NAPO Victory with Amendment to Metal Theft Prevention Act

June 14, 2013

On Thursday, June 13, 2013, The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the Metal Theft Prevention Act of 2013 (S.394) to the Senate as a whole for consideration.  The legislation includes an amendment proposed by NAPO to ensure law enforcement officers are able to access information needed to solve metal theft cases.  The amendment, presented by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), was accepted without objection.

As it was originally written, the bill’s confidentiality provision would have hindered electronic reporting and criminal investigations.  It also would have required law enforcement officers to acquire a court order to gain any information from metal recycling agents outside of their immediate jurisdictions or whenever a recycling agent questioned the officer’s authority.  The amendment remedies the concerns voiced by numerous law enforcement agencies across the country, and will allow law enforcement officers to access the information needed to solve their cases.

We are most grateful that this legislation’s sponsors, (Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI), Congressman John Kline (R-MN),  and Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN)), were receptive to NAPO’s concerns and advanced the legislation with NAPO’s language proposal. 

If you have any questions about this legislation, please contact Melissa Nee at:  mnee@napo.org.