trustee to report that information to the Commis-
sion. 
‘‘(6) The identity and category of value (as set 
forth in subsection (b)) of each interest in real or 
personal property having a value of $10,000 or more 
which the judge owned at any time during such pe-
riod. 
‘‘(7) The amount or value and source of each 
honorarium of $250 or more received by the judge 
and the judge’s spouse during such period. 
‘‘(8) The source and amount of all money, other 
than that received from the United States govern-
ment, received in the form of an expense account or 
as reimbursement for expenditures from any source 
aggregating more than $250 during such period. 
‘‘(9) The source and amount of all waivers or 
partial waivers of fees or charges accepted by the 
judge on behalf of the judge or the judge’s spouse, 
domestic partner, or guest during such period. 
‘‘(b) For purposes of paragraphs (3) and (6) of sub-
section (a), the categories of value set forth in this sub-
section are— 
‘‘(1) not more than $15,000; 
‘‘(2) greater than $15,000 but not more than 
$50,000; 
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‘‘(3) greater than $50,000 but not more than 
$100,000; 
‘‘(4) greater than $100,000 but not more than 
$250,000; 
‘‘(5) greater than $250,000 but not more than 
$500,000; 
‘‘(6) greater than $500,000 but not more than 
$1,000,000; 
‘‘(7) greater than $1,000,000 but not more 
than $5,000,000; 
‘‘(8) greater than $5,000,000 but not more 
than $25,000,000; 
‘‘(9) greater than $25,000,000 but not more 
than $50,000,000; and 
‘‘(10) greater than $50,000,000. 
‘‘(c)(1) Reports filed pursuant to this section shall, 
upon written request, and notice to the reporting judge 
for purposes of making an application to the Commission 
for a redaction pursuant to paragraph (2), be made avail-
able for public inspection and copying within a reasonable 
time after filing and during the period they are kept by 
the Commission (in accordance with rules promulgated by 
the Commission), and shall be kept by the Commission 
for not less than three years. 
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‘‘(2) This section does not require the public avail-
ability of reports filed by a judge if upon application by 
the reporting judge, a finding is made by the Commission 
that revealing personal and sensitive information could en-
danger that judge or a family member of that judge, ex-
cept that a report may be redacted pursuant to this para-
graph only— 
‘‘(A) to the extent necessary to protect the indi-
vidual who filed the report or a family member of 
that individual; and 
‘‘(B) for as long as the danger to such indi-
vidual exists. 
‘‘(d) The intentional failure by a judge of a District 
of Columbia court to file a report required by this section, 
or the filing of a fraudulent report, shall constitute willful 
misconduct in office and shall be grounds for removal from 
office under section 11–1526(a)(2).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to reports filed 
under section 11–1530, D.C. Official Code, that cover pe-
riods beginning during or after 2016. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF PROBATE DIVISION TO USE MAG-
ISTRATE JUDGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–1732(j)(5), District of 
Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Family 
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Divisions’’ and inserting ‘‘Probate Divisions, and the Fam-
ily Court,’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Sec-
tion 11–1732(j)(4)(A), District of Columbia Official Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘Family Division’’ and inserting 
‘‘Family Court’’. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS TO 
ACCEPT CERTAIN TYPES OF PAYMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 17 of 
title 11, District of Columbia Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 11–1748. Authority of courts to accept certain types 
of payments 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘elec-
tronic funds transfer’— 
‘‘(1) means a transfer of funds, other than a 
transaction by check, draft, or similar paper instru-
ment, that is initiated through an electronic terminal, 
telephone, or computer or magnetic tape for the pur-
pose of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a finan-
cial institution to debit or credit an account; and 
‘‘(2) includes point of sale transfers, automated 
teller machine transfers, direct deposit or withdrawal 
of funds, transfers initiated by telephone, and trans-
fers resulting from debit card transactions. 
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‘‘(b) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS 
AND ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The District of Columbia 
courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow pay-
ments, restitution, bonds, and other payments to the 
courts by credit card or electronic funds transfer. 
‘‘(2) USE OF VENDORS AND THIRD PARTY PRO-
VIDERS.—The Executive officer— 
‘‘(A) may contract with a bank or credit 
card vendor, or other third party provider, for 
purposes of accepting payments by credit card or 
electronic funds transfer; and 
‘‘(B) shall make every effort to find the low-
est cost vendor for purposes of accepting such 
payments. 
‘‘(3) RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYING FEES.—Under 
any contract entered into under paragraph (2), the 
person making the payment shall be responsible for 
covering any fee or charge associated or imposed with 
respect to the method of payment. 
‘‘(4) COMPLETION
OF
PAYMENT.—If a person 
elects to make a payment to the District of Columbia 
courts by a method authorized under paragraph (1), 
the payment shall not be deemed to be made until the 
courts receive the funds. 
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‘‘(c) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT CHECKS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The District of Columbia 
courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow pay-
ments, restitution, bonds, and other payments to the 
courts by check. 
‘‘(2) USE OF CHECK GUARANTEE VENDOR.—The 
Executive Officer— 
‘‘(A) may contract with a check guarantee 
vendor for purposes of accepting payments by 
check; and 
‘‘(B) shall make every effort to find the low-
est cost vendor for purposes of accepting such 
payments. 
‘‘(3) RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYING FEES.—Under 
any contract entered into under paragraph (2), the 
person making the payment by check shall be respon-
sible for covering any fee or charge associated or im-
posed with respect to the method of payment. 
‘‘(d) LIABILITY FOR NON-PAYMENT.—If a check or 
other method of payment, including payment by credit 
card, debit card, or charge card, so received is not duly 
paid, or is paid and subsequently charged back to the Dis-
trict of Columbia courts, the person by whom such check 
or other method of payment has been tendered shall remain 
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liable for the payment, to the same extent as if such check 
or other method of payment had not been tendered.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The 
table of sections for subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 
11, District of Columbia Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘11–1748. Authority of courts to accept certain types of payments.’’. 
SEC. 5. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY 
PERMITTED FOR CASES UNDER JURISDIC-
TION OF SMALL CLAIMS AND CONCILIATION 
BRANCH OF SUPERIOR COURT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–1321, District of Co-
lumbia Official Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$5,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$10,000’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply to any case filed in the Superior 
Court of the District of Columbia on or after the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO APPROVE COMPENSATION OF AT-
TORNEYS IN EXCESS OF MAXIMUM AMOUNT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) CRIMINAL
DEFENSE
APPOINTMENTS.—Sec-
tion 11–2604(c), District of Columbia Official Code, 
is amended by striking the last sentence and inserting 
the following: ‘‘Each chief judge may delegate such 
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approval authority to an active or senior judge in the 
court in which the chief judge sits.’’. 
(2) CHILD
ABUSE
AND
NEGLECT
APPOINT-
MENTS.—Section 16–2326.01(f), District of Columbia 
Official Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(f)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘(f)’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Each chief judge may delegate such approval 
authority to an active or senior judge in the 
court in which the chief judge sits.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to any case or pro-
ceeding initiated on or after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to update the 
financial disclosure requirements for judges of the Dis-
trict of Columbia courts and to make other improvements 
to the District of Columbia courts.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 578 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4419 
[Report No. 114–745] 
A BILL 
To update the financial disclosure requirements for 
judges of the District of Columbia courts. 
SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and or-
dered to be printed 
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