Safe at Home Act

Safe at Home Act

This bill requires each executive agency (except for the U.S. Census Bureau) and federal court to accept an address designated to an individual pursuant to an address confidentiality program (e.g., a program to protect stalking or domestic violence victims).

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5288 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5288

To require executive agencies and Federal courts to comply with address 
           confidentiality programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 15, 2022

Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Blunt, and Mrs. Capito) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
               Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require executive agencies and Federal courts to comply with address 
           confidentiality programs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safe at Home Act''.

SEC. 2. EXECUTIVE AGENCY AND FEDERAL COURT COMPLIANCE WITH STATE 
              ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Address confidentiality program.--The term ``address 
        confidentiality program'' means a program implemented pursuant 
        to State law that--
                    (A) provides a designated address;
                    (B) provides a mail-forwarding service; and
                    (C) is designated by a participant as the legal 
                agent of the participant to receive service of process.
            (2) Designated address.--The term ``designated address'' 
        means an address assigned by an address confidentiality program 
        for a participant to use in lieu of the physical address of the 
        participant.
            (3) Executive agency.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``executive agency'' has 
                the meaning given the term ``Executive agency'' in 
                section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
                    (B) Exception.--The term ``executive agency'' does 
                not include the Census Bureau.
            (4) Participant.--The term ``participant'' means an adult 
        or minor who is enrolled in an address confidentiality program.
            (5) Physical address.--The term ``physical address'' means 
        the actual home, school, or employment address of a 
        participant.
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the States, 
        the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the 
        United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.
    (b) Acceptance of Address Confidentiality Program.--Each executive 
agency and Federal court shall accept, for any purpose for which an 
individual is required to provide an address to the agency or court, an 
address designated to that individual pursuant to an address 
confidentiality program.
    (c) Exemption From Liability.--A participant shall not be subject 
to Federal regulatory, civil, or criminal penalties for providing a 
designated address in lieu of the physical address of the participant 
to an executive agency or Federal court.
    (d) Regulatory Compliance With Address Confidentiality Programs.--
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, each 
executive agency shall review and, as necessary, modify existing 
regulations to comply with this Act.
    (e) Compliance With Address Confidentiality Program Procedures and 
Exemption From FOIA.--
            (1) In general.--In the case of an executive agency or 
        Federal court seeking to acquire the physical address of a 
        participant, the agency or court shall comply with any 
        applicable procedures of the applicable address confidentiality 
        program for acquiring such address.
            (2) FOIA exemption.--
                    (A) In general.--Upon acquiring a physical address 
                under paragraph (1), the physical address--
                            (i) shall be considered confidential; and
                            (ii) subject to subparagraph (B), shall not 
                        be subject to any request pursuant to section 
                        552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly 
                        referred to as the ``Freedom of Information 
                        Act'').
                    (B) Exception.--In extreme circumstances, a court 
                may order the disclosure of a physical address of a 
                participant pursuant to a request pursuant to section 
                552 of title 5, United States Code, subject to a 
                protective order against further disclosure.
    (f) Prompt Notification Upon Termination From Participation.--If 
the participation of an individual in an address confidentiality 
program is terminated, that individual shall promptly notify each 
executive agency or Federal court that accepted a designated address 
under subsection (b).
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