[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2657 Reported in Senate (RS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 258
107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2657

                          [Report No. 107-108]


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 21, 2001

  Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental 
                                Affairs

                            December 5, 2001

              Reported by Mr. Lieberman, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To amend title 11, District of Columbia Code, to redesignate the Family 
   Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as the 
 Family Court of the Superior Court, to recruit and retain trained and 
experienced judges to serve in the Family Court, to promote consistency 
 and efficiency in the assignment of judges to the Family Court and in 
 the consideration of actions and proceedings in the Family Court, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``District of Columbia Family 
Court Act of 2001''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. REDESIGNATION OF FAMILY DIVISION AS FAMILY COURT OF 
              THE SUPERIOR COURT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 11-902, District of Columbia 
Code, is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 11-902. Organization of the court.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The Superior Court shall consist of the 
Family Court of the Superior Court and the following divisions of the 
Superior Court:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) The Civil Division.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) The Criminal Division.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) The Probate Division.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) The Tax Division.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Branches.--The divisions of the Superior Court may 
be divided into such branches as the Superior Court may by rule 
prescribe.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Designation of Presiding Judge of Family Court.--The 
chief judge of the Superior Court shall designate one of the judges 
assigned to the Family Court of the Superior Court to serve as the 
presiding judge of the Family Court of the Superior Court.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Jurisdiction Described.--The Family Court shall have 
exclusive jurisdiction over the actions, applications, determinations, 
adjudications, and proceedings described in section 11-1101, except 
that those actions within the jurisdiction of the Domestic Violence 
Unit (a section of the Civil Division, Criminal Division, and the 
Family Court) pursuant to Administrative Order No. 96-25 (October 31, 
1996) shall remain in that Unit.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Conforming Amendment to Chapter 9.--Section 11-906(b), 
District of Columbia Code, is amended by inserting ``the Family Court 
and'' before ``the various divisions''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Conforming Amendments to Chapter 11.--(1) The heading 
for chapter 11 of title 11, District of Columbia, is amended by 
striking ``Family Division'' and inserting ``Family Court''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (2) Section 11-1101, District of Columbia Code, is amended 
by striking ``Family Division'' and inserting ``Family 
Court''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (3) The item relating to chapter 11 in the table of 
chapters for title 11, District of Columbia, is amended by striking 
``Family Division'' and inserting ``Family Court''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Conforming Amendments to Title 16.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Calculation of child support.--Section 16-
        916.1(o)(6), District of Columbia Code, is amended by striking 
        ``Family Division'' and inserting ``Family Court of the 
        Superior Court''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Expedited judicial hearing of cases brought 
        before hearing commissioners.--Section 16-924, District of 
        Columbia Code, is amended by striking ``Family Division'' each 
        place it appears in subsections (a) and (f) and inserting 
        ``Family Court''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) General references to proceedings.--Chapter 23 
        of title 16, District of Columbia Code, is amended by inserting 
        after section 16-2301 the following new section:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 16-2301.1. References deemed to refer to Family Court 
              of the Superior Court.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``Upon the effective date of the District of Columbia 
Family Court Act of 2001, any reference in this chapter or any other 
Federal or District of Columbia law, Executive order, rule, regulation, 
delegation of authority, or any document of or pertaining to the Family 
Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall be 
deemed to refer to the Family Court of the Superior Court of the 
District of Columbia.''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for 
        subchapter I of chapter 23 of title 16, District of Columbia, 
        is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 16-
        2301 the following new item:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``16-2301.1. References deemed to refer to Family Court of the 
                            Superior Court.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 3. APPOINTMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES; NUMBER AND 
              QUALIFICATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Number of Judges for Family Court; Qualifications and 
Terms of Service.--Chapter 9 of title 11, District of Columbia Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 11-908 the following new 
section:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 11-908A. Special rules regarding assignment and service 
              of judges of Family Court.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Number of Judges.--The number of judges serving on 
the Family Court of the Superior Court at any time may not be--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) less than the number of judges determined by 
        the chief judge of the Superior Court to be needed to serve on 
        the Family Court under the transition plan for the Family Court 
        prepared and submitted to the President and Congress under 
        section 3(b) of the District of Columbia Family Court Act of 
        2001; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) greater than 15.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Qualifications.--The chief judge may not assign an 
individual to serve on the Family Court of the Superior Court unless--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the individual has training or expertise in 
        family law;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the individual certifies to the chief judge 
        that the individual intends to serve the full term of service, 
        except that this paragraph shall not apply with respect to 
        individuals serving as senior judges under section 11-1504; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) the individual certifies to the chief judge 
        that the individual will participate in the ongoing training 
        programs carried out for judges of the Family Court under 
        section 11-1104(c).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Term of Service.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (2), an individual assigned to serve as a judge of the Family 
