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42 U.S.C. § 2000aa

Searches and seizures by government officers and employees in connection with investigation or prosecution of criminal offenses

United States · Title 42 — THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE · Status: effective

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42 U.S.C. § 2000aa, Searches and seizures by government officers and employees in connection with investigation or prosecution of criminal offenses, United States, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/478307
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Notwithstanding any other law, it shall be unlawful for a government officer or employee, in connection with the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense, to search for or seize any work product materials possessed by a person reasonably believed to have a purpose to disseminate to the public a newspaper, book, broadcast, or other similar form of public communication, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce; but this provision shall not impair or affect the ability of any government officer or employee, pursuant to otherwise applicable law, to search for or seize such materials, if— Notwithstanding any other law, it shall be unlawful for a government officer or employee, in connection with the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense, to search for or seize documentary materials, other than work product materials, possessed by a person in connection with a purpose to disseminate to the public a newspaper, book, broadcast, or other similar form of public communication, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce; but this provision shall not impair or affect the ability of any government officer or employee, pursuant to otherwise applicable law, to search for or seize such materials, if— such materials have not been produced in response to a court order directing compliance with a subpena duces tecum, and— In the event a search warrant is sought pursuant to paragraph (4)(B) of subsection (b), the person possessing the materials shall be afforded adequate opportunity to submit an affidavit setting forth the basis for any contention that the materials sought are not subject to seizure.

Legislative history

The public laws that enacted or amended this section. Tallies are for the whole bill as it passed each chamber — often an omnibus covering far more than this provision — not a vote on this section alone.

  • Enacted byPub. L. 96-440(S. 1790)1980-10-13
    An act to limit governmental search and seizure of documentary materials possessed by persons, to provide a remedy for persons aggrieved by violations of the provisions of this Act, and for other purposes.
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 104-208(H.R. 3610)1996-09-30
    Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997