The Security and Freedom Ensured (SAFE) Act, S1709 was introduced in Congress on October 2, 2003. The following is the summary of the bill, taken from www.congress.gov. For a copy of the text of the bill visit http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:S.1709:.

Security and Freedom Ensured Act of 2003 (SAFE Act) - Amends the USA PATRIOT Act to modify provisions regarding roving wiretaps under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to require that: (1) an order approving an electronic surveillance specify either the identity of the target or the place to be wiretapped; and (2) surveillance be conducted only when the suspect is present at the place to be wiretapped.

Revises provisions governing search warrants authorized under the USA PATRIOT ACT to: (1) limit the authority to delay notice of the issuance of such a search warrant to circumstances where providing immediate notice of the warrant will endanger the life or physical safety of an individual, result in flight from prosecution, or result in the destruction of or tampering with the evidence sought under the warrant; and (2) require such delayed notification to be issued not later than seven days (currently, within a "reasonable period") after execution, with extensions by the court for additional periods of up to seven days each time that the court finds reasonable cause to believe that notice of the execution of the warrant would have such consequences. Requires the Attorney General, every six months, to report to Congress summarizing the requests made by the Department of Justice for delays of notice and extensions of delays. Sunsets the delayed notice authority and reporting requirement on December 31, 2005.

Amends FISA to require, with respect to access by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations, that there be specific and articulable facts giving reason to believe that the person to whom the records pertain is a foreign power or an agent thereof.

Provides that libraries shall not be treated as wire or electronic communication service providers under provisions granting counterintelligence access to provider subscriber information, toll billing records information, or electronic communication transactional records.

The Suffolk Bill of Rights Defense Campaign believes that it is important that the Congress pass the SAFE Act to provide adequate oversight and checks and balances with law enforcement, and to protect our civil liberties provided by the Constitution. To this end we are collecting petitions to encourage Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary R. Clinton to join Senators Kerry, Edwards et al. by endorsing the SAFE Act.