PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 114-118.
Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Jan 28, 2016
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)
District of Columbia Courts, Public Defender Service, and Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Act of 2015
(Sec. 2) Amends the District of Columbia Code to authorize the Executive Officer of the District of Columbia courts to:
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
collect debts owed to the District of Columbia courts because of erroneous payments made to current and former court employees, or any other debt; and
purchase uniforms to be worn by certain nonjudicial employees of the District courts, so long as the cost of furnishing a uniform during a year does not exceed the amount applicable to the uniform allowance for federal employees.
(Sec. 3) Amends the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 to authorize the Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency to develop and operate intermediate incentive programs for sentenced offenders.
Makes permanent the Director's authority to accept, solicit, and use on behalf of the Agency: (1) any monetary or nonmonetary gift, donation, bequest, or use of facilities, property, or services to aid or facilitate the work of the Agency; and (2) reimbursements from the District government for space and services provided, on a cost reimbursable basis.
(Sec. 4) Amends the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970 to:
authorize the Public Defender Service, upon approval of the Board of Trustees, to accept (as currently allowed) and use public grants, private contributions, and voluntary and uncompensated (gratuitous) services to assist it; and
deem members of the Board of Trustees, as of October 21, 1998, to be employees of the Service instead of District employees for purposes of any action brought against them.
People & committees
Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI] · R–WI
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Became Public Law No: 114-118.
Became Public Law No: 114-118.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H242-244)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H242-244)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1629.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H242-244)
Mr. Chaffetz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 281.
Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-368.
Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-368.
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6610-6611; text as passed Senate: CR S6610-6611)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6610-6611; text as passed Senate: CR S6610-6611)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 190.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 114-110.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 114-110.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.1629 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.1629 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.1629 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.1629 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.