        Court of the Superior Court shall serve for a term of 5 
        years.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Special rule for judges serving on superior 
        court on date of enactment of family court act.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--An individual assigned 
                to serve as a judge of the Family Court of the Superior 
                Court who is serving as a judge of the Superior Court 
                on the date of the enactment of the District of 
                Columbia Family Court Act of 2001 shall serve for a 
                term of not fewer than 3 years.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Reduction of period for judges 
                serving in family division.--In the case of a judge of 
                the Superior Court who is serving as a judge in the 
                Family Division of the Court on the date of the 
                enactment of the District of Columbia Family Court Act 
                of 2001, the 3-year term applicable under subparagraph 
                (A) shall be reduced by the length of any period of 
                consecutive service as a judge in such Division as of 
                the date of the enactment of such Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Assignment for additional service.--After 
        the term of service of a judge of the Family Court (as 
        described in paragraph (1) or paragraph (2)) expires, at the 
        judge's request the judge may be assigned for additional 
        service on the Family Court for a period of such duration 
        (consistent with section 431(c) of the District of Columbia 
        Home Rule Act) as the chief judge may provide.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Permitting service on family court for 
        entire term.--At the request of the judge, a judge may serve as 
        a judge of the Family Court for the judge's entire term of 
        service as a judge of the Superior Court under section 431(c) 
        of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Reassignment to Other Divisions.--The chief judge 
may reassign a judge of the Family Court to any division of the 
Superior Court if the chief judge determines that the judge is unable 
to continue serving in the Family Court.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Plan for Family Court Transition.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the chief judge of the 
        Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall prepare and 
        submit to the President and Congress a transition plan for the 
        Family Court of the Superior Court, and shall include in the 
        plan the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) The chief judge's determination of the 
                number of judges needed to serve on the Family 
                Court.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) The chief judge's determination of the 
                role and function of the presiding judge of the Family 
                Court.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) The chief judge's determination of the 
                number of magistrate judges of the Family Court needed 
                for appointment under section 11-1732, District of 
                Columbia Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) The chief judge's determination of the 
                appropriate functions of such magistrate judges, 
                together with the compensation of and other personnel 
                matters pertaining to such magistrate judges.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) A plan for case flow, case management, 
                and staffing needs (including the needs for both 
                judicial and nonjudicial personnel) for the Family 
                Court.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) A description of how the Superior 
                Court will meet the requirements of section 11-1104(a), 
                District of Columbia Code (as added by section 4(a)), 
                regarding the promulgation of rules to enforce the 
                ``one family, one judge'' requirement for cases and 
                proceedings in the Family Court.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) An analysis of the needs of the Family 
                Court for space, equipment, and other physical plant 
                requirements, as determined in consultation with the 
                Administrator of General Services.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) An analysis of the success of the use 
                of magistrate judges under the expedited appointment 
                procedures established under section 6(d) in reducing 
                the number of pending actions and proceedings within 
                the jurisdiction of the Family Court (as described in 
                section 11-902(d), District of Columbia, as amended by 
                subsection (a)).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) Consistent with the requirements of 
                paragraph (2), a proposal and timetable for the 
                disposition of actions and proceedings pending in the 
                Family Division of the Superior Court as of the date of 
                the enactment of this Act (together with actions and 
                proceedings described in section 11-1101, District of 
                Columbia Code, which were initiated in the Family 
                Division but remain pending in other Divisions of the 
                Superior Court as of such date) in a manner consistent 
                with applicable Federal and District of Columbia law 
                and best practices, including (but not limited to) best 
                practices developed by the American Bar Association and 
                the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court 
                Judges.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Disposition and transfer of pending actions 
        and proceedings.--The chief judge of the Superior Court shall 
        take such actions as may be necessary to provide for the 
        earliest practicable disposition of actions and proceedings 
        pending in the Family Division of the Superior Court as of the 
        date of the enactment of this Act (together with actions and 
        proceedings described in section 11-1101, District of Columbia 
        Code, which were initiated in the Family Division but remain 
        pending in other Divisions of the Superior Court as of such 
        date), but in no event may any such action or proceeding remain 
        pending longer than 18 months after the date the chief judge 
        submits the transition plan required under paragraph (1) to the 
        President and Congress.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Transfer of actions and proceedings.--The 
        chief judge of the Superior Court shall take such steps as may 
        be required to ensure that each action or proceeding within the 
        jurisdiction of the Family Court of the Superior Court (as 
        described in section 11-902(d), District of Columbia Code, as 
        amended by subsection (a)) which is pending as of the effective 
        date described in section 9 is transferred or otherwise 
        assigned to the Family Court immediately upon such 
        date.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Effective date of implementation of plan.--The 
        chief judge of the Superior Court may not take any action to 
        implement the transition plan under this subsection until the 
        expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date the 
        chief judge submits the plan to the President and Congress 
