In the Senate of the United States,
December 14, 2001.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 2657) entitled ‘‘An Act to amend title 11, Dis-
trict of Columbia Code, to redesignate the Family Division of
the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as the Family
Court of the Superior Court, to recruit and retain trained
and experienced judges to serve in the Family Court, to pro-
mote consistency and efficiency in the assignment of judges
to the Family Court and in the consideration of actions and
proceedings in the Family Court, and for other purposes.’’,
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 ‘‘District of Columbia
Family Court Act of 2001’’.
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SEC. 2. REDESIGNATION OF FAMILY DIVISION AS FAMILY
COURT OF THE SUPERIOR COURT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–902, District of Colum-
bia Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘§ 11–902. Organization of the court
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Superior Court shall consist
of the following:
‘‘(1) The Civil Division.
‘‘(2) The Criminal Division.
‘‘(3) The Family Court.
‘‘(4) The Probate Division.
‘‘(5) The Tax Division.
‘‘(b) BRANCHES.—The divisions of the Superior Court
may be divided into such branches as the Superior Court
may by rule prescribe.
‘‘(c) DESIGNATION OF PRESIDING JUDGE OF FAMILY
COURT.—The chief judge of the Superior Court shall des-
ignate one of the judges assigned to the Family Court of
the Superior Court to serve as the presiding judge of the
Family Court of the Superior Court.
‘‘(d) JURISDICTION DESCRIBED.—The Family Court
shall have original jurisdiction over the actions, applica-
tions, determinations, adjudications, and proceedings de-
scribed in section 11–1101. Actions, applications, deter-
minations, adjudications, and proceedings being assigned
to cross-jurisdictional units established by the Superior
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Court, including the Domestic Violence Unit, on the date
of enactment of this section may continue to be so assigned
after the date of enactment of this section.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 9.—Sec-
tion 11–906(b), District of Columbia Code, is amended by
inserting ‘‘the Family Court and’’ before ‘‘the various divi-
sions’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 11.—(1)
The heading for chapter 11 of title 11, District of Columbia,
is amended by striking ‘‘FAMILY DIVISION’’ and inserting
‘‘FAMILY COURT’’.
(2) The item relating to chapter 11 in the table of
chapters for title 11, District of Columbia, is amended by
striking ‘‘FAMILY
DIVISION’’ and inserting ‘‘FAMILY
COURT’’.
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 16.—
(1) CALCULATION OF CHILD SUPPORT.—Section
16–916.1(o)(6), District of Columbia Code, is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘Family Division’’ and inserting
‘‘Family Court of the Superior Court’’.
(2) EXPEDITED
JUDICIAL
HEARING
OF
CASES
BROUGHT
BEFORE
HEARING
COMMISSIONERS.—Sec-
tion 16–924, District of Columbia Code, is amended
by striking ‘‘Family Division’’ each place it appears
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in subsections (a) and (f) and inserting ‘‘Family
Court’’.
(3) GENERAL REFERENCES TO PROCEEDINGS.—
Chapter 23 of title 16, District of Columbia Code, is
amended by inserting after section 16–2301 the fol-
lowing new section:
‘‘§ 16–2301.1. References deemed to refer to Family
Court of the Superior Court
‘‘Any reference in this chapter or any other Federal
or District of Columbia law, Executive order, rule, regula-
tion, delegation of authority, or any document of or per-
taining to the Family Division of the Superior Court of
the District of Columbia shall be deemed to refer to the
Family Court of the Superior Court of the District of Co-
lumbia.’’.
(4) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for subchapter I of chapter 23 of title 16, Dis-
trict of Columbia, is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 16–2301 the following new
item:
‘‘16–2301.1. References deemed to refer to Family Court of the Superior Court.’’.
SEC. 3. APPOINTMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES; NUM-
BER AND QUALIFICATIONS.
(a) NUMBER OF JUDGES FOR FAMILY COURT; QUALI-
FICATIONS AND TERMS OF SERVICE.—Chapter 9 of title 11,
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District of Columbia Code, is amended by inserting after
section 11–908 the following new section:
‘‘§ 11–908A. Special rules regarding assignment and
service of judges of Family Court
‘‘(a) NUMBER OF JUDGES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The number of judges serv-
ing on the Family Court of the Superior Court shall
be not more than 15.
