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First Step Implementation Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-1014| Senate 
| Updated: 7/12/2021
Richard J. Durbin

Richard J. Durbin

Democratic Senator

Illinois

Cosponsors (12)
Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)Roy Blunt (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
First Step Implementation Act of 2021 This bill makes various changes related to federal sentencing law and requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish procedures to ensure the prompt release and accuracy of employment-related background check records. The bill allows certain reduced mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses to be applied retroactively to offenders who committed their offenses on or before December 21, 2018; permits a court, in certain circumstances, to grant safety valve relief (i.e., impose a sentence without regard to the statutory mandatory minimum penalty for certain drug offenses) for an otherwise eligible defendant who does not meet the requirement pertaining to criminal history; permits a court to reduce a sentence imposed on a defendant convicted as an adult for an offense committed as a juvenile if the defendant has served at least 20 years of the sentence; establishes a process to seal and expunge certain records of juvenile nonviolent offenses; and requires DOJ to establish and enforce procedures to ensure that records exchanged for employment-related background checks are promptly released and accurate.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

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Timeline
Mar 25, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Mar 25, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S1820-1826)
Jun 10, 2021
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 12, 2021
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jul 12, 2021
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 98.
Nov 1, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-3510
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • March 25, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 25, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S1820-1826)


  • June 10, 2021
    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • July 12, 2021
    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • July 12, 2021
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 98.


  • November 1, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-3510
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 117-3510: First Step Implementation Act of 2021
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingDrug trafficking and controlled substancesEvidence and witnessesGovernment information and archivesJudicial review and appealsJuvenile crime and gang violenceLawyers and legal servicesPersonnel records

First Step Implementation Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-1014| Senate 
| Updated: 7/12/2021
First Step Implementation Act of 2021 This bill makes various changes related to federal sentencing law and requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish procedures to ensure the prompt release and accuracy of employment-related background check records. The bill allows certain reduced mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses to be applied retroactively to offenders who committed their offenses on or before December 21, 2018; permits a court, in certain circumstances, to grant safety valve relief (i.e., impose a sentence without regard to the statutory mandatory minimum penalty for certain drug offenses) for an otherwise eligible defendant who does not meet the requirement pertaining to criminal history; permits a court to reduce a sentence imposed on a defendant convicted as an adult for an offense committed as a juvenile if the defendant has served at least 20 years of the sentence; establishes a process to seal and expunge certain records of juvenile nonviolent offenses; and requires DOJ to establish and enforce procedures to ensure that records exchanged for employment-related background checks are promptly released and accurate.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 25, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Mar 25, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S1820-1826)
Jun 10, 2021
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 12, 2021
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jul 12, 2021
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 98.
Nov 1, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-3510
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • March 25, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 25, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S1820-1826)


  • June 10, 2021
    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • July 12, 2021
    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • July 12, 2021
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 98.


  • November 1, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-3510
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Richard J. Durbin

Richard J. Durbin

Democratic Senator

Illinois

Cosponsors (12)
Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)Roy Blunt (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 117-3510: First Step Implementation Act of 2021
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingDrug trafficking and controlled substancesEvidence and witnessesGovernment information and archivesJudicial review and appealsJuvenile crime and gang violenceLawyers and legal servicesPersonnel records