        under paragraph (1).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Transition to Appropriate Number of Judges.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Analysis by chief judge of superior court.--
        The chief judge of the Superior Court of the District of 
        Columbia shall include in the transition plan prepared under 
        subsection (b)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the chief judge's determination of the 
                number of individuals serving as judges of the Superior 
                Court who meet the qualifications for judges of the 
                Family Court of the Superior Court under section 11-
                908A, District of Columbia Code (as added by subsection 
                (a)); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) if the chief judge determines that the 
                number of individuals described in subparagraph (A) is 
                less than the number of individuals the chief judge is 
                required to assign to the Family Court under such 
                section, a request that the President appoint (in 
                accordance with section 433 of the District of Columbia 
                Home Rule Act) such additional number of individuals to 
                serve on the Superior Court who meet the qualifications 
                for judges of the Family Court under such section as 
                may be required to enable the chief judge to make the 
                required number of assignments.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) One-time appointment of additional judges to 
        superior court for service on family court.--If the President 
        receives a request from the chief judge of the Superior Court 
        of the District of Columbia under paragraph (1)(B), the 
        President (in accordance with section 433 of the District of 
        Columbia Home Rule Act) shall appoint additional judges to the 
        Superior Court who meet the qualifications for judges of the 
        Family Court in a number equal to the number of additional 
        appointments so requested by the chief judge, and each judge so 
        appointed shall be assigned by the chief judge to serve on the 
        Family Court of the Superior Court.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Role of district of columbia judicial 
        nomination commission.--For purposes of section 434(d)(1) of 
        the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, the submission of a 
        request from the chief judge of the Superior Court of the 
        District of Columbia under paragraph (1)(B) shall be deemed to 
        create a number of vacancies in the position of judge of the 
        Superior Court equal to the number of additional appointments 
        so requested by the chief judge. In carrying out this 
        paragraph, the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination 
        Commission shall recruit individuals for possible nomination 
        and appointment to the Superior Court who meet the 
        qualifications for judges of the Family Court of the Superior 
        Court.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Judges appointed under one-time appointment 
        procedures not to count against limit on number of superior 
        court judges.--Any judge who is appointed to the Superior Court 
        of the District of Columbia pursuant to the one-time 
        appointment procedures under this subsection for assignment to 
        the Family Court of the Superior Court shall be appointed 
        without regard to the limit on the number of judges of the 
        Superior Court under section 11-903, District of Columbia Code. 
        Any judge who is appointed to the Superior Court under any 
        procedures other than the one-time appointment procedures under 
        this subsection shall count against such limit, without regard 
        to whether or not the judge is appointed to replace a judge 
        appointed under the one-time appointment procedures under this 
        subsection or is otherwise assigned to the Family Court of the 
        Superior Court.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Report by Comptroller General.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
        shall prepare and submit to Congress and the chief judge of the 
        Superior Court of the District of Columbia a report on the 
        implementation of this Act (including the effect of the 
        transition plan under subsection (b) on the implementation of 
        this Act), and shall include in the report the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) An analysis of the procedures used to 
                make the initial appointments of judges of the Family 
                Court under this Act and the amendments made by this 
                Act, including an analysis of the time required to make 
                such appointments and the effect of the qualification 
                requirements for judges of the Court (including 
                requirements relating to the length of service on the 
                Court) on the time required to make such 
                appointments.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) An analysis of the impact of 
                magistrate judges for the Family Court (including the 
                expedited initial appointment of magistrate judges for 
                the Court under section 6(d)) on the workload of judges 
                and other personnel of the Court.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) An analysis of the number of judges 
                needed for the Family Court, including an analysis of 
                how the number may be affected by the qualification 
                requirements for judges, the availability of magistrate 
                judges, and other provisions of this Act or the 
                amendments made by this Act.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) An analysis of the timeliness of the 
                resolution and disposition of pending actions and 
                proceedings required under the transition plan (as 
                described in subsection (b)(1)(I) and (b)(2)), 
                including an analysis of the effect of the availability 
                of magistrate judges on the time required to resolve 
                and dispose of such actions and proceedings.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Submission to chief judge of superior court.--
        Prior to submitting the report under paragraph (1) to Congress, 
        the Comptroller General shall provide a preliminary version of 
        the report to the chief judge of the Superior Court and shall 
        take any comments and recommendations of the chief judge into 
        consideration in preparing the final version of the 
        report.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Ongoing Reports on Pending Cases and Proceedings.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The chief judge of the Superior 
        Court of the District of Columbia shall submit a status report 
        to the President and Congress on the disposition of actions and 
        proceedings pending in the Family Division of the Superior 
        Court as of the date of the enactment of this Act (together 
        with actions and proceedings described in section 11-1101, 
        District of Columbia Code, which were initiated in the Family 
        Division but remain pending in other Divisions of the Superior 
        Court as of such date) and the extent to which the Court is in 
        compliance with the requirements of this Act regarding the 
