Right to Private Conduct Act of 2022
S. 5252117th Congress

Right to Private Conduct Act of 2022

Introduced in the SenateSen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)18 sections · 1 min read
Version: Introduced in Senate · Dec 14, 2022

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Right to Private Conduct Act of 2022.

Section 2. Definition

In this Act, the term adult means an individual who has attained the lesser of—

(1) 18 years or age; or

(2) the minimum age at which an individual may consent to sexual conduct under applicable State law.

(a) In general

No person acting under color of law may—

(1) prevent an adult from engaging in private, non-commercial, consensual sexual conduct with another adult;

(2) interfere with an adult engaging in private, non-commercial, consensual sexual conduct with another adult; or

(3) intimidate, threaten, or retaliate against an adult because that adult has engaged or may engage in such conduct with another adult.

(b) Enforcement

For the purposes of violations under subsection (a), the enforcement mechanism provided for and available under the following shall apply:

(1) Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (42 U.S.C. 1983).

(2) Section 241 of title 18, United States Code.

(3) Section 242 of title 18, United States Code.

(4) Section 210401 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12601).

(c) Clarification

Subsection (a) shall not apply to any law (including any regulation) prohibiting public sexual conduct, forced or non-consensual sexual conduct, or sexual conduct with a minor.

(a) In general

In interpreting the provisions of this Act, a court shall liberally construe such provisions to effectuate the purpose of ensuring the right of an adult to engage in private, non-commercial, consensual sexual conduct with another adult.

(b) Other laws

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to invalidate, limit, or displace the rights, remedies, procedures, or legal standards available to individuals under Federal law, or to supersede State laws, that provide protections against discrimination beyond those provided in this Act.

(c) Other individuals considered as acting under color of law

Any person who, by operation of a provision of Federal or State law, is permitted to implement or enforce a limitation, prohibition, or requirement that violates section 3 of this Act shall be considered as acting under color of law for purposes of this Act.

Section 5. Severability

If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision to any person, entity, government, or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, or the application of such provision to all other persons, entities, governments, or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

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