District of Columbia Courts, Public Defender Service, and Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Act of 2015
PL 114-118 (S.1629), enacted 01/28/2016

130 STAT. 9 
PUBLIC LAW 114–118—JAN. 28, 2016 
Public Law 114–118 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To revise certain authorities of the District of Columbia courts, the Court Services 
and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, and the Public 
Defender Service for the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘District of Columbia Courts, 
Public Defender Service, and Court Services and Offender Super-
vision Agency Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORITIES OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION TO COLLECT DEBTS AND ERRONEOUS PAY-
MENTS FROM EMPLOYEES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 11, 
District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘§ 11–1733. Collection, compromise, and waiver of employee 
debts and erroneous payments 
‘‘(a) COLLECTION OF DEBTS AND ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS MADE 
TO EMPLOYEES.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY
TO
COLLECT.—If the Executive Officer 
determines that an employee or former employee of the District 
of Columbia Courts is indebted to the District of Columbia 
Courts because of an erroneous payment made to or on behalf 
of the employee or former employee, or any other debt, the 
Executive Officer may collect the amount of the debt in accord-
ance with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) TIMING OF COLLECTION.—The Executive Officer may 
collect a debt from an employee under this subsection in 
monthly installments or at officially established regular pay 
period intervals, by deduction in reasonable amounts from the 
current pay of the employee. 
‘‘(3) SOURCE OF DEDUCTIONS.—The Executive Officer may 
make a deduction under paragraph (2) from any wages, salary, 
compensation, remuneration for services, or other authorized 
pay, including incentive pay, back pay, and lump sum leave 
payments, but not including retirement pay. 
‘‘(4) LIMIT ON AMOUNT.—In making deductions under para-
graph (2) with respect to an employee, the Executive Officer— 
‘‘(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), may not 
deduct more than 20 percent of the disposable pay of the 
employee for any period; and 
District of 
Columbia Courts, 
Public Defender 
Service, and 
Court Services 
and Offender 
Supervision 
Agency Act 
of 2015. 
Jan. 28, 2016 
[S. 1629] 
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130 STAT. 10 
PUBLIC LAW 114–118—JAN. 28, 2016 
‘‘(B) upon consent of the employee, may deduct more 
than 20 percent of the disposable pay of the employee 
for any period. 
‘‘(5) COLLECTIONS AFTER EMPLOYMENT.—If the employment 
of an employee ends before the Executive Officer completes 
the collection of the amount of the employee’s debt under this 
subsection, deductions may be made— 
‘‘(A) from later non-periodic government payments of 
any nature due the former employee, except retirement 
pay; and 
‘‘(B) without regard to the limit under paragraph (4)(A). 
‘‘(b) NOTICE AND HEARING REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
prior to initiating any proceeding under subsection (a) to collect 
any debt from an individual, the Executive Officer shall provide 
the individual with— 
‘‘(A) written notice, not later than 30 days before the 
date on which the Executive Officer initiates the pro-
ceeding, that informs the individual of— 
‘‘(i) the nature and amount of the debt determined 
by the District of Columbia Courts to be due; 
‘‘(ii) the intention of the Courts to initiate a pro-
ceeding to collect the debt through deductions from 
pay; and 
‘‘(iii) an explanation of the rights of the individual 
under this section; 
‘‘(B) an opportunity to inspect and copy Court records 
relating to the debt; 
‘‘(C) an opportunity to enter into a written agreement 
with the Courts, under terms agreeable to the Executive 
Officer, to establish a schedule for the repayment of the 
debt; and 
‘‘(D) an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with 
paragraph (2) on the determination of the Courts— 
‘‘(i) concerning the existence or amount of the debt; 
and 
‘‘(ii) in the case of an individual whose repayment 
schedule is established other than by a written agree-
ment under subparagraph (C), concerning the terms 
of the repayment schedule. 
‘‘(2) PROCEDURES FOR HEARINGS.— 
‘‘(A) AVAILABILITY OF HEARING UPON REQUEST.—Except 
as provided in paragraph (3), the Executive Officer shall 
provide a hearing under this paragraph if an individual, 
not later than 15 days after the date on which the indi-
vidual receives a notice under paragraph (1)(A), and in 
accordance with any procedures that the Executive Officer 
prescribes, files a petition requesting the hearing. 
‘‘(B) BASIS FOR HEARING.—A hearing under this para-
graph shall be on the written submissions unless the 
hearing officer determines that the existence or amount 
of the debt— 
‘‘(i) turns on an issue of credibility or veracity; 
or 
‘‘(ii) cannot be resolved by a review of the documen-
tary evidence. 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
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130 STAT. 11 
PUBLIC LAW 114–118—JAN. 28, 2016 
‘‘(C) STAY OF COLLECTION PROCEEDINGS.—The timely 
filing of a petition for a hearing under subparagraph (A) 
shall stay the commencement of collection proceedings 
under this section. 
‘‘(D) INDEPENDENT OFFICER.—An independent hearing 
officer appointed in accordance with regulations promul-
gated under subsection (e) shall conduct a hearing under 
this paragraph. 
‘‘(E) DEADLINE FOR DECISION.—The hearing officer shall 
issue a final decision regarding the questions covered by 
the hearing at the earliest practicable date, and not later 
than 60 days after the date of the hearing. 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.—Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply 
to a routine intra-Courts adjustment of pay that is attributable 
to a clerical or administrative error or delay in processing 
pay documents that occurred within the 4 pay periods preceding 
the adjustment or to any adjustment that amounts to not 
more than $50, if at the time of the adjustment, or as soon 
thereafter as practical, the Executive Officer provides the indi-
vidual— 
‘‘(A) written notice of the nature and amount of the 
adjustment; and 
‘‘(B) a point of contact for contesting the adjustment. 
‘‘(c) COMPROMISE.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY TO COMPROMISE CLAIMS.—The Executive 
Officer may— 
‘‘(A) compromise a claim to collect a debt under this 
section if the amount involved is not more than $100,000; 
and 
‘‘(B) suspend or end collection action on a claim 
described in subparagraph (A) if the Executive Officer 
determines that— 
‘‘(i) no person liable on the claim has the present 
or prospective ability to pay a significant amount of 
the claim; or 
‘‘(ii) the cost of collecting the claim is likely to 
be more than the amount recovered. 
‘‘(2) EFFECT OF COMPROMISE.—A compromise under this 
subsection shall be final and conclusive unless obtained by 
fraud, misrepresentation, presenting a false claim, or mutual 
mistake of fact. 
‘‘(3) NO
LIABILITY
OF
OFFICIAL
RESPONSIBLE
FOR
COM-
PROMISE.—An accountable official shall not be liable for an 
amount paid or for the value of property lost or damaged 
if the amount or value is not recovered because of a compromise 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(d) WAIVER OF CLAIM.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY TO WAIVE CLAIMS.—Upon application from 
a person liable on a claim to collect a debt under this section, 
the Executive Officer may, with written justification, waive 
the claim if collection would be— 
‘‘(A) against equity; 
‘‘(B) against good conscience; and 
‘‘(C) not in the best interests of the District of Columbia 
Courts. 
Notice. 
Time period. 
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130 STAT. 12 
PUBLIC LAW 114–118—JAN. 28, 2016 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS
ON
AUTHORITY.—The Executive Officer 
may not waive a claim under this subsection if the Executive 
Officer— 
‘‘(A) determines that there exists, in connection with 
the claim, an indication of fraud, misrepresentation, fault, 
or lack of good faith on the part of the employee, the 
former employee, or any other person that has an interest 
in obtaining a waiver of the claim; or 
‘‘(B) receives the application for waiver later than 3 
years after the later of the date on which the erroneous 
payment was discovered or the date of enactment of this 
section, unless the claim involves money owed for Federal 
health benefits, Federal life insurance, or Federal retire-
ment benefits. 
‘‘(3) DENIAL OF APPLICATION FOR WAIVER.—A decision by 
the Executive Officer to deny an application for a waiver under 
this subsection shall be the final administrative decision of 
the District government. 
‘‘(4) REFUND
OF
AMOUNTS
ALREADY
COLLECTED
AGAINST 
CLAIM SUBSEQUENTLY WAIVED.—If the Executive Officer waives 
a claim against an employee or former employee under this 
section after the District of Columbia Courts have been 
reimbursed for the claim in whole or in part, the Executive 
Officer shall provide the employee or former employee a refund 
of the amount of the reimbursement upon application for the 
refund, if the Executive Officer receives the application not 
later than 2 years after the effective date of the waiver. 
‘‘(5) EFFECT ON ACCOUNTS OF COURTS.—In the audit and 
settlement of accounts of any accountable official, full credit 
shall be given for any amounts with respect to which collection 
by the District of Columbia Courts is waived under this sub-
section. 
‘‘(6) VALIDITY
OF
PAYMENTS.—An erroneous payment or 
debt, the collection of which is waived under this subsection, 
shall be a valid payment for all purposes. 
‘‘(7) NO EFFECT ON OTHER AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to affect the authority of the 
District of Columbia under any other statute to litigate, settle, 
compromise, or waive any claim of the District of Columbia. 
‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—The authority of the Executive Officer 
under this section shall be subject to regulations promulgated by 
the Joint Committee.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for sub-
chapter II of chapter 17 of title 11, District of Columbia Official 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘11–1733. Collection, compromise, and waiver of employee debts and erroneous pay-
ments.’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this sub-
section shall apply with respect to any erroneous payment 
made or debt incurred before, on, or after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE UNIFORMS FOR PERSONNEL.— 
Section 11–1742(b), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: ‘‘In carrying out the authority 
under the preceding sentence, the Executive Officer may purchase 
uniforms to be worn by nonjudicial employees of the District of 
Deadline. 
Time period. 
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130 STAT. 13 
PUBLIC LAW 114–118—JAN. 28, 2016 
Columbia Courts whose responsibilities warrant the wearing of 
uniforms if the cost of furnishing a uniform to an employee during 
a year does not exceed the amount applicable for the year under 
section 5901(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code (relating to the 
uniform allowance for employees of the Government of the United 
States).’’. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORITIES OF COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPER-
VISION AGENCY. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP
AND OPERATE PROGRAMMATIC 
INCENTIVES FOR SENTENCED OFFENDERS.—Section 11233(b)(2)(F) of 
the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improve-
ment Act of 1997 (sec. 24–133(b)(2)(F), D.C. Official Code) is 
amended by striking ‘‘sanctions’’ and inserting ‘‘sanctions and incen-
tives’’. 
(b) 
PERMANENT
AUTHORITY
TO
ACCEPT
GIFTS.—Section 
11233(b)(3)(A) of the National Capital Revitalization and Self- 
Government Improvement Act of 1997 (sec. 24–133(b)(3)(A), D.C. 
Official Code) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT GIFTS.—The Director may 
accept, solicit, and use on behalf of the Agency any mone-
tary or nonmonetary gift, donation, bequest, or use of facili-
ties, property, or services for the purpose of aiding or 
facilitating the work of the Agency.’’. 
(c) PERMANENT AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT AND USE REIMBURSE-
MENTS FROM DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.—Section 11233(b)(4) of such 
Act (sec. 24–133(b)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘During fiscal years 
2006 through 2008, the Director’’ and inserting ‘‘The Director’’. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORITIES OF PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE. 
(a) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF SERVICES OF VOLUNTEERS.—Sec-
tion 307(b) of the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal 
Procedure Act of 1970 (sec. 2–1607(b), D.C. Official Code) is 
amended by striking ‘‘the Service may accept public grants and 
private contributions made to assist it’’ and inserting ‘‘the Service 
may accept and use public grants, private contributions, and vol-
untary and uncompensated (gratuitous) services to assist it’’. 
(b) TREATMENT
OF MEMBERS
OF BOARD
OF TRUSTEES
AS 
EMPLOYEES OF SERVICE FOR PURPOSES OF LIABILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 303(d) of the District of Columbia 
Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970 (sec. 2– 
1603(d), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking ‘‘employees 
of the District of Columbia’’ and inserting ‘‘employees of the 
Service’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by paragraph 
(1) shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the 
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130 STAT. 14 
PUBLIC LAW 114–118—JAN. 28, 2016 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1629: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114–368 (Comm. on Oversight and Government Reform). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 114–110 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 161 (2015): Sept. 10, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 162 (2016): Jan. 11, considered and passed House. 
District of Columbia Courts and Justice Technical Corrections 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–274; 112 Stat. 2419). 
Approved January 28, 2016. 
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