        timetable for the disposition of such actions and 
        proceedings.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Timing of reports.--The chief judge of the 
        Superior Court shall submit the report required under paragraph 
        (1) not later than 6 months after submitting the transition 
        plan under subsection (b) and every 6 months thereafter until 
        the final disposition or transfer to the Family Court of all of 
        the actions and proceedings described in such 
        paragraph.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Conforming Amendment.--The first sentence of section 
11-908(a), District of Columbia Code, is amended by striking ``The 
chief judge'' and inserting ``Subject to section 11-908A, the chief 
judge''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
9 of title 11, District of Columbia Code, is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 11-908 the following new item:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``11-908A. Special rules regarding assignment and service of 
                            judges of Family Court.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 4. IMPROVING ADMINISTRATION OF CASES AND PROCEEDINGS IN 
              FAMILY COURT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Chapter 11 of title 11, District of 
Columbia, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
sections:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 11-1102. Use of alternative dispute 
              resolution.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``To the greatest extent practicable and safe, cases and 
proceedings in the Family Court of the Superior Court shall be resolved 
through alternative dispute resolution procedures, in accordance with 
such rules as the Superior Court may promulgate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 11-1103. Standards of practice for appointed 
              counsel.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``The Superior Court shall establish standards of practice 
for attorneys appointed as counsel in the Family Court of the Superior 
Court.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 11-1104. Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) `One Family, One Judge' Requirement for Cases and 
Proceedings.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Superior Court shall 
        promulgate rules for the Family Court which require all issues 
        within the jurisdiction of the Family Court concerning one 
        family or one child to be decided by one judge, to the greatest 
        extent practicable, feasible, and lawful.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Specific requirements.--Under the rules 
        promulgated by the Superior Court under paragraph (1), to the 
        greatest extent practicable, feasible, and lawful--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) if an individual who is a party to 
                an action or proceeding assigned to the Family Court 
                has an immediate family or household member who is a 
                party to another action or proceeding assigned to the 
                Family Court, the individual's action or proceeding 
                shall be assigned to the same judge or magistrate judge 
                to whom the immediate family member's action or 
                proceeding is assigned; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) if an individual who is a party to 
                an action or proceeding assigned to the Family Court 
                becomes a party to another action or proceeding 
                assigned to the Family Court, the individual's 
                subsequent action or proceeding shall be assigned to 
                the same judge or magistrate judge to whom the 
                individual's initial action or proceeding is 
                assigned.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Retention of Jurisdiction Over Cases.--Any action or 
proceeding assigned to the Family Court of the Superior Court shall 
remain under the jurisdiction of the Family Court until the action or 
proceeding is finally disposed. If the judge to whom the action or 
proceeding is assigned ceases to serve on the Family Court prior to the 
final disposition of the action or proceeding, the presiding judge of 
the Family Court shall ensure that the matter or proceeding is 
reassigned to a judge serving on the Family Court, unless there are 
extraordinary circumstances, subject to approval and certification by 
the presiding judge and based on appropriate documentation in the 
record, which demonstrate that a case is nearing permanency and that 
changing judges would both delay that goal and result in a violation of 
the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (or an amendment made by 
such Act).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Training Program.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The presiding judge of the 
        Family Court shall carry out an ongoing program to provide 
        training in family law and related matters for judges of the 
        Family Court, other judges of the Superior Court, and 
        appropriate nonjudicial personnel, and shall include in the 
        program information and instruction regarding the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Child development.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Family dynamics.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Relevant Federal and District of 
                Columbia laws.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Permanency planning principles and 
                practices.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) Recognizing the risk factors for 
                child abuse.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) Any other matters the presiding 
                judge considers appropriate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Use of cross-training.--The program carried 
        out under this section shall use the resources of lawyers and 
        legal professionals, social workers, and experts in the field 
        of child development and other related fields.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Accessibility of Materials, Services, and 
Proceedings; Promotion of `Family-Friendly' Environment.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--To the greatest extent 
        practicable, the chief judge of the Superior Court shall ensure 
        that the materials and services provided by the Family Court 
        are understandable and accessible to the individuals and 
        families served by the Court, and that the Court carries out 
        its duties in a manner which reflects the special needs of 
        families with children.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Location of proceedings.--To the maximum 
        extent feasible, safe, and practicable, cases and proceedings 
        in the Family Court shall be conducted at locations readily 
        accessible to the parties involved.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Integrated Computerized Case Tracking and Management 
System.--The Executive Officer of the District of Columbia courts under 
section 11-1703 shall work with the Joint Committee on Judicial 
Administration in the District of Columbia--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) to ensure that all records and materials of 
        cases and proceedings in the Family Court are stored and 
        maintained in electronic format accessible by computers for the 
        use of judges, magistrate judges, and nonjudicial personnel of 
        the Family Court, and for the use of other appropriate offices 