‘‘(2) EMERGENCY REASSIGNMENT.—If the chief
judge determines that, in order to carry out the intent
and purposes of the District of Columbia Family
Court Act of 2001, an emergency exists such that the
number of judges needed on the Family Court of the
Superior Court at any time is more than 15—
‘‘(A) the chief judge may temporarily reas-
sign judges from other divisions of the Superior
Court to serve on the Family Court who meet the
requirements of paragraphs (1) and (3) of sub-
section (b) or senior judges who meet the require-
ments of those paragraphs, except such reas-
signed judges shall not be subject to the term of
service requirements set forth in subsection (c);
and
‘‘(B) the chief judge shall, within 30 days of
emergency temporary reassignment pursuant to
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subparagraph (A), submit a report to the Presi-
dent and Congress describing—
‘‘(i) the nature of the emergency;
‘‘(ii) how the emergency was addressed,
including which judges were reassigned; and
‘‘(iii) whether and why an increase in
the number of Family Court judges author-
ized in subsection (a)(1) may be necessary
to serve the needs of families and children
in the District of Columbia.
‘‘(3) COMPOSITION.—The total number of judges
on the Superior Court may exceed the limit on such
judges specified in section 11–903 to the extent nec-
essary to maintain the requirements of this subsection
if—
‘‘(A) the number of judges serving on the
Family Court is less than 15; and
‘‘(B) the Chief Judge of the Superior
Court—
‘‘(i) is unable to secure a volunteer
judge who is sitting on the Superior Court
outside of the Family Court for reassign-
ment to the Family Court;
‘‘(ii) obtains approval of the Joint
Committee on Judicial Administration; and
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), an individual assigned to serve as a judge
of the Family Court of the Superior Court shall serve
for a term of 5 years.
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR JUDGES SERVING ON
SUPERIOR COURT ON DATE OF ENACTMENT OF FAMILY
COURT ACT OF 2001.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An individual assigned
to serve as a judge of the Family Court of the
Superior Court who is serving as a judge of the
Superior Court on the date of the enactment of
the District of Columbia Family Court Act of
2001 shall serve for a term of not fewer than 3
years.
‘‘(B) REDUCTION OF PERIOD FOR JUDGES
SERVING IN FAMILY DIVISION.—In the case of a
judge of the Superior Court who is serving as a
judge in the Family Division of the Court on the
date of the enactment of the District of Columbia
Family Court Act of 2001, the 3-year term ap-
plicable under subparagraph (A) shall be reduced
by the length of any period of consecutive service
as a judge in such Division immediately pre-
ceding the date of the enactment of such Act.
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‘‘(3) ASSIGNMENT FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE.—
After the term of service of a judge of the Family
Court (as described in paragraph (1)) expires, at the
judge’s request and with the approval of the chief
judge, the judge may be assigned for additional serv-
ice on the Family Court for a period of such duration
(consistent with section 431(c) of the District of Co-
lumbia Home Rule Act) as the chief judge may pro-
vide.
‘‘(4) PERMITTING
SERVICE
ON
FAMILY
COURT
FOR ENTIRE TERM.—At the request of the judge and
with the approval of the chief judge, a judge may
serve as a judge of the Family Court for the judge’s
entire term of service as a judge of the Superior Court
under section 431(c) of the District of Columbia
Home Rule Act.
‘‘(d) REASSIGNMENT TO OTHER DIVISIONS.—The chief
judge may reassign a judge of the Family Court to any
division of the Superior Court if the chief judge determines
that in the interest of justice the judge is unable to continue
serving in the Family Court.’’.
(b) PLAN FOR FAMILY COURT TRANSITION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the chief judge
of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
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shall prepare and submit to the President and Con-
gress a transition plan for the Family Court of the
Superior Court, and shall include in the plan the fol-
lowing:
(A) The chief judge’s determination of the
role and function of the presiding judge of the
Family Court.
(B) The chief judge’s determination of the
number of judges needed to serve on the Family
Court.
(C) The chief judge’s determination of the
number of magistrate judges of the Family Court
needed for appointment under section 11–1732,
District of Columbia Code.
(D) The chief judge’s determination of the
appropriate functions of such magistrate judges,
together with the compensation of and other per-
sonnel matters pertaining to such magistrate
judges.
(E) A plan for case flow, case management,
and staffing needs (including the needs for both
judicial and nonjudicial personnel) for the Fam-
ily Court, including a description of how the Su-
perior Court will handle the one family, one
judge requirement pursuant to section 11–
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1104(a) for all cases and proceedings assigned to
the Family Court.
