[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2966 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2966
To update the financial disclosure requirements for judges of the
District of Columbia courts, and to make other improvements to the
District of Columbia courts.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 23, 2016
Mr. Lankford (for himself, Mr. Carper, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Booker)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To update the financial disclosure requirements for judges of the
District of Columbia courts, and to make other improvements to the
District of Columbia courts.
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 Judicial
Financial Transparency Act''.
SEC. 2. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR JUDGES OF DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA COURTS.
(a) Requirements Described.--Section 11-1530, District of Columbia
Official Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 11-1530. Financial statements
``(a) Pursuant to such rules as the Commission shall promulgate,
each judge of the District of Columbia courts shall, within one year
following the date of enactment of the District of Columbia Court
Reorganization Act of 1970 and at least annually thereafter, file with
the Commission a report containing the following information:
``(1)(A) The source, type and amount of the judge's income
which exceeds $200 (other than income from the United States
government and income referred to in subparagraph (C)) for the
period covered by the report.
``(B) The source and type of the judge's spouse's income
which exceeds $1,000 (other than income from the United States
government and income referred to in subparagraph (C)) for the
period covered by the report.
``(C) The source and type of income which consists of
dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains received by the
judge and the judge's spouse during such period which exceeds
$200 in amount or value, and an indication of which of the
following categories the amount or value of such item of income
is within--
``(i) not more than $1,000,
``(ii) greater than 1,000 but not more than $2,500,
``(iii) greater than $2,500 but not more than
$5,000,
``(iv) greater than $5,000 but not more than
$15,000,
``(v) greater than $15,000 but not more than
$50,000,
``(vi) greater than $50,000 but not more than
$100,000,
``(vii) greater than $100,000 but not more than
$1,000,000,
``(viii) greater than $1,000,000 but not more than
$5,000,000, or
``(ix) greater than $5,000,000.
``(2) The name and address of each private foundation or
eleemosynary institution, and of each business or professional
corporation, firm, or enterprise in which the judge was an
officer, director, proprietor, or partner during such period.
``(3) The identity and category of value (as set forth in
subsection (b)) of each liability of $10,000 or more owed by
the judge or by the judge and the judge's spouse jointly at any
time during such period.
``(4) The source and value of all gifts in the aggregate
amount or value of $250 or more from any single source received
by the judge during such period, except gifts from the judge's
spouse or any of the judge's children or parents.
``(5) The identity of each trust in which the judge held a
beneficial interest having a value of $10,000 or more at any
time during such period, and in the case of any trust in which
the judge held any beneficial interest during such period, the
identity, if known, of each interest in real or personal
property in which the trust held a beneficial interest having a
value of $10,000 or more at any time during such period. If the
judge cannot obtain the identity of the trust interest, the
judge shall request the trustee to report that information to
the Commission.
``(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 period.
``(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 government, 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 subsection (a), the
categories of value set forth in this subsection are--
``(1) not more than $15,000;
``(2) greater than $15,000 but not more than $50,000;
``(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 available 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.
``(2) This section does not require the public availability 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 endanger that judge or a family member of that judge,
except that a report may be redacted pursuant to this paragraph only--
``(A) to the extent necessary to protect the individual who
filed the report or a family member of that individual; and
``(B) for as long as the danger to such individual 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, District of
Columbia Official Code, that cover periods beginning during or after
2016.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF PROBATE DIVISION TO USE MAGISTRATE JUDGES.
(a) In General.--Section 11-1732(j)(5), District of Columbia
Official Code, is amended by striking ``Family Divisions'' and
inserting ``Probate Divisions, and the Family Court,''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 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:
``Sec. 11-1748. Authority of courts to accept certain types of payments
``(a) Definitions.--In this section, the term `electronic funds
transfer'--
``(1) means a transfer of funds, other than a transaction
by check, draft, or similar paper instrument, that is initiated
through an electronic terminal, telephone, or computer or
magnetic tape for the purpose of ordering, instructing, or
authorizing a financial 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 transfers resulting from
debit card transactions.
``(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 payments, restitution,
bonds, and other payments to the courts by credit card or
electronic funds transfer.
``(2) Use of vendors and third party providers.--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 lowest
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.
``(c) Authority To Accept Checks.--
``(1) In general.--The District of Columbia courts may
accept payment of fines, fees, escrow payments, 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 lowest
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 responsible for covering any fee or charge
associated or imposed 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 District of Columbia courts, the person by whom such check or
other method of payment has been tendered shall remain 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 JURISDICTION OF SMALL CLAIMS AND CONCILIATION
BRANCH OF SUPERIOR COURT.
(a) In General.--Section 11-1321, District of Columbia Official
Code, is amended by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting ``$10,000''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (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 ATTORNEYS IN EXCESS OF
MAXIMUM AMOUNT.
(a) In General.--Section 11-2604(c), District of Columbia Official
Code, is amended by striking the last sentence and inserting ``The
chief judge may delegate such approval authority to an active or senior
judge.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to any case or proceeding initiated on or after the
date of enactment of this Act.
<all>