        of the District government in accordance with the plan for 
        integrating computer systems prepared by the Mayor of the 
        District of Columbia under section 4(c) of the District of 
        Columbia Family Court Act of 2001;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) to establish and operate an electronic 
        tracking and management system for cases and proceedings in the 
        Family Court for the use of judges and nonjudicial personnel of 
        the Family Court, using the records and materials stored and 
        maintained pursuant to paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) to expand such system to cover all divisions 
        of the Superior Court as soon as practicable.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 11-1105. Social services and other related 
              services.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) On-Site Coordination of Services and Information.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Mayor of the District of 
        Columbia, in consultation with the chief judge of the Superior 
        Court, shall ensure that representatives of the appropriate 
        offices of the District government which provide social 
        services and other related services to individuals and families 
        served by the Family Court (including the District of Columbia 
        Public Schools, the District of Columbia Housing Authority, the 
        Child and Family Services Agency, the Office of the Corporation 
        Counsel, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of 
        Health, and other offices determined by the Mayor) are 
        available on-site at the Family Court to coordinate the 
        provision of such services and information regarding such 
        services to such individuals and families.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Duties of heads of offices.--The head of 
        each office described in paragraph (1), including the 
        Superintendent of the District of Columbia Public Schools and 
        the Director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority, 
        shall provide the Mayor with such information, assistance, and 
        services as the Mayor may require to carry out such 
        paragraph.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Appointment of Social Services Liaison With Family 
Court.--The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall appoint an 
individual to serve as a liaison between the Family Court and the 
District government for purposes of subsection (a) and for coordinating 
the delivery of services provided by the District government with the 
activities of the Family Court and for providing information to the 
judges, magistrate judges, and nonjudicial personnel of the Court 
regarding the services available from the District government to the 
individuals and families served by the Court. The Mayor shall provide 
on an ongoing basis information to the chief judge of the Superior 
Court and the presiding judge of the Family Court regarding the 
services of the District government which are available for the 
individuals and families served by the Family Court.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Mayor of the District of Columbia 
for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 11-1106. Reports to Congress.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``Not later than 90 days after the end of each calendar 
year, the chief judge of the Superior Court shall submit a report to 
Congress on the activities of the Family Court during the year, and 
shall include in the report the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) The chief judge's assessment of the 
        productivity and success of the use of alternative dispute 
        resolution pursuant to section 11-1102.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Goals and timetables to improve the Family 
        Court's performance in the following year.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Information on the extent to which the Court 
        met deadlines and standards applicable under Federal and 
        District of Columbia law to the review and disposition of 
        actions and proceedings under the Court's jurisdiction during 
        the year.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Information on the progress made in finding 
        and utilizing suitable locations and space for the Family 
        Court.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Information on any factors which are not 
        under the control of the Family Court which interfere with or 
        prevent the Court from carrying out its responsibilities in the 
        most effective manner possible.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Based on outcome measures derived through 
        the use of the information stored in electronic format under 
        section 11-1104(d), an analysis of the Court's efficiency and 
        effectiveness in managing its case load during the year, 
        including an analysis of the time required to dispose of 
        actions and proceedings among the various categories of the 
        Court's jurisdiction, as prescribed by applicable law and best 
        practices, including (but not limited to) best practices 
        developed by the American Bar Association and the National 
        Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) If the Court failed to meet the deadlines, 
        standards, and outcome measures described in the previous 
        paragraphs, a proposed remedial action plan to address the 
        failure.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Expedited Appeals for Certain Family Court Actions and 
Proceedings.--Section 11-721, District of Columbia Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Any appeal from an order of the Family Court of the 
District of Columbia terminating parental rights or granting or denying 
a petition to adopt shall receive expedited review by the District of 
Columbia Court of Appeals and shall be certified by the 
appellant.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Plan For Integrating Computer Systems.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Mayor of the District of 
        Columbia shall submit to the President and Congress a plan for 
        integrating the computer systems of the District government 
        with the computer systems of the Superior Court of the District 
        of Columbia so that the Family Court of the Superior Court and 
        the appropriate offices of the District government which 
        provide social services and other related services to 
        individuals and families served by the Family Court of the 
        Superior Court (including the District of Columbia Public 
        Schools, the District of Columbia Housing Authority, the Child 
        and Family Services Agency, the Office of the Corporation 
        Counsel, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of 
        Health, and other offices determined by the Mayor) will be able 
        to access and share information on the individuals and families 
        served by the Family Court.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Mayor of the District of 
        Columbia such sums as may be necessary to carry out paragraph 
        (1).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
11 of title 11, District of Columbia Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new items:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``11-1102. Use of alternative dispute resolution.
<DELETED>``11-1103. Standards of practice for appointed counsel.
<DELETED>``11-1104. Administration.
<DELETED>``11-1105. Social services and other related services.