(F) A plan for space, equipment, and other
physical plant needs and requirements during
the transition, as determined in consultation
with the Administrator of General Services.
(G) An analysis of the number of mag-
istrate judges needed under the expedited ap-
pointment procedures established under section
6(d) in reducing the number of pending actions
and proceedings within the jurisdiction of the
Family Court (as described in section 11–902(d),
District of Columbia, as amended by subsection
(a)).
(H) Consistent with the requirements of
paragraph (2), a proposal for the disposition or
transfer to the Family Court of child abuse and
neglect actions pending as of the date of enact-
ment of this Act (which were initiated in the
Family Division but remain pending before
judges serving in other Divisions of the Superior
Court as of such date) in a manner consistent
with applicable Federal and District of Colum-
bia law and best practices, including best prac-
tices developed by the American Bar Association
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and the National Council of Juvenile and Fam-
ily Court Judges.
(I) An estimate of the number of cases for
which the deadline for disposition or transfer to
the Family Court, specified in paragraph (2)(B),
cannot be met and the reasons why such deadline
cannot be met.
(2) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN FOR TRANS-
FER OR DISPOSITION OF ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS
TO FAMILY COURT.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in
subparagraph (C), the chief judge of the Superior
Court and the presiding judge of the Family
Court shall take such steps as may be required
as provided in the proposal for disposition of ac-
tions and proceedings under paragraph (1)(H)
to ensure that each child abuse and neglect ac-
tion of the Superior Court (as described in sec-
tion 11–902(d), District of Columbia Code, as
amended by subsection (a)) is transferred to the
Family Court or otherwise disposed of as pro-
vided in subparagraph (B).
(B) DEADLINE.—
(i) 
IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Act or any
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amendment made by this Act and except as
provided in subparagraph (C), no child
abuse or neglect action shall remain pend-
ing with a judge not serving on the Family
Court upon the expiration of 18 months
after the filing of the transition plan re-
quired under paragraph (1).
(ii) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—The
chief judge of the Superior Court should
make every effort to provide for the earliest
practicable disposition of actions. Nothing
in this subparagraph shall preclude the im-
mediate transfer of cases to the Family
Court, particularly cases which have been
filed with the court for less than 6 months
prior to the date of enactment of this Act.
(C) RETAINED CASES.—Child abuse and ne-
glect cases that were initiated in the Family Di-
vision but remain pending before judges, includ-
ing senior judges as defined in section 11–1504,
District of Columbia Code, in other Divisions of
the Superior Court as of the date of enactment
of this Act may remain before judges, including
senior judges, in such other Divisions when—
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(i) the case remains at all times in full
compliance with Public Law 105–89, if ap-
plicable;
(ii) the chief judge determines, in con-
sultation with the presiding judge of the
Family Court, based on the record in the
case and any unique expertise, training, or
knowledge of the case that the judge might
have, that permitting the judge to retain the
case would lead to permanent placement of
the child more quickly than reassignment to
a judge in the Family Court.
(D) PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS AND
PROCEEDINGS.—The chief judge of the Superior
Court, in consultation with the presiding judge
of the Family Court, shall give priority consider-
ation to the disposition or transfer of the fol-
lowing actions and proceedings:
(i) The action or proceeding involves
an allegation of abuse or neglect.
(ii) The action or proceeding was initi-
ated in the family division prior to the 2-
year period which ends on the date of enact-
ment of this Act.
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(iii) The judge to whom the action or
proceeding is assigned as of the date of en-
actment of this Act is not assigned to the
Family Division.
(E) PROGRESS REPORTS.—The chief judge
of the Superior Court shall submit reports to the
President, to the Committee on Appropriations
of each House, the Committee on Governmental
Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Gov-
ernment Reform of the House of Representatives
at 6-month intervals for a period of 2 years after
the date of submission of the transition plan re-
quired under paragraph (1) on the progress
made towards disposing of actions or proceedings
described in subparagraph (B).
(F) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in
this subsection shall preclude the chief judge, in
consultation with the presiding judge of the
Family Court, from transferring actions or pro-
ceedings pending before judges outside the Fam-
ily Court at the enactment of this Act which do
not involve allegations of abuse and neglect but
which would otherwise fall under the jurisdiction
of the Family Court to judges in the Family
Court prior to the deadline as defined in sub-
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paragraph 2(B), particularly if such transfer
would result in more efficient resolution of such
actions or proceedings.
