Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-717
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2017-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Domestic violence and child abuse
Lawyers and legal services
Sex offenses
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: 

Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2017 or the POWER Act 

 
This bill requires each U.S. Attorney for each judicial district to lead at least one public event that promotes pro bono legal services as a critical way to: (1) empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (2) engage citizens in assisting those survivors.
 
A similar requirement applies to districts containing Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
 
Each U.S. Attorney shall: (1) have discretion on the design, organization, and implementation of such public events; and (2) seek to maximize an event's local impact and the access of such survivors to high-quality pro bono legal services. 

action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2017 or the POWER Act 

 
(Sec. 3) This bill requires the U.S. Attorney's office in each judicial district to conduct, at least annually, a public event to promote pro bono legal services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 
 
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney's office in a judicial district that contains an Indian tribe or tribal organization must conduct, at least once during each three-year period, a public event to promote pro bono legal services for Indian or Alaska Native victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
 
U.S. Attorneys' offices must, in conducting public events, seek to maximize the local impact and the provision of high-quality pro bono legal services to survivors. 
 
(Sec. 4) U.S. Attorneys' offices must report to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the public events they conduct. DOJ must compile and summarize the reports and submit them to Congress. 

action_date: 2018-07-17
text: 

Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2018 or the POWER Act 

 
(Sec. 3) This bill requires the chief judge for each judicial district to conduct public events to promote pro bono legal services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
 
Additionally, the chief judge for a judicial district that contains an Indian tribe or tribal organization must conduct, at least once during each two-year period, a public event to promote pro bono legal services for Indian or Alaska Native victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
 
A chief judge must, in conducting public events, seek to maximize the local impact and the provision of high-quality pro bono legal services to survivors.
 
(Sec. 4) Chief judges must report to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on the public events they conduct. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts must compile and summarize the reports and submit them to Congress.

action_date: 2018-09-04
text: 

Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2018 or the POWER Act 

 
(Sec. 3) This bill requires the chief judge for each judicial district to conduct public events to promote pro bono legal services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
 
Additionally, the chief judge for a judicial district that contains an Indian tribe or tribal organization must conduct, at least once during each two-year period, a public event to promote pro bono legal services for Indian or Alaska Native victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
 
A chief judge must, in conducting public events, seek to maximize the local impact and the provision of high-quality pro bono legal services to survivors.
 
(Sec. 4) Chief judges must report to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on the public events they conduct. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts must compile and summarize the reports and submit them to Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-09-04
text: Became Public Law No: 115-237.
action_date: 2018-09-04
text: Became Public Law No: 115-237.
action_date: 2018-09-04
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-09-04
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-08-23
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-08-23
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-08-16
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-08-15
text: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5669)
action_date: 2018-08-15
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5669)
action_date: 2018-07-18
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
action_date: 2018-07-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-07-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6282-6283)
action_date: 2018-07-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6282-6283)
action_date: 2018-07-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 717.
action_date: 2018-07-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6282-6285)
action_date: 2018-07-17
text: Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2017-08-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2017-08-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-08-04
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4694-4695)
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S4694-4695)
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4694-4695)
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4694-4695)
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 115-237