<DELETED>``11-1106. Reports to Congress.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF HEARING COMMISSIONERS AS MAGISTRATE 
              JUDGES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Redesignation of title.--Section 11-1732, 
        District of Columbia Code, is amended--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``hearing commissioners'' 
                each place it appears in subsection (a), subsection 
                (b), subsection (d), subsection (i), subsection (l), 
                and subsection (n) and inserting ``magistrate 
                judges'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by striking ``hearing commissioner'' 
                each place it appears in subsection (b), subsection 
                (c), subsection (e), subsection (f), subsection (g), 
                subsection (h), and subsection (j) and inserting 
                ``magistrate judge'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by striking ``hearing commissioner's'' 
                each place it appears in subsection (e) and subsection 
                (k) and inserting ``magistrate judge's'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) by striking ``Hearing commissioners'' 
                each place it appears in subsections (b), (d), and (i) 
                and inserting ``Magistrate judges''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) in the heading, by striking ``Hearing 
                commissioners'' and inserting ``Magistrate 
                Judges''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Conforming amendments.--(A) Section 11-
        1732(c)(3), District of Columbia Code, is amended by striking 
        ``, except that'' and all that follows and inserting a 
        period.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (B) Section 16-924, District of Columbia Code, is 
        amended--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``hearing commissioner'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``magistrate 
                judge''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (ii) in subsection (f), by striking 
                ``hearing commissioner's'' and inserting ``magistrate 
                judge's''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Clerical amendment.--The item relating to 
        section 11-1732 of the table of sections of chapter 17 of title 
        11, D.C. Code, is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``11-1732. Magistrate judges.''.
<DELETED>    (b) Transition Provision Regarding Hearing 
Commissioners.--Any individual serving as a hearing commissioner under 
section 11-1732 of the District of Columbia Code as of the date of the 
enactment of this Act shall serve the remainder of such individual's 
term as a magistrate judge, and may be reappointed as a magistrate 
judge in accordance with section 11-1732(d), District of Columbia Code, 
except that any individual serving as a hearing commissioner as of the 
date of the enactment of this Act who was appointed as a hearing 
commissioner prior to the effective date of section 11-1732 of the 
District of Columbia Code shall not be required to be a resident of the 
District of Columbia to be eligible to be reappointed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. SPECIAL RULES FOR MAGISTRATE JUDGES OF FAMILY 
              COURT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 11, District of 
Columbia Code, is amended by inserting after section 11-1732 the 
following new section:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 11-1732A. Special rules for magistrate judges of Family 
              Court of the Superior Court.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Use of Social Workers in Advisory Merit Selection 
Panel.--The advisory selection merit panel used in the selection of 
magistrate judges for the Family Court of the Superior Court under 
section 11-1732(b) shall include certified social workers specializing 
in child welfare matters who are residents of the District and who are 
not employees of the District of Columbia Courts.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Special Qualifications.--Notwithstanding section 11-
1732(c), no individual shall be appointed as a magistrate judge for the 
Family Court of the Superior Court unless that individual--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) is a citizen of the United States;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) is an active member of the unified District 
        of Columbia Bar;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) for the 5 years immediately preceding the 
        appointment has been engaged in the active practice of law in 
        the District, has been on the faculty of a law school in the 
        District, or has been employed as a lawyer by the United States 
        or District government, or any combination thereof;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) has not fewer than 3 years of training or 
        experience in the practice of family law; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) is a bona fide resident of the District of 
        Columbia and has maintained an actual place of abode in the 
        District for at least 90 days immediately prior to appointment 
        (or becomes a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia 
        and maintains an actual place of abode in the District not 
        later than 90 days after appointment), and retains such 
        residency during service as a magistrate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Service of Current Hearing Commissioners.--Those 
individuals serving as hearing commissioners under section 11-1732 on 
the effective date of this section who meet the qualifications 
described in subsection (b)(4) may request to be appointed as 
magistrate judges for the Family Court of the Superior Court under such 
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Functions.--A magistrate judge, when specifically 
designated by the presiding judge of the Family Court of the Superior 
Court, and subject to the rules of the Superior Court and the right of 
review under section 11-1732(k), may perform the following 
functions:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Administer oaths and affirmations and take 
        acknowledgements.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Subject to the rules of the Superior Court 
        and applicable Federal and District of Columbia law, conduct 
        hearings, make findings and enter interim and final orders or 
        judgments in uncontested or contested proceedings within the 
        jurisdiction of the Family Court of the Superior Court (as 
        described in section 11-1101), excluding jury trials and trials 
        of felony cases, as assigned by the presiding judge of the 
        Family Court.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Subject to the rules of the Superior Court, 
        enter an order punishing an individual for contempt, except 
        that no individual may be detained pursuant to the authority of 
        this paragraph for longer than 180 days.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Location of Proceedings.--To the maximum extent 
feasible, safe, and practicable, magistrate judges of the Family Court 
of the Superior Court shall conduct proceedings at locations readily 
accessible to the parties involved.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Training.--The Family Court of the Superior Court 
shall ensure that all magistrate judges of the Family Court receive 
training to enable them to fulfill their responsibilities, including 
specialized training in family law and related matters.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 11-1732(a), 
District of Columbia Code, is amended by inserting after ``the duties 
enumerated in subsection (j) of this section'' the following: ``(or, in 
the case of magistrate judges for the Family Court of the Superior 
Court, the duties enumerated in section 11-1732A(d))''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (2) Section 11-1732(c), District of Columbia Code, is 
amended by striking ``No individual'' and inserting ``Except as 
provided in section 11-1732A(b), no individual''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (3) Section 11-1732(k), District of Columbia Code, is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``subsection (j),'' and inserting 
        the following: ``subsection (j) (or proceedings and hearings 
        under section 11-1732A(d), in the case of magistrate judges for 
        the Family Court of the Superior Court),''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (B) by inserting after ``appropriate division'' 
        the following: ``(or, in the case of an order or judgment of a 
        magistrate judge of the Family Court of the Superior Court, by 
        a judge of the Family Court)''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (4) Section 11-1732(l), District of Columbia Code, is 
amended by inserting after ``responsibilities'' the following: 
``(subject to the requirements of section 11-1732A(f) in the case of 
magistrate judges of the Family Court of the Superior 
Court)''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for 
subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 11, District of Columbia, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 11-1732 the 
following new item:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``11-1732A. Special rules for magistrate judges of Family 
                            Court of the Superior Court.''.
