[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 997 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 997

 To amend chapter 44 of title 28, United States Code, to authorize the 
use of certain arbitration procedures in all district courts, to modify 
the damage limitation applicable to cases referred to arbitration, and 
                          for other purposes.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 8, 1997

 Mr. Grassley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend chapter 44 of title 28, United States Code, to authorize the 
use of certain arbitration procedures in all district courts, to modify 
the damage limitation applicable to cases referred to arbitration, 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. ARBITRATION IN DISTRICT COURTS.

    (a) Authorization of Arbitration.--Section 651(a) of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Authority.--Each United States district court shall authorize 
by local rule the use of arbitration in any civil action, including 
adversary proceedings in bankruptcy, in accordance with this 
chapter.''.
    (b) Actions Referred to Arbitration.--Section 652(a) of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by 
                striking ``and section 901(c)'' and all that follows 
                through ``651'' and inserting ``a district court''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``$100,000'' 
                and inserting ``$150,000''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``$100,000'' and inserting 
        ``$150,000''.
    (c) Certification of Arbitrators.--Section 656(a) of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``listed in section 658''.
    (d) Removal of Limitation.--Section 658 of title 28, United States 
Code, and the item relating to such section in the table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 44 of title 28, United States Code, are 
repealed.
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