3.0.0 3758 2024-07-24T15:21:50Z 2024-07-24T15:21:50Z House H HR 2023-05-31 118 [Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 93 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Ms. BONAMICI:H.R. 3758.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8The single subject of this legislation is:Civil Rights[Page H2708]]]> hsju00 Judiciary Committee House Standing Referred to 2023-05-31T18:01:40Z 2023-05-31 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsju00 Judiciary Committee 2023-05-31 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2023-05-31 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress B001278 Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] Suzanne Bonamici D OR 1 N A000377 Rep. Armstrong, Kelly [R-ND-At Large] Kelly Armstrong R ND 0 2023-05-31 True C001130 Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] Jasmine Crockett D TX 30 2023-05-31 True G000582 Rescom. González-Colón, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large] Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon R PR 0 2023-05-31 True S001205 Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] Mary Scanlon D PA Gay 5 2024-07-08 False Crime and Law Enforcement Crime and Law Enforcement 2023-06-23T14:01:52Z 00 2023-05-31 Introduced in House 2024-03-27T15:17:25Z Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense Act of 2023 or the EQUAL Defense Act of 2023

This bill establishes and modifies certain programs that support the delivery of public defense services (i.e., legal services for criminal defendants who cannot afford counsel).

Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to state and local governments, tribal organizations, and public defender offices for public defense. A grant recipient must use the grant to establish a data collection process, develop workload limits, and satisfy specified compensation requirements (e.g., pay parity between public defenders and prosecutors).

The bill also directs DOJ to award grants to nonprofits and government organizations to train public defenders, court-appointed attorneys, and contract attorneys.

Additionally, a state that receives Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program funds must annually submit to DOJ information related to the legal representation of defendants in criminal cases.

Finally, it reauthorizes through FY2027 the student loan repayment program for prosecutors and public defenders and otherwise revises the program, including by increasing the maximum benefit amount.

]]> EQUAL Defense Act of 2023 Display Title 45 EQUAL Defense Act of 2023 2024-07-24T15:21:50Z Short Title(s) as Introduced 101 EQUAL Defense Act of 2023 2024-05-24T13:39:17Z Introduced in House IH Short Title(s) as Introduced 101 Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense Act of 2023 2024-05-24T13:39:17Z Introduced in House IH Official Title as Introduced 6 To incentivize States and localities to improve access to justice, and for other purposes. 2024-03-18T20:55:30Z Introduced in House IH Introduced in House 2023-05-31T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr3758ih/xml/BILLS-118hr3758ih.xml 2023-05-31 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.