<DELETED>    (d) Effective Date.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The amendments made by this 
        section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Expedited initial appointments.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--Not later than 30 days 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act, the chief 
                judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia 
                shall appoint not more than 5 individuals to serve as 
                magistrate judges for the Family Division of the 
                Superior Court in accordance with the requirements of 
                sections 11-1732 and 11-1732A, District of Columbia 
                Code (as added by subsection (a)).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Appointments made without regard to 
                selection panel.--Sections 11-1732(b) and 11-1732A(a), 
                District of Columbia Code (as added by subsection (a)) 
                shall not apply with respect to any magistrate judge 
                appointed under this paragraph.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Priority for certain actions and 
                proceedings.--The chief judge of the Superior Court and 
                the presiding judge of the Family Division of the 
                Superior Court (acting jointly) shall first assign and 
                transfer to the magistrate judges appointed under this 
                paragraph actions and proceedings described as 
                follows:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) The action or proceeding 
                        involves an allegation of abuse or 
                        neglect.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) The action or proceeding was 
                        initiated in the Family Division prior to the 
                        2-year period which ends on the date of the 
                        enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) The judge to whom the action 
                        or proceeding is assigned as of the date of the 
                        enactment of this Act is not assigned to the 
                        Family Division.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Special references during transition.--During 
        the period which begins on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act and ends on the effective date described in section 9, any 
        reference to the Family Court of the Superior Court of the 
        District of Columbia in any provision of law added or amended 
        by this section shall be deemed to be a reference to the Family 
        Division of the Superior Court of the District of 
        Columbia.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING BORDER AGREEMENT WITH 
              MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    It is the sense of Congress that the State of Maryland, 
the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia should 
promptly enter into a border agreement to facilitate the timely and 
safe placement of children in the District of Columbia's welfare system 
in foster and kinship homes and other facilities in Maryland and 
Virginia.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    There are authorized to be appropriated to the District of 
Columbia courts such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act, including sums necessary for salaries 
and expenses and capital improvements for the District of Columbia 
courthouse facilities.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The amendments made by sections 2 and 4 shall take effect 
on the first date occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act 
on which 10 individuals who meet the qualifications described in 
section 11-908A, District of Columbia Code (as added by section 3(a)) 
are available to be assigned by the chief judge of the Superior Court 
of the District of Columbia to serve as associate judges of the Family 
Court of the Superior Court (as certified by the chief 
judge).</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``District of Columbia Family Court 
Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. REDESIGNATION OF FAMILY DIVISION AS FAMILY COURT OF THE 
              SUPERIOR COURT.

    (a) In General.--Section 11-902, District of Columbia Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 11-902. Organization of the court
    ``(a) In General.--The Superior Court shall consist of the 
following:
            ``(1) The Civil Division.
            ``(2) The Criminal Division.
            ``(3) The Family Court.
            ``(4) The Probate Division.
            ``(5) The Tax Division.
    ``(b) Branches.--The divisions of the Superior Court may be divided 
into such branches as the Superior Court may by rule prescribe.
    ``(c) Designation of Presiding Judge of Family Court.--The chief 
judge of the Superior Court shall designate one of the judges assigned 
to the Family Court of the Superior Court to serve as the presiding 
judge of the Family Court of the Superior Court.
    ``(d) Jurisdiction Described.--The Family Court shall have original 
jurisdiction over the actions, applications, determinations, 
adjudications, and proceedings described in section 11-1101. Actions, 
applications, determinations, adjudications, and proceedings being 
assigned to cross-jurisdictional units established by the Superior 
Court, including the Domestic Violence Unit, on the date of enactment 
of this section may continue to be so assigned after the date of 
enactment of this section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment to Chapter 9.--Section 11-906(b), District 
of Columbia Code, is amended by inserting ``the Family Court and'' 
before ``the various divisions''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments to Chapter 11.--(1) The heading for 
chapter 11 of title 11, District of Columbia, is amended by striking 
``Family Division'' and inserting ``Family Court''.
