576 | 576 | | State, Federal, or other court as evidence or for any other 11 |
|---|
| 577 | 577 | | purpose, except in the case of information that has been 12 |
|---|
| 578 | 578 | | discovered through any independent means. 13 |
|---|
| 579 | 579 | | SEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 14 |
|---|
| 580 | 580 | | Nothing in this Act may be construed to create any 15 |
|---|
| 581 | 581 | | legal or financial obligation on the part of any individual 16 |
|---|
| 582 | 582 | | designated as a next-of-kin or other emergency contact 17 |
|---|
| 583 | 583 | | under this Act. 18 |
|---|
| 584 | 584 | | Æ |
|---|
| 585 | 585 | | VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:25 Apr 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2718.IH H2718 |
|---|
| 586 | 586 | | ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS |
|---|