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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 717 Engrossed Amendment House (EAH)]

<DOC>
                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         July 17, 2018.
    Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 717) entitled ``An Act 
to promote pro bono legal services as a critical way in which to 
empower survivors of domestic violence.'', do pass with the following

                               AMENDMENT:

            Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pro bono Work to Empower and 
Represent Act of 2018'' or the ``POWER Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Extremely high rates of domestic violence, dating 
        violence, sexual assault, and stalking exist at the local, 
        State, tribal, and national levels and such violence or 
        behavior harms the most vulnerable members of our society.
            (2) According to a study commissioned by the Department of 
        Justice, nearly 25 percent of women suffer from domestic 
        violence during their lifetime.
            (3) Proactive efforts should be made available in all 
        forums to provide pro bono legal services and eliminate the 
        violence that destroys lives and shatters families.
            (4) A variety of factors cause domestic violence, dating 
        violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and a variety of 
        solutions at the local, State, and national levels are 
        necessary to combat such violence or behavior.
            (5) According to the National Network to End Domestic 
        Violence, which conducted a census including almost 1,700 
        assistance programs, over the course of 1 day in September 
        2014, more than 10,000 requests for services, including legal 
        representation, were not met.
            (6) Pro bono assistance can help fill this need by 
        providing not only legal representation, but also access to 
        emergency shelter, transportation, and childcare.
            (7) Research and studies have demonstrated that the 
        provision of legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, 
        dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking reduces the 
        probability of such violence or behavior reoccurring in the 
        future and can help survivors move forward.
            (8) Legal representation increases the possibility of 
        successfully obtaining a protective order against an attacker, 
        which prevents further mental and physical injury to a victim 
        and his or her family, as demonstrated by a study that found 
        that 83 percent of victims represented by an attorney were able 
        to obtain a protective order, whereas only 32 percent of 
        victims without an attorney were able to do so.
            (9) The American Bar Association Model Rules include 
        commentary stating that ``every lawyer, regardless of 
        professional prominence or professional workload, has a 
        responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to 
        pay, and personal involvement in the problems of the 
        disadvantaged can be one of the most rewarding experiences in 
        the life of a lawyer''.
            (10) As leaders in their legal communities, judges in 
        district courts should encourage lawyers to provide pro bono 
        resources in an effort to help victims of such violence or 
        behavior escape the cycle of abuse.
            (11) A dedicated army of pro bono attorneys focused on this 
        mission will inspire others to devote efforts to this cause and 
        will raise awareness of the scourge of domestic violence, 
        dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking throughout the 
        country.
            (12) Communities, by providing awareness of pro bono legal 
        services and assistance to survivors of domestic violence, 
        dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, will empower 
        those survivors to move forward with their lives.

SEC. 3. DISTRICT COURTS TO PROMOTE EMPOWERMENT EVENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter for a period of 4 years, the chief 
judge, or his or her designee, for each judicial district shall lead 
not less than one public event, in partnership with a State, local, 
tribal, or territorial domestic violence service provider or coalition 
and a State or local volunteer lawyer project, promoting pro bono legal 
services as a critical way in which to empower survivors of domestic 
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and engage 
citizens in assisting those survivors.
    (b) Districts Containing Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations.--
During each 2-year period, the chief judge, or his or her designee, for 
a judicial district that contains an Indian tribe or tribal 
organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) shall 
lead not less than one public event promoting pro bono legal services 
under subsection (a) of this section in partnership with an Indian 
tribe or tribal organization with the intent of increasing the 
provision of pro bono legal services for Indian or Alaska Native 
victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and 
stalking.
    (c) Requirements.--Each chief judge shall--
            (1) have discretion as to the design, organization, and 
        implementation of the public events required under subsection 
        (a); and
            (2) in conducting a public event under subsection (a), seek 
        to maximize the local impact of the event and the provision of 
        access to high-quality pro bono legal services by survivors of 
        domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and 
        stalking.

SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Report to the Director of the Administrative Office of the 
United States Courts.--Not later than October 30 of each year, each 
chief judge shall submit to the Director of the Administrative Office 
of the United States Courts a report detailing each public event 
conducted under section 3 during the previous fiscal year.
    (b) Report to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than January 1 of each year, the 
        Director of the Administrative Office of the United States 
        Courts shall submit to Congress a compilation and summary of 
        each report received under subsection (a) for the previous 
        fiscal year.
            (2) Requirement.--Each comprehensive report submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall include an analysis of how each public 
        event meets the goals set forth in this Act, as well as 
        suggestions on how to improve future public events.

SEC. 5. FUNDING.

    The Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall use 
existing funds to carry out the requirements of this Act.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
115th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                 S. 717

_______________________________________________________________________

                               AMENDMENT
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