District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act

Bill: 114-hr-4419
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2016-02-01 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: District of Columbia
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
State and local courts
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: 

District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act 

 
This bill amends the District of Columbia Code to revise the financial disclosure requirements for District of Columbia judges. The revisions establish new dollar thresholds and requirements for reporting to the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure the financial interests of the judges and specified family members with respect to: 
 
 
 income; 
 
 dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains; 
 
 liabilities; 
 
 gifts; 
 
real and personal property;
 
 honoraria; 
 
 expense accounts or reimbursements for expenses; and 
 
 waivers or partial waivers of fees or charges. 
 
 
The financial disclosure reports must be available for public inspection and copying, unless revealing personal and sensitive information could endanger the judge or a family member. A report may be redacted only: (1) to the extent necessary to protect the individual or family member, and (2) as long as the danger to the individual exists. 

action_date: 2016-09-13
text: 

District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act 

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the District of Columbia Code to revise the financial disclosure requirements for District of Columbia judges. The revisions establish new dollar thresholds and requirements for reporting to the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure the financial interests of the judges and specified family members with respect to: 
 
 
 income; 
 
 dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains; 
 
 liabilities; 
 
 gifts; 
 
real and personal property;
 
 honoraria; 
 
 expense accounts or reimbursements for expenses; and 
 
 waivers or partial waivers of fees or charges. 
 
 
The financial disclosure reports must be available for public inspection and copying, unless revealing personal and sensitive information could endanger the judge or a family member. A report may be redacted only: (1) to the extent necessary to protect the individual or family member, and (2) as long as the danger to the individual exists.
 
(Sec. 3) The Probate Divisions of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia may use magistrate judges. 
(Sec. 4) DC courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow payments, restitution, bonds, and other payments by credit card or electronic funds transfer. The executive officer of the courts may contract with a bank or credit card vendor, or other third party provider, to accept such payments, making every effort to find the lowest cost vendor among them. 
(Sec. 5) The maximum amount in controversy for cases under the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of DC Superior Court shall increase from $5,000 to $10,000. 
(Sec. 6) Each chief judge of the Superior Court or of the Court of Appeals, as appropriate, may delegate to an active or senior judge (in the court in which the chief judge sits) the authority to approve any compensation for court-appointed criminal defense or child abuse and neglect attorneys exceeding the usual maximum.

action_date: 2016-09-22
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 13, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act 

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the District of Columbia Code to revise the financial disclosure requirements for District of Columbia judges. The revisions establish new dollar thresholds and requirements for reporting to the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure the financial interests of the judges and specified family members with respect to: 
 
 
 income; 
 
 dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains; 
 
 liabilities; 
 
 gifts; 
 
real and personal property;
 
 honoraria; 
 
 expense accounts or reimbursements for expenses; and 
 
 waivers or partial waivers of fees or charges. 
 
 
The financial disclosure reports must be available for public inspection and copying, unless revealing personal and sensitive information could endanger the judge or a family member. A report may be redacted only: (1) to the extent necessary to protect the individual or family member, and (2) as long as the danger to the individual exists.
 
(Sec. 3) The Probate Divisions of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia may use magistrate judges. 
(Sec. 4) DC courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow payments, restitution, bonds, and other payments by credit card or electronic funds transfer. The executive officer of the courts may contract with a bank or credit card vendor, or other third party provider, to accept such payments, making every effort to find the lowest cost vendor among them. 
(Sec. 5) The maximum amount in controversy for cases under the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of DC Superior Court shall increase from $5,000 to $10,000. 
(Sec. 6) Each chief judge of the Superior Court or of the Court of Appeals, as appropriate, may delegate to an active or senior judge (in the court in which the chief judge sits) the authority to approve any compensation for court-appointed criminal defense or child abuse and neglect attorneys exceeding the usual maximum.
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it passed the House on September 22, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act 

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the District of Columbia Code to revise the financial disclosure requirements for District of Columbia judges. The revisions establish new dollar thresholds and requirements for reporting to the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure the financial interests of the judges and specified family members with respect to: 
 
 
 income; 
 
 dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains; 
 
 liabilities; 
 
 gifts; 
 
real and personal property;
 
 honoraria; 
 
 expense accounts or reimbursements for expenses; and 
 
 waivers or partial waivers of fees or charges. 
 
 
The financial disclosure reports must be available for public inspection and copying, unless revealing personal and sensitive information could endanger the judge or a family member. A report may be redacted only: (1) to the extent necessary to protect the individual or family member, and (2) as long as the danger to the individual exists.
 
(Sec. 3) The Probate Divisions of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia may use magistrate judges. 
(Sec. 4) DC courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow payments, restitution, bonds, and other payments by credit card or electronic funds transfer. The executive officer of the courts may contract with a bank or credit card vendor, or other third party provider, to accept such payments, making every effort to find the lowest cost vendor among them. 
(Sec. 5) The maximum amount in controversy for cases under the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of DC Superior Court shall increase from $5,000 to $10,000. 
(Sec. 6) Each chief judge of the Superior Court or of the Court of Appeals, as appropriate, may delegate to an active or senior judge (in the court in which the chief judge sits) the authority to approve any compensation for court-appointed criminal defense or child abuse and neglect attorneys exceeding the usual maximum.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it passed the House on September 22, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act 

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the District of Columbia Code to revise the financial disclosure requirements for District of Columbia judges. The revisions establish new dollar thresholds and requirements for reporting to the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure the financial interests of the judges and specified family members with respect to: 
 
 
 income; 
 
 dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains; 
 
 liabilities; 
 
 gifts; 
 
real and personal property;
 
 honoraria; 
 
 expense accounts or reimbursements for expenses; and 
 
 waivers or partial waivers of fees or charges. 
 
 
The financial disclosure reports must be available for public inspection and copying, unless revealing personal and sensitive information could endanger the judge or a family member. A report may be redacted only: (1) to the extent necessary to protect the individual or family member, and (2) as long as the danger to the individual exists.
 
(Sec. 3) The Probate Divisions of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia may use magistrate judges. 
(Sec. 4) DC courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow payments, restitution, bonds, and other payments by credit card or electronic funds transfer. The executive officer of the courts may contract with a bank or credit card vendor, or other third party provider, to accept such payments, making every effort to find the lowest cost vendor among them. 
(Sec. 5) The maximum amount in controversy for cases under the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of DC Superior Court shall increase from $5,000 to $10,000. 
(Sec. 6) Each chief judge of the Superior Court or of the Court of Appeals, as appropriate, may delegate to an active or senior judge (in the court in which the chief judge sits) the authority to approve any compensation for court-appointed criminal defense or child abuse and neglect attorneys exceeding the usual maximum.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Became Public Law No: 114-257.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Became Public Law No: 114-257.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6575)
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6575)
action_date: 2016-09-26
text: Received in the Senate, read twice.
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 0 (Roll no. 551). (text: CR 09/20/2016 H5664-5665)
action_date: 2016-09-22
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): 414 - 0 (Roll no. 551).(text: CR 09/20/2016 H5664-5665)
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5839-5840)
action_date: 2016-09-20
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: 2016-09-20
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4419.
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5664-5665)
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: Mr. Carter (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-09-13
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 578.
action_date: 2016-09-13
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-745.
action_date: 2016-09-13
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-745.
action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E83)
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-02-01
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 114-257