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF
PLAN.—The chief judge of the Superior Court may
not take any action to implement the transition plan
under this subsection until the expiration of the 30-
day period which begins on the date the chief judge
submits the plan to the President and Congress under
paragraph (1).
(c) TRANSITION TO REQUIRED NUMBER OF JUDGES.—
(1) ANALYSIS BY CHIEF JUDGE OF SUPERIOR
COURT.—The chief judge of the Superior Court of the
District of Columbia shall include in the transition
plan prepared under subsection (b)—
(A) the chief judge’s determination of the
number of individuals serving as judges of the
Superior Court who—
(i) meet the qualifications for judges of
the Family Court of the Superior Court
under section 11–908A, District of Colum-
bia Code (as added by subsection (a)); and
(ii) are willing and able to serve on the
Family Court; and
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(B) if the chief judge determines that the
number of individuals described in subpara-
graph (A) is less than 15, a request that the Ju-
dicial Nomination Commission recruit and the
President nominate (in accordance with section
433 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act)
such additional number of individuals to serve
on the Superior Court who meet the qualifica-
tions for judges of the Family Court under sec-
tion 11–908A, District of Columbia Code, as
may be required to enable the chief judge to make
the required number of assignments.
(2) ROLE OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JUDICIAL
NOMINATION
COMMISSION.—For purposes of section
434(d)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,
the submission of a request from the chief judge of the
Superior Court of the District of Columbia under
paragraph (1)(B) shall be deemed to create a number
of vacancies in the position of judge of the Superior
Court equal to the number of additional appoint-
ments so requested by the chief judge, except that the
deadline for the submission by the District of Colum-
bia Judicial Nomination Commission of nominees to
fill such vacancies shall be 90 days after the creation
of such vacancies. In carrying out this paragraph, the
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District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commis-
sion shall recruit individuals for possible nomination
and appointment to the Superior Court who meet the
qualifications for judges of the Family Court of the
Superior Court.
(d) REPORT BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General shall prepare and submit to Congress and the
chief judge of the Superior Court of the District of Co-
lumbia a report on the implementation of this Act
(including the implementation of the transition plan
under subsection (b)), and shall include in the report
the following:
(A) An analysis of the procedures used to
make the initial appointments of judges of the
Family Court under this Act and the amend-
ments made by this Act, including an analysis
of the time required to make such appointments
and the effect of the qualification requirements
for judges of the Court (including requirements
relating to the length of service on the Court) on
the time required to make such appointments.
(B) An analysis of the impact of magistrate
judges for the Family Court (including the expe-
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dited initial appointment of magistrate judges
for the Court under section 6(d)) on the workload
of judges and other personnel of the Court.
(C) An analysis of the number of judges
needed for the Family Court, including an anal-
ysis of how the number may be affected by the
qualification requirements for judges, the avail-
ability of magistrate judges, and other provisions
of this Act or the amendments made by this Act.
(D) An analysis of the timeliness of the res-
olution and disposition of pending actions and
proceedings required under the transition plan
(as described in paragraphs (1)(I) and (2) of
subsection (b)), including an analysis of the ef-
fect of the availability of magistrate judges on
the time required to resolve and dispose of such
actions and proceedings.
(2) SUBMISSION TO CHIEF JUDGE OF SUPERIOR
COURT.—Prior to submitting the report under para-
graph (1) to Congress, the Comptroller General shall
provide a preliminary version of the report to the
chief judge of the Superior Court and shall take any
comments and recommendations of the chief judge
into consideration in preparing the final version of
the report.
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‘‘(3) actions to enforce support of any person as
required by law;
‘‘(4) actions seeking custody of minor children,
including petitions for writs of habeas corpus;
‘‘(5) actions to declare marriages void;
‘‘(6) actions to declare marriages valid;
‘‘(7) actions for annulments of marriage;
‘‘(8) determinations and adjudications of prop-
erty rights, both real and personal, in any action re-
ferred to in this section, irrespective of any jurisdic-
tional limitation imposed on the Superior Court;
‘‘(9) proceedings in adoption;
‘‘(10) proceedings under the Act of July 10, 1957
(D.C. Code, secs. 30–301 to 30–324);
‘‘(11) proceedings to determine paternity of any
child born out of wedlock;
‘‘(12) civil proceedings for protection involving
intrafamily offenses, instituted pursuant to chapter
10 of title 16;
‘‘(13) proceedings in which a child, as defined in
section 16–2301, is alleged to be delinquent, neglected,
or in need of supervision;
‘‘(14) proceedings under chapter 5 of title 21 re-
lating to the commitment of the mentally ill;
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‘‘(15) proceedings under chapter 13 of title 7 re-
lating to the commitment of the at least moderately
mentally retarded; and
‘‘(16) proceedings under Interstate Compact on
Juveniles (described in title IV of the District of Co-
lumbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of
1970).
‘‘(b) DEFINITION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In this chapter, the term ‘ac-
tion or proceeding’ with respect to the Family Court
refers to cause of action described in paragraphs (1)
through (16) of subsection (a).
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—An action or proceeding may
be assigned to or retained by cross-jurisdictional units
established by the Superior Court, including the Do-
mestic Violence Unit.
‘‘§ 11–1102. Use of alternative dispute resolution
‘‘To the greatest extent practicable and safe, cases and
proceedings in the Family Court of the Superior Court shall
be resolved through alternative dispute resolution proce-
dures, in accordance with such rules as the Superior Court
may promulgate.
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‘‘§ 11–1103. Standards of practice for appointed coun-
sel
‘‘The Superior Court shall establish standards of prac-
tice for attorneys appointed as counsel in the Family Court
of the Superior Court.
‘‘§ 11–1104. Administration
‘‘(a) ‘ONE FAMILY, ONE JUDGE’ REQUIREMENT FOR
CASES AND PROCEEDINGS.—To the greatest extent prac-
ticable, feasible, and lawful, if an individual who is a party
to an action or proceeding assigned to the Family Court
has an immediate family or household member who is a
party to another action or proceeding assigned to the Fam-
ily Court, the individual’s action or proceeding shall be as-
signed to the same judge or magistrate judge to whom the
immediate family member’s action or proceeding is as-
signed.
‘‘(b) RETENTION OF JURISDICTION OVER CASES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the require-
ment of subsection (a), any action or proceeding as-
signed to the Family Court of the Superior Court
shall remain under the jurisdiction of the Family
Court until the action or proceeding is finally dis-
posed, except as provided in paragraph (2)(D).
‘‘(2) ONE FAMILY, ONE JUDGE.—
‘‘(A) FOR THE DURATION.—An action or
proceeding assigned pursuant to this subsection
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shall remain with the judge or magistrate judge
in the Family Court to whom the action or pro-
ceeding is assigned for the duration of the action
or proceeding to the greatest extent practicable,
feasible, and lawful, subject to subparagraph (C).
‘‘(B) ALL
CASES
INVOLVING
AN
INDI-
VIDUAL.—If an individual who is a party to an
action or proceeding assigned to the Family
Court becomes a party to another action or pro-
ceeding assigned to the Family Court, the indi-
vidual’s subsequent action or proceeding shall be
assigned to the same judge or magistrate judge to
whom the individual’s initial action or pro-
ceeding is assigned to the greatest extent prac-
ticable and feasible.
‘‘(C) FAMILY COURT CASE RETENTION.—If
the full term of a Family Court judge to whom
the action or proceeding is assigned is completed
prior to the final disposition of the action or
proceeding, the presiding judge of the Family
Court shall ensure that the matter or proceeding
is reassigned to a judge serving on the Family
Court.
‘‘(D) EXCEPTION.—A judge whose full term
on the Family Court is completed but who re-
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mains in Superior Court may retain the case or
proceeding for not more than 6 months or, in ex-
traordinary circumstances, for not more than 12
months after ceasing to serve if—
‘‘(i) the case remains at all times in
full compliance with Public Law 105–89, if
applicable; and
‘‘(ii) if Public Law 105–89 is applica-
ble, the chief judge determines, in consulta-
tion with the presiding judge of the Family
Court, based on the record in the case and
any unique expertise, training or knowledge
of the case that the judge might have, that
permitting the judge to retain the case
would lead to permanent placement of the
child more quickly than reassignment to a
judge in the Family Court.
‘‘(3) STANDARDS OF JUDICIAL ETHICS.—The ac-
tions of a judge or magistrate judge in retaining an
action or proceeding under this paragraph shall be
subject to applicable standards of judicial ethics.
