Did House Bill 4255 Succeed?

House Bill 4255 has been introduced in various states across the US, including Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Washington. The bill has also been introduced in the US Congress, where it is referred to as H.R.4255. The content of the bill differs depending on the state and the year it was introduced. For example, the 2021-2022 House Bill 4255 in South Carolina focuses on election integrity, while the 2003-2004 H.R.4255 in Washington aims to protect consumer privacy. In Massachusetts, the 2021 House Bill 4255 addresses impaired driving, while the 2024 Proposal for Constitutional Amendment H.4255 focuses on the regulation and taxation of natural psychedelic substances. It is important to specify the location and year when discussing House Bill 4255 to ensure clarity and accuracy.

The Computer Software Privacy and Control Act of 2004

The Act made it unlawful for any person to transmit specific types of computer software to a protected computer owned and operated by another person or to such a computer before its first retail sale. The prohibited software types included any that:

• Collected personal information about an owner or operator and transferred it without their knowledge or consent.
• Monitored or analyzed the content of internet webpages accessed by the owner or operator and shared this information without their consent.
• Modified default computer settings selected by the owner or operator that affected the initial webpage displayed, internet connection settings, or the functions of any internet search service, without prior notice and consent.

Additionally, the Act made it unlawful for anyone to transmit software that included a function to deliver or display advertisements without the owner's or operator's consent. It also required semi-annual reports from the Attorney General to the congressional judiciary committees regarding actions on warrants or orders applied for by law enforcement agencies related to the transmission or execution of computer software on protected computers.

Trooper Thomas Clardy law

On March 16, 2016, Massachusetts State Trooper Thomas Clardy was conducting a traffic stop on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton when his parked cruiser was hit by a speeding motorist. The driver, David Njuguna, swerved across three lanes of traffic and struck Clardy's vehicle from behind. Trooper Clardy, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and an 11-year member of the state police, succumbed to his injuries and died. He left behind his wife and six children.

Njuguna was found to have THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, in his system. He was charged with driving under the influence of marijuana and was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide. However, he was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter while operating under the influence.

In response to this tragic incident, the "Trooper Thomas Clardy Law" was enacted. The legislation aims to crack down on driving while under the influence of marijuana and "equalize" it with alcohol under the law. Some of the changes include adopting implied consent laws to suspend the licenses of drivers who refuse to take a drug test, authorizing courts to take judicial notice of the impairing effects of THC, and prohibiting drivers from having loose or unsealed packages of marijuana in their vehicles. The bill also recognizes the effectiveness of the horizontal gaze nystagmus test as a check for sobriety and includes provisions for developing educational materials on drug impairment.

The Trooper Thomas Clardy Law is a testament to the dedication and sacrifice of Trooper Clardy and other law enforcement officers who risk their lives to protect public safety. By addressing the dangers of impaired driving and implementing the recommendations of the Special Commission on Operating Under the Influence and Impaired Driving, the law strives to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution

The Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution, H.4255, is a bill introduced in the 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This proposal, also known as "An Act relative to the regulation and taxation of natural psychedelic substances", aims to establish regulations and taxation for natural psychedelic substances.

The specific details of the proposal are not publicly available at this time. However, the bill was referred to the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions for further review. Unfortunately, the committee recommended that the bill ought not to pass.

It is worth noting that this proposal, H.4255, is different from another bill with the same number, "An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Special Commission on Operating Under the Influence and Impaired Driving", introduced in the 192nd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2021. The latter bill aimed to address impaired driving, including the ingestion of THC, and proposed amendments to the laws governing the impairment of drivers operating not just motor vehicles but also boats, planes, and other vehicles.

Trafficking Reduction And Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act

The Trafficking Reduction and Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act was introduced to Congress on January 25, 2013, by Rep. Mike Quigley [D-IL-5]. The bill aimed to prevent the illegal sale of firearms and had several provisions to achieve this.

Firstly, it directed the Attorney General to implement regulations requiring each firearm manufactured in the US to be marked with a serial number located inside the firearm's receiver or visible only in infrared light, in addition to the standard serial number markings.

Secondly, it amended the federal criminal code to prohibit the destruction of national instant criminal background check system records about prospective firearm transferees until 180 days after the system assigns and provides a unique identification number for the transfer.

Thirdly, it repealed provisions prohibiting the use of appropriated funds for any system that does not require the destruction of identifying information submitted for a transferee within 24 hours of the system advising a licensee that the transferee's receipt of a firearm is not prohibited.

Finally, it required licensed firearms dealers to conduct a physical check of their firearms business inventory.

However, this bill did not become law. It was reintroduced in subsequent sessions of Congress, including as H.R. 6646 in 2022, but it is unclear from available sources whether it passed into law during these later sessions.

Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act

The Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act is a bill introduced in the Senate by Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) on July 21, 2020, during the 116th Congress (2019-2020). The bill aims to provide support to low-income and minority communities that have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

The bill proposes a new investment of $17.9 billion in these underserved communities, with a focus on expanding access to credit and promoting economic opportunities. Specifically, the bill establishes two investment programs: the Neighborhood Capital Investment Program and the Neighborhood Loan Program.

The Neighborhood Capital Investment Program, facilitated by the Department of the Treasury, aims to provide direct capital investments in low- and moderate-income community financial institutions. To qualify for this program, these institutions must meet certain criteria, including demonstrating a lending history focused on low- and moderate-income borrowers and providing plans to expand lending to minority communities and historically disadvantaged borrowers.

The Neighborhood Loan Program is established through the Federal Reserve Board's emergency powers. It creates a credit facility specifically for small business loans targeting low- and moderate-income communities, with a particular focus on minority communities. The bill also sets aside a portion of existing COVID-19 economic aid programs for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

Additionally, the bill addresses minority depository institutions (MDIs) by establishing the Minority Bank Deposit Program, which expands the use of MDIs to hold deposits of federal departments and agencies. It also provides a three-year grace period for new MDIs to meet initial capital requirements and establishes a program for MDIs to receive deposits from certain Treasury accounts.

The Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act has received support from various organizations and individuals, including the Black Economic Alliance, NAACP, National Bankers Association, National Urban League, Center for Responsible Lending, and the Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC). These supporters recognize the potential impact of the bill in mitigating economic disparities and increasing access to capital for underserved communities, particularly communities of color.

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