Narcotic Sentencing and Seizure Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Narcotic Sentencing and Seizure Act of 1979 - Title I: Mandatory Minimum Sentences - Amends the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 to establish mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for the commission of certain offenses currently prohibited under such Act, where the offense involves an "opiate" (as defined by this Act). Increases such minimum terms if the defendant had been convicted previously of a felony under Federal, State, or foreign law relating to an opiate. Authorizes a court to sentence an individual to a shorter term of imprisonment or parole ineligibility upon a finding of specified mitigating circumstances. Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require that a separate sentencing hearing be conducted when an individual is convicted of an offense for which a mandatory term of imprisonment is authorized under this Act. Title II: Conditions of Release - Amends the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 to direct a judicial officer, in setting the conditions of release pending trial, to consider whether a person charged with an offense under title I of this Act poses a threat to the community or will commit similar offenses. Authorizes such judicial officer to deny pretrial release to such individual upon a finding by clear and convincing evidence of specified aggravating circumstances in a separate hearing. Sets forth due process requirements for such hearings. Title III: Forfeiture of Proceeds of Illegal Drug Transactions - Subjects to forfeiture all proceeds of offenses under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 and all moneys, negotiable instruments, and securities used or intended to be used in committing such offenses. Sets forth guidelines for the disposition of property so forfeited. Title IV: Illegal Export of Cash - Amends the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act to require persons exporting cash from, or sending cash into the United States in an amount over $5,000 to file reports prior to departing from, or arrival in, the United States. Authorizes warrantless searches under exigent circumstances when there is probable cause to believe that cash is being transported in violation of reporting requirements. Title V: Prompt Reporting of Vessels - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to reporting requirements for certain vessels upon arrival at United States ports. Revises standards for the disposition of vessels and materials subject to forfeiture due to a drug violation involving the customs laws. Title VI: Monetary Limit for Administrative Forfeitures - Sets the monetary limit for administrative forfeitures under the Tariff Act of 1930 at $10,000.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on March 22, 1979. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on March 22, 1979: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
CARL PURSELL (R-MI) introduced it on March 22, 1979. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on March 22, 1979, 17339 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17339 days ago, on March 22, 1979.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers