COVID–19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act
Latest action (7 Aug 2020): Introduced
What this bill does
The COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act would require federal, state, and local correctional systems to regularly collect and report data on COVID-19 in jails, prisons, and juvenile detention facilities. The Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Marshals Service would have to publish daily public reports and submit data every seven days to the CDC, while state departments of corrections and local facilities would report similar data to state or local public health authorities, who would forward it to the CDC within 24 hours. The CDC would issue guidance on required data categories, publish all collected data on its website, and report periodically to Congress. Required data includes testing numbers, test results, hospitalizations, deaths, recoveries, quarantine status, and releases (including compassionate release and home confinement), broken down by sex, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, and location. Privacy safeguards, including de-identification and HIPAA-consistent protections, would apply.
The bill primarily affects incarcerated individuals and correctional staff, whose health data would be tracked and disclosed, as well as the agencies and facilities responsible for reporting—federal agencies, state corrections departments, and local jails and juvenile facilities. States or localities that fail to comply could see a 10 percent reduction in certain federal Byrne law-enforcement grant funding.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Ayanna Pressley on August 7, 2020, referred to the House Judiciary and Energy and Commerce Committees, and received no further action or vote before the 116th Congress ended, meaning it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act
This bill requires the Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Marshal Service, and state and local correctional facilities to publish on their websites and report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention certain data on COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) cases and outcomes.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 7983 do?
- The COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act would require federal, state, and local correctional systems to regularly collect and report data on COVID-19 in jails, prisons, and juvenile detention facilities. The Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Marshals Service would have to publish daily public reports and submit data every seven days to the CDC, while state departments of corrections and local facilities would report similar data to state or local public health authorities, who would forward it to the CDC within 24 hours. The CDC would issue guidance on required data categories, publish all collected data on its website, and report periodically to Congress. Required data includes testing numbers, test results, hospitalizations, deaths, recoveries, quarantine status, and releases (including compassionate release and home confinement), broken down by sex, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, and location. Privacy safeguards, including de-identification and HIPAA-consistent protections, would apply. The bill primarily affects incarcerated individuals and correctional staff, whose health data would be tracked and disclosed, as well as the agencies and facilities responsible for reporting—federal agencies, state corrections departments, and local jails and juvenile facilities. States or localities that fail to comply could see a 10 percent reduction in certain federal Byrne law-enforcement grant funding. The bill was introduced by Rep. Ayanna Pressley on August 7, 2020, referred to the House Judiciary and Energy and Commerce Committees, and received no further action or vote before the 116th Congress ended, meaning it did not become law.
- Has H.R. 7983 become law?
- Not yet. As of 7 Aug 2020, H.R. 7983 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 7983?
- H.R. 7983 was sponsored by Rep. Ayanna Pressley [D-MA7] (Democrat-MA), with 11 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 7983?
- Introduced (7 Aug 2020).
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