Engrossed in Senate — S. 960

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 960

AN ACT

To ensure that homicides can be prosecuted under Federal law without regard to the time elapsed between the act or omission that caused the death of the victim and the death itself.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Justice for Murder Victims Act.

Sec. 2. Homicide offenses

(a) In general

Chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1123. No maximum time period between act or omission and death of victim
(a) In general
A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between—
(1)
the act or omission that caused the death of the victim; and
(2)
the death of the victim.
(b) Relation to statute of limitations
Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to supersede the limitations period under section 3282(a), to the extent applicable.
(c) Maximum time period applicable if death penalty imposed
A sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between—
(1)
the act or omission that caused the death of the victim; and
(2)
the death of the victim.

(b) Table of contents

The table of sections for chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1123. No maximum time period between act or omission and death of victim.

(c) Applicability

Section 1123(a) of title 18, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an act or omission described in that section that occurs after the date of enactment of this Act.

(d) Maximum penalty for first-degree murder based on time period between act or omission and death of victim

Section 1111(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after imprisonment for life the following: , unless the death of the victim occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment for any term of years or for life.