‘‘(c) TRAINING PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The chief judge, in consulta-
tion with the presiding judge of the Family Court,
shall carry out an ongoing program to provide train-
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ing in family law and related matters for judges of
the Family Court and other judges of the Superior
Court who are assigned Family Court cases, includ-
ing magistrate judges, attorneys who practice in the
Family Court, and appropriate nonjudicial per-
sonnel, and shall include in the program information
and instruction regarding the following:
‘‘(A) Child development.
‘‘(B) Family dynamics, including domestic
violence.
‘‘(C) Relevant Federal and District of Co-
lumbia laws.
‘‘(D) Permanency planning principles and
practices.
‘‘(E) Recognizing the risk factors for child
abuse.
‘‘(F) Any other matters the presiding judge
considers appropriate.
‘‘(2) USE
OF
CROSS-TRAINING.—The program
carried out under this section shall use the resources
of lawyers and legal professionals, social workers, and
experts in the field of child development and other re-
lated fields.
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‘‘(d) ACCESSIBILITY OF MATERIALS, SERVICES, AND
PROCEEDINGS; PROMOTION OF ‘FAMILY-FRIENDLY’ ENVI-
RONMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To the greatest extent prac-
ticable, the chief judge and the presiding judge of the
Family Court shall ensure that the materials and
services provided by the Family Court are under-
standable and accessible to the individuals and fami-
lies served by the Family Court, and that the Family
Court carries out its duties in a manner which re-
flects the special needs of families with children.
‘‘(2) LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS.—To the max-
imum extent feasible, safe, and practicable, cases and
proceedings in the Family Court shall be conducted at
locations readily accessible to the parties involved.
‘‘(e) INTEGRATED COMPUTERIZED CASE TRACKING
AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.—The Executive Officer of the
District of Columbia courts under section 11–1703 shall
work with the chief judge of the Superior Court—
‘‘(1) to ensure that all records and materials of
cases and proceedings in the Family Court are stored
and maintained in electronic format accessible by
computers for the use of judges, magistrate judges,
and nonjudicial personnel of the Family Court, and
for the use of other appropriate offices of the District
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partment, the Department of Health, and other offices
determined by the Mayor) are available on-site at the
Family Court to coordinate the provision of such
services and information regarding such services to
such individuals and families.
‘‘(2) DUTIES OF HEADS OF OFFICES.—The head
of each office described in paragraph (1), including
the Superintendent of the District of Columbia Public
Schools and the Director of the District of Columbia
Housing Authority, shall provide the Mayor with
such information, assistance, and services as the
Mayor may require to carry out such paragraph.
‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES LIAISON
WITH FAMILY COURT.—The Mayor of the District of Co-
lumbia shall appoint an individual to serve as a liaison
between the Family Court and the District government for
purposes of subsection (a) and for coordinating the delivery
of services provided by the District government with the ac-
tivities of the Family Court and for providing information
to the judges, magistrate judges, and nonjudicial personnel
of the Family Court regarding the services available from
the District government to the individuals and families
served by the Family Court. The Mayor shall provide on
an ongoing basis information to the chief judge of the Supe-
rior Court and the presiding judge of the Family Court re-
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Court’s jurisdiction, as prescribed by applicable law
and best practices, including (but not limited to) best
practices developed by the American Bar Association
and the National Council of Juvenile and Family
Court Judges.
‘‘(8) If the Family Court failed to meet the dead-
lines, standards, and outcome measures described in
the previous paragraphs, a proposed remedial action
plan to address the failure.’’.
(b) EXPEDITED
APPEALS
FOR
CERTAIN
FAMILY
COURT ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS.—Section 11–721, Dis-
trict of Columbia Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
‘‘(g) Any appeal from an order of the Family Court
of the District of Columbia terminating parental rights or
granting or denying a petition to adopt shall receive expe-
dited review by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.’’.
(c) PLAN FOR INTEGRATING COMPUTER SYSTEMS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Mayor of the
District of Columbia shall submit to the President
and Congress a plan for integrating the computer sys-
tems of the District government with the computer
systems of the Superior Court of the District of Co-
lumbia so that the Family Court of the Superior
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Court and the appropriate offices of the District gov-
ernment which provide social services and other re-
lated services to individuals and families served by
the Family Court of the Superior Court (including
the District of Columbia Public Schools, the District
of Columbia Housing Authority, the Child and Fam-
ily Services Agency, the Office of the Corporation
Counsel, the Metropolitan Police Department, the De-
partment of Health, and other offices determined by
the Mayor) will be able to access and share informa-
tion on the individuals and families served by the
Family Court.
