Documentary Materials Privacy Protection Act of 1980
Latest action. Measure laid on table in House, S. 1790 passed in lieu.
(Measure passed House, amended) Documentary Materials Privacy Protection Act of 1980 - Prohibits a government officer or employee from searching for or seizing, in connection with a criminal investigation, work product materials or documentary materials (other than a work product) possessed by a person in connection with the public dissemination of a newspaper, book, broadcast, or other similar form of public communication in or affecting commerce. Specifies exceptions to such prohibitions, including that there is: (1) probable cause to believe that the person possessing the materials has committed the offense to which the materials relate; or (2) reason to believe that the immediate seizure of the materials is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury. Makes this Act inapplicable to enforcement of the customs laws. Establishes a cause of action under the Federal Tort Claims Act for violations of this Act by a Federal officer or employee. =Title II: Attorney General Guidelines= - Directs the Attorney General to issue guidelines within six months of enactment for the procedures to be employed by a Federal employee to obtain, in connection with the investigation of a criminal offense, documentary materials in the private possession of a person not reasonably believed to be a suspect in such offense, when such materials are not contraband or the fruits of an offense. Requires the following factors to be incorporated in such guidelines: (1) recognition of the personal privacy interests of the person; (2) a requirement that the least intrusive method of obtaining the materials be used which does not substantially jeopardize their availability; (3) recognition of special concern for privacy interests in cases involving confidential relationships; and (4) a requirement that an application for a search warrant be approved by a Government attorney. Directs the Attorney General to report annually to the congressional judiciary committees on the use of search warrants by Federal employees in cases involving confidential relationships.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed House amended" stage on September 22, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Measure laid on table in House, S. 1790 passed in lieu.
Civibrief does not map this action to a stage in the process. See the official record.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
The latest action on file does not map to a stage Civibrief recognizes, so the page will not name one. The record's own words are the reliable fact here.
The record's latest action, on September 22, 1980: Measure laid on table in House, S. 1790 passed in lieu.
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 has no outstanding steps 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?
ROBERT KASTENMEIER (D-WI) introduced it on April 5, 1979, and 4 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 3 Democrats, 1 Republican.
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 April 5, 1979, 17325 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16789 days ago, on September 22, 1980.
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
- HouseMeasure laid on table in House, S. 1790 passed in lieu.
- SenateNot stated in the latest action
- PresidentNot stated in the latest action