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Bruce’s Law
12/15/2023, 3:57 PM
Summary of Bill HR 2867
The main provisions of Bruce's Law include increasing funding for victim support services, such as counseling and legal assistance, to help victims navigate the criminal justice system. The bill also seeks to improve communication between law enforcement agencies and victims, ensuring that victims are kept informed about the progress of their case.
Additionally, Bruce's Law includes measures to enhance penalties for perpetrators of violent crimes, particularly those involving vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. The bill also calls for increased training for law enforcement officers and prosecutors to better handle cases involving victims of violent crimes. Overall, Bruce's Law is designed to provide comprehensive support for victims of violent crimes and to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions. The bill has garnered bipartisan support in Congress and is currently under review in committee.
Congressional Summary of HR 2867
Bruce's Law
This bill reauthorizes certain grants through FY2028 and sets out other activities to address the dangers of fentanyl-related drug overdoses, with a particular focus on drug contamination with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids.
Specifically, the bill (1) reauthorizes grants that are available through the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for community-based coalitions to address local drug crises, and (2) authorizes new grants for coalitions to implement education and prevention strategies in communities that face significant levels of drug overdoses related to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The ONDCP may delegate authority to execute the new grants to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must carry out a campaign to increase public awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, including the risk of contamination of counterfeit drugs with fentanyl or other synthetic drugs.
The bill also establishes an interagency work group to coordinate and improve federal efforts to reduce and prevent drug overdoses involving contamination with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids. Work group members include the ONDCP, HHS, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State.
