AMENDMENT 332

Amendment: Section 2K1.7 is amended by inserting "(a)" immediately before "If"; and by inserting the following additional subsection:

"(b) Special Instruction for Fines

(1) Where there is a federal conviction for the underlying offense, the fine guideline shall be the fine guideline that would have been applicable had there only been a conviction for the underlying offense. This guideline shall be used as a consolidated fine guideline for both the underlying offense and the conviction underlying this section.".

The Commentary to §2K1.7 captioned "Application Notes" is amended by inserting the following additional notes:

"3. Where a sentence under this section is imposed in conjunction with a sentence for an underlying offense, any specific offense characteristic for the use of fire or explosives is not to be applied in respect to the guideline for the underlying offense.

4. Subsection (b) sets forth special provisions concerning the imposition of fines. Where there is also a conviction for the underlying offense, a consolidated fine guideline is determined by the offense level that would have applied to the underlying offense absent a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 844(h). This is required because the offense level for the underlying offense may be reduced in that any specific offense characteristic for use of fire or explosives would not be applied (see Application Note 3). The Commission has not established a fine guideline range for the unusual case in which there is no conviction for the underlying offense, although a fine is authorized under 18 U.S.C. § 3571.".

The Commentary to §2K2.4 captioned "Application Notes" is amended in Note 4 in the third sentence by inserting "required" immediately before "because"; and by inserting ", although a fine is authorized under 18 U.S.C. § 3571" immediately before the period at the end of the last sentence.

Reason for Amendment: This amendment conforms §2K1.7 to §2K2.4, which includes specific instructions concerning treatment of fines and double counting. Both sections are based upon similarly written statutes that provide for a fixed mandatory, consecutive sentence of imprisonment. In addition, Application Note 4 of the Commentary to §2K2.4 is revised and expanded for greater clarity.

Effective Date: The effective date of this amendment is November 1, 1990.