H.R. 4020 · 117th Congress
Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 117th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
D
Watson ColemanSponsor18 cosponsors · 18 D
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Bowman
CB
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Bush
AE
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Espaillat
BL
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Lee
GM
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Moore
AO
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Ocasio-Cortez
IO
D
Omar
AP
D
Pressley
BT
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Thompson
RT
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Tlaib
JC
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Correa
DD
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DeGette
EN
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Norton
CG
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García
EB
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Blumenauer
MJ
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Jones
JM
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McGovern
JS
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Schakowsky10 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill transfers federal regulatory authority over controlled substances, eliminates federal penalties for some drug-related offenses, and removes some collateral consequences for certain criminal convictions.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jun 17, 2021
Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021 or the DPR Act of 2021
This bill transfers federal regulatory authority over controlled substances, eliminates federal penalties for some drug-related offenses, and removes some collateral consequences for certain criminal convictions. A collateral consequence is a penalty (e.g., a restriction on access to a program or service) imposed on an individual in addition to the penalty associated with the sentence.
Specifically, the bill transfers regulatory authority over controlled substances from the Department of Justice to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Additionally, the bill directs HHS to establish a commission to determine a benchmark amount of a controlled substance for personal use supply. The bill eliminates federal criminal and civil penalties for simple possession of a controlled substance in an amount equal to or less than the benchmark.
Finally, the bill removes the collateral consequences of certain convictions. For example, the bill
- removes some restrictions on eligibility for federal assistance and benefits for individuals who are convicted of certain drug-related offenses,
- reinstates the right to vote in federal elections for persons convicted of criminal offenses, and
- repeals the requirement for states to revoke or suspend driver's licenses of individuals who are convicted of drug offenses as a condition of receiving a full allocation of certain federal grant funds.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021
Latest action (Nov 1, 2022): Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement · Origin: House · Introduced: Jun 17, 2021
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.