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Mayor
of the District of Columbia such sums as may be nec-
essary to carry out paragraph (1).
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for
chapter 11 of title 11, District of Columbia Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new items:
‘‘11–1102. Use of alternative dispute resolution.
‘‘11–1103. Standards of practice for appointed counsel.
‘‘11–1104. Administration.
‘‘11–1105. Social services and other related services.
‘‘11–1106. Reports to Congress.’’.
SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF HEARING COMMISSIONERS AS MAG-
ISTRATE JUDGES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
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(1) REDESIGNATION
OF
TITLE.—Section 11–
1732, District of Columbia Code, is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘hearing commissioners’’
each place it appears in subsection (a), sub-
section (b), subsection (d), subsection (i), sub-
section (l), and subsection (n) and inserting
‘‘magistrate judges’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘hearing commissioner’’
each place it appears in subsection (b), sub-
section (c), subsection (e), subsection (f), sub-
section (g), subsection (h), and subsection (j) and
inserting ‘‘magistrate judge’’;
(C) by striking ‘‘hearing commissioner’s’’
each place it appears in subsection (e) and sub-
section (k) and inserting ‘‘magistrate judge’s’’;
(D) by striking ‘‘Hearing commissioners’’
each place it appears in subsections (b), (d), and
(i) and inserting ‘‘Magistrate judges’’; and
(E) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Hearing
commissioners’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘Mag-
istrate judges’’.
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 16–
924, District of Columbia Code, is amended—
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(A) by striking ‘‘hearing commissioner’’
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘magistrate
judge’’; and
(B) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘hearing
commissioner’s’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘magistrate
judge’s’’.
(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The item relating
to section 11–1732 of the table of sections of chapter
17 of title 11, D.C. Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘11–1732. Magistrate judges.’’.
(b) TRANSITION PROVISION REGARDING HEARING
COMMISSIONERS.—Any individual serving as a hearing
commissioner under section 11–1732 of the District of Co-
lumbia Code as of the date of the enactment of this Act
shall serve the remainder of such individual’s term as a
magistrate judge, and may be reappointed as a magistrate
judge in accordance with section 11–1732(d), District of Co-
lumbia Code, except that any individual serving as a hear-
ing commissioner as of the date of the enactment of this
Act who was appointed as a hearing commissioner prior
to the effective date of section 11–1732 of the District of
Columbia Code shall not be required to be a resident of the
District of Columbia to be eligible to be reappointed.
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(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this
section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 6. SPECIAL RULES FOR MAGISTRATE JUDGES OF FAM-
ILY COURT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 11, District of
Columbia Code, is amended by inserting after section 11–
1732 the following new section:
‘‘§ 11–1732A. Special rules for magistrate judges of the
Family Court of the Superior Court and
the Domestic Violence Unit
‘‘(a) USE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN ADVISORY MERIT
SELECTION PANEL.—The advisory selection merit panel
used in the selection of magistrate judges for the Family
Court of the Superior Court under section 11–1732(b) shall
include certified social workers specializing in child welfare
matters who are residents of the District and who are not
employees of the District of Columbia Courts.
‘‘(b) SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 11–1732(c), no individual shall be appointed or as-
signed as a magistrate judge for the Family Court of the
Superior Court or as a magistrate judge for the Domestic
Violence Unit handling actions or proceedings which would
otherwise be under the jurisdiction of the Family Court un-
less that individual—
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come a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia
not later than 90 days after appointment.
‘‘(c) SERVICE
OF
CURRENT
HEARING
COMMIS-
SIONERS.—Those individuals serving as hearing commis-
sioners under section 11–1732 on the effective date of this
section who meet the qualifications described in subsection
(b)(4) may request to be appointed as magistrate judges for
the Family Court of the Superior Court under such section.
‘‘(d) FUNCTIONS OF FAMILY COURT AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE UNIT MAGISTRATES.—A magistrate judge, when
specifically designated by the chief judge in consultation
with the appropriate presiding judge to serve in the Family
Court or in the Domestic Violence Unit and subject to the
rules of the Superior Court and the right of review under
section 11–1732(k), may perform the following functions:
‘‘(1) Administer oaths and affirmations and take
acknowledgements.
