Criminal Fines Reform Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.
Criminal Fines Reform Act of 1979 - Redefines a petty offense as a misdemeanor with a penalty not exceeding six months imprisonment or a fine of $2,500 (currently, six months imprisonment or a $500 fine). Adds to the general provisions of the Federal criminal code a new section relating to the amount and imposition of fines. Stipulates that any offense punishable by imprisonment shall be punishable by imprisonment, a fine, or both. Sets forth: (1) a fine schedule which correlates maximum fines which can be imposed upon an individual to specified maximum terms of imprisonment; and (2) the maximum fines which may be imposed upon a person, other than an individual, upon conviction of a Federal crime. Allows a person who derives pecuniary gain in the commission of an offense to be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding twice such gain. Enumerates factors which the court must consider in determining the amount of a fine. Allows the court to remit and modify the terms of payment of a fine upon a finding that the defendant has become unable to pay the fine due to circumstances beyond his or her control, but disallows such discretion with respect to a fine imposed upon conviction of an offense punishable by imprisonment and a fine or in any case where the court lacks proper authority.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on July 24, 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 July 24, 1979: Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 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?
ELIZABETH HOLTZMAN (D-NY) introduced it on July 24, 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 July 24, 1979, 17262 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17262 days ago, on July 24, 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