March 7, 2006, 3:50PM
Provisions of the USA Patriot Act

By The Associated Press© 2006 The Associated Press

— Provisions and changes in the USA Patriot Act.

WHAT'S NEW:

_The package makes clear that recipients of National Security Letters have the right to challenge them in court.

_It gives recipients of court-approved subpoenas for information in terrorist investigations the right to challenge a requirement that they refrain from telling anyone.

_It clarifies that most libraries are not subject to demands in those letters for information about suspected terrorists.

_It takes aim at the methamphetamine trade by imposing new restrictions on the sale of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, which contain a key ingredient for the drug. Beginning 30 days after President Bush signs the law, expected sometime this week, purchase limits go into effect: One person would be limited to buying 300, 30-mg pills in a month or 120 such pills in a day. The measure would make an exception for "single-use" sales _ individually packaged pseudoephedrine products.

By Sept. 30, retailers would be required to sell such medicines from behind the counter and purchasers would have to show ID and sign log books.

_The package also cracks down on port security by imposing tough punishments on crew members who try to stop or mislead law enforcement officials investigating their ships.

RENEWED PROVISIONS:

_Section 201 _ Gives federal officials the authority to intercept wire, spoken and electronic communications relating to terrorism.

_Section 202 _ Gives federal officials the authority to intercept wire, spoken and electronic communications relating to computer fraud and abuse offenses.

_Subsection 203(b) _ Permits the sharing of grand jury information that involves foreign intelligence or counterintelligence with federal law enforcement, intelligence, protective, immigration, national defense or national security officials

_Subsection 203(d) _ Gives foreign intelligence or counterintelligence officers the ability to share foreign intelligence information obtained as part of a criminal investigation with law enforcement.

_Section 204 _ Makes clear that nothing in the law regarding pen registers _ an electronic device that records all numbers dialed from a particular phone line _ stops the government's ability to obtain foreign intelligence information.

_Section 206 _ Allows federal officials to issue roving "John Doe" wiretaps, which let investigators listen in on any telephone and tap any computer they think a suspected spy or terrorist might use.

_Section 207 _ Increases the amount of time federal officials may watch people they suspect are spies or terrorists.

_Section 209 _ Permits the seizure of voicemail messages under a warrant.

_Section 212 _ Permits Internet service providers and other electronic communication and remote computing service providers to hand over records and e-mails to federal officials in emergency situations.

_Section 214 _ Allows use of a pen register or trap and trace devices that record originating phone numbers of all incoming calls in international terrorism or spy investigations.

_Section 215 _ Authorizes federal officials to obtain "tangible items" like business records, including those from libraries and bookstores, for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations.

_Section 217 _ Makes it lawful to intercept the wire or electronic communication of a computer hacker or intruder in certain circumstances.

_Section 218 _ Allows federal officials to wiretap or watch suspects if foreign intelligence gathering is a "significant purpose" for seeking a Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act order. The pre-Patriot Act standard said officials could ask for the surveillance only if it was the sole or main purpose.

_Section 220 _ Provides for nationwide service of search warrants for electronic evidence.

_Section 223 _ Amends the federal criminal code to provide for administrative discipline of federal officers or employees who violate prohibitions against unauthorized disclosures of information gathered under this act.

_Section 225 _ Amends FISA to prohibit lawsuits against people or companies that provide information to federal officials for a terrorism investigation.