Next Step Act of 2019

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Next Step Act of 2019 This bill revises sentencing guidelines, addresses prison conditions and prisoner reentry, and addresses law enforcement training. First, it eliminates increased and mandatory minimum penalties for drug offenses involving mixtures or substances which contain cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine). It decriminalizes marijuana by (1) removing marijuana from the list of scheduled substances; (2) eliminating criminal penalties for an individual who imports, exports, manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute marijuana; and (3) expunging convictions for marijuana use or possession. It reduces the mandatory minimum prison term for defendants who manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Additionally, the bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide videoconferencing free of charge to prisoners; prohibits federal agencies from requesting that applicants disclose their criminal history before receiving a conditional offer of employment; restricts the use of criminal records to disqualify individuals from employment, occupational licensing, or occupational certification; creates a mechanism by which…