‘‘(2) Subject to the rules of the Superior Court
and applicable Federal and District of Columbia law,
conduct hearings, make findings and enter interim
and final orders or judgments in uncontested or con-
tested proceedings within the jurisdiction of the Fam-
ily Court and the Domestic Violence Unit of the Su-
perior Court (as described in section 11–1101), ex-
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cluding jury trials and trials of felony cases, as as-
signed by the appropriate presiding judge.
‘‘(3) Subject to the rules of the Superior Court,
enter an order punishing an individual for contempt,
except that no individual may be detained pursuant
to the authority of this paragraph for longer than 180
days.
‘‘(e) LOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS.—To the maximum
extent feasible, safe, and practicable, magistrate judges of
the Family Court of the Superior Court shall conduct pro-
ceedings at locations readily accessible to the parties in-
volved.
‘‘(f) TRAINING.—The chief judge, in consultation with
the presiding judge of the Family Court of the Superior
Court, shall ensure that all magistrate judges of the Family
Court receive training to enable them to fulfill their respon-
sibilities, including specialized training in family law and
related matters.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—(1) Section 11–
1732(a), District of Columbia Code, is amended by insert-
ing after ‘‘the duties enumerated in subsection (j) of this
section’’ the following: ‘‘(or, in the case of magistrate judges
for the Family Court or the Domestic Violence Unit of the
Superior Court, the duties enumerated in section 11–
1732A(d))’’.
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(2) Section 11–1732(c), District of Columbia Code, is
amended by striking ‘‘No individual’’ and inserting ‘‘Ex-
cept as provided in section 11–1732A(b), no individual’’.
(3) Section 11–1732(k), District of Columbia Code, is
amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘subsection (j),’’ and inserting
the following: ‘‘subsection (j) (or proceedings and
hearings under section 11–1732A(d), in the case of
magistrate judges for the Family Court or the Domes-
tic Violence Unit of the Superior Court),’’; and
(B) by inserting after ‘‘appropriate division’’ the
following: ‘‘(or, in the case of an order or judgment
of a magistrate judge of the Family Court or the Do-
mestic Violence Unit of the Superior Court, by a
judge of the Family Court or the Domestic Violence
Unit)’’.
(4) Section 11–1732(l), District of Columbia Code, is
amended by inserting after ‘‘responsibilities’’ the following:
‘‘(subject to the requirements of section 11–1732A(f) in the
case of magistrate judges of the Family Court of the Supe-
rior Court or the Domestic Violence Unit)’’.
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for
subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 11, District of Columbia,
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
11–1732 the following new item:
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‘‘11–1732A. Special rules for magistrate judges of the Family Court of the Supe-
rior Court and the Domestic Violence Unit.’’.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect on the date of enactment
of this Act.
(2) EXPEDITED INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the chief
judge of the Superior Court of the District of Co-
lumbia shall appoint individuals to serve as
magistrate judges for the Family Division of the
Superior Court in accordance with the require-
ments of sections 11–1732 and 11–1732A, Dis-
trict of Columbia Code (as added by subsection
(a)), for the purpose of assisting with the imple-
mentation of the transition plan under section
3(b) of this Act, and in particular with the tran-
sition or disposal of actions or proceedings pur-
suant to section 3(b)(2) of this Act.
(B) TRANSITION RESPONSIBILITIES OF INI-
TIALLY
APPOINTED
FAMILY
COURT
MAG-
ISTRATES.—The chief judge of the Superior
Court and the presiding judge of the Family Di-
vision of the Superior Court (acting jointly)
shall first assign the magistrate judges of Family
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Court appointed under this paragraph to work
with judges to whom the cases are currently as-
signed in making case disposition or transfer de-
cisions as follows:
(i) The action or proceeding involves
an allegation of abuse or neglect.
(ii) The judge to whom the action or
proceeding is assigned as of the date of en-
actment of this Act is not assigned to the
Family Division.
(iii) The action or proceeding was ini-
tiated in the Family Division prior to the
2-year period which ends on the date of en-
actment of this Act.
(C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in
this subsection shall be construed to preclude
magistrate judges appointed pursuant to this
subsection from performing upon appointment
any or all of the functions of magistrate judges
of the Family Court or Domestic Violence Unit
as set forth in subsection 11–1732A(d).
SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING BORDER AGREE-
MENT WITH MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA.
It is the sense of Congress that the State of Maryland,
the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Colum-