John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-916
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]
Introduced: 2007-02-08 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federal aid to education
Higher education
Law
Legal education
Public defenders
Public prosecutors
Scholarships
Student loan funds

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-08
text: 
John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007- Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to direct the Attorney General to assume the obligation to repay student loans for borrowers who agree to remain employed, for at least three years, as: (1) state or local criminal prosecutors; or (2) state, local, or federal public defenders in criminal cases. Allows a borrower and the Attorney General to enter into an additional loan repayment agreement, after the required three-year period, for a successive period of service which may be less than three years. Limits the amount paid under such program on behalf of any borrower to $10,000 per calendar year and $60,000 total. 


action_date: 2007-05-14
text: 
John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to add a program for student loan repayment for prosecutors and public defenders. 

Defines &quot;prosecutor&quot; as a full-time state or local agency employee who: (1) is continually licensed to practice law; and (2) prosecutes criminal or juvenile delinquency cases, including an employee who supervises, educates, or trains other attorneys prosecuting such cases.

Defines &quot;public defender&quot; as a licensed attorney who is a full-time state or local agency employee or a full-time employee of a nonprofit organization who provides legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases, including an attorney who supervises, educates, or trains other attorneys to provide such representation. Includes in such definition a full-time federal defender attorney.

Directs the Attorney General to establish a program to assume the obligation to repay the student loans of any borrowers who are employed as prosecutors or public defenders and who are not in default on their loans. Sets forth requirements for such program, including that: (1) the borrower will remain employed as a prosecutor or public defender for not less than three years; and (2) the borrower will repay to the Attorney General any repayment benefits received if the borrower is fired from employment for misconduct or voluntarily separates from employment.

Limits the amount payable under such program for any borrower to $10,000 per year andan aggregate total of $60,000.

Authorizes the Attorney General to enter into subsequent agreements with a borrower for another three-year period or a lesser period.

Requires the Attorney General to give priority in granting repayment benefits to borrowers who have the least ability to repay their loans.

Authorizes the Attorney General to issue regulations to carry out this Act.

Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to report to Congress on the cost of loan repayment program under this Act and the impact of such program on the hiring and retention of prosecutors and public defenders.

Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the impact of law school accreditation requirements and other factors on law school costs and access, including the impact of such requirements on racial and ethnic minorities.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2013.

action_date: 2007-05-15
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 14, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to add a program for student loan repayment for prosecutors and public defenders. 

Defines &quot;prosecutor&quot; as a full-time state or local agency employee who: (1) is continually licensed to practice law; and (2) prosecutes criminal or juvenile delinquency cases, including an employee who supervises, educates, or trains other attorneys prosecuting such cases.

Defines &quot;public defender&quot; as a licensed attorney who is a full-time state or local agency employee or a full-time employee of a nonprofit organization who provides legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases, including an attorney who supervises, educates, or trains other attorneys to provide such representation. Includes in such definition a full-time federal defender attorney.

Directs the Attorney General to establish a program to assume the obligation to repay the student loans of any borrowers who are employed as prosecutors or public defenders and who are not in default on their loans. Sets forth requirements for such program, including that: (1) the borrower will remain employed as a prosecutor or public defender for not less than three years; and (2) the borrower will repay to the Attorney General any repayment benefits received if the borrower is fired from employment for misconduct or voluntarily separates from employment.

Limits the amount payable under such program for any borrower to $10,000 per year andan aggregate total of $60,000.

Authorizes the Attorney General to enter into subsequent agreements with a borrower for another three-year period or a lesser period.

Requires the Attorney General to give priority in granting repayment benefits to borrowers who have the least ability to repay their loans.

Authorizes the Attorney General to issue regulations to carry out this Act.

Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to report to Congress on the cost of loan repayment program under this Act and the impact of such program on the hiring and retention of prosecutors and public defenders.

Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the impact of law school accreditation requirements and other factors on law school costs and access, including the impact of such requirements on racial and ethnic minorities.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-16
text: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 149.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 341 - 73 (Roll no. 347). (text: CR H4978-4979)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 341 - 73 (Roll no. 347).(text: CR H4978-4979)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5015-5016)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 916.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4978-4982)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-05-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 88.
action_date: 2007-05-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-148.
action_date: 2007-05-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-148.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-04-26
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2007-04-26
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-04-24
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-02-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-02-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-08
text: Introduced in House