    (2) The item relating to chapter 11 in the table of chapters for 
title 11, District of Columbia, is amended by striking ``Family 
Division'' and inserting ``Family Court''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments to Title 16.--
            (1) Calculation of child support.--Section 16-916.1(o)(6), 
        District of Columbia Code, is amended by striking ``Family 
        Division'' and inserting ``Family Court of the Superior 
        Court''.
            (2) Expedited judicial hearing of cases brought before 
        hearing commissioners.--Section 16-924, District of Columbia 
        Code, is amended by striking ``Family Division'' each place it 
        appears in subsections (a) and (f) and inserting ``Family 
        Court''.
            (3) General references to proceedings.--Chapter 23 of title 
        16, District of Columbia Code, is amended by inserting after 
        section 16-2301 the following new section:
``Sec. 16-2301.1. References deemed to refer to Family Court of the 
              Superior Court
    ``Any reference in this chapter or any other Federal or District of 
Columbia law, Executive order, rule, regulation, delegation of 
authority, or any document of or pertaining to the Family Division of 
the Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall be deemed to refer 
to the Family Court of the Superior Court of the District of 
Columbia.''.
            (4) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for 
        subchapter I of chapter 23 of title 16, District of Columbia, 
        is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 16-
        2301 the following new item:

``16-2301.1. References deemed to refer to Family Court of the Superior 
                            Court.''.

SEC. 3. APPOINTMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES; NUMBER AND 
              QUALIFICATIONS.

    (a) Number of Judges for Family Court; Qualifications and Terms of 
Service.--Chapter 9 of title 11, District of Columbia Code, is amended 
by inserting after section 11-908 the following new section:
``Sec. 11-908A. Special rules regarding assignment and service of 
              judges of Family Court
    ``(a) Number of Judges.--
            ``(1) In general.--The number of judges serving on the 
        Family Court of the Superior Court shall be not more than 15.
            ``(2) Exception.--If the chief judge determines that, in 
        order to carry out the intent and purposes of this Act, an 
        emergency exists such that the number of judges needed on the 
        Family Court of the Superior Court at any time is more than 15, 
        the chief judge may temporarily reassign qualified judges from 
        other divisions of the Superior Court or qualified senior 
        judges to serve on the Family Court. Such reassigned judges 
        shall not be subject to the term of service requirements of 
        this Act.
            ``(3) Composition.--The total number of judges on the 
        Superior Court may exceed the limit on such judges specified in 
        section 11-903 to the extent necessary to maintain the 
        requirements of this subsection if--
                    ``(A) the number of judges serving on the Family 
                Court is less than 15; and
                    ``(B) the Chief Judge of the Superior Court--
                            ``(i) is unable to secure a volunteer judge 
                        who is sitting on the Superior Court outside of 
                        the Family Court for reassignment to the Family 
                        Court;
                            ``(ii) obtains approval of the Joint 
                        Committee on Judicial Administration; and
                            ``(iii) reports to Congress regarding the 
                        circumstances that gave rise to the necessity 
                        to exceed the cap.
    ``(b) Qualifications.--The chief judge may not assign an individual 
to serve on the Family Court of the Superior Court or handle a Family 
Court case unless--
            ``(1) the individual has training or expertise in family 
        law;
            ``(2) the individual certifies to the chief judge that the 
        individual intends to serve the full term of service, except 
        that this paragraph shall not apply with respect to individuals 
        serving as senior judges under section 11-1504, individuals 
        serving as temporary judges under section 11-908, and any other 
        judge serving in another division of the Superior Court;
            ``(3) the individual certifies to the chief judge that the 
        individual will participate in the ongoing training programs 
        carried out for judges of the Family Court under section 11-
        1104(c); and
            ``(4) the individual meets the requirements of section 11-
        1501(b).
    ``(c) Term of Service.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Sitting judges.--An individual assigned to 
                serve as a judge of the Family Court of the Superior 
                Court who is serving as a judge in the Superior Court 
                on the date of enactment of the District of Columbia 
                Family Court Act of 2001 shall serve in the Family 
                Court for a term of not fewer than 3 years as 
                determined by the chief judge of the Superior Court 
                (including any period of service on the Family Division 
                of the Superior Court immediately preceding the date of 
                enactment of such Act).
                    ``(B) New judges.--An individual assigned to serve 
                as a judge of the Family Court of the Superior Court 
                who is not serving as a judge in the Superior Court on 
                the date of enactment of the District of Columbia 
                Family Court Act of 2001 shall serve for a term of 5 
                years.
            ``(2) Assignment for additional service.--After the term of 
        service of a judge of the Family Court (as described in 
        paragraph (1)) expires, at the judge's request and with the 
        approval of the chief judge, the judge may be assigned for 
        additional service on the Family Court for a period of such 
        duration (consistent with section 431(c) of the District of 
        Columbia Home Rule Act) as the chief judge may provide.
            ``(3) Permitting service on family court for entire term.--
        At the request of the judge and with the approval of the chief 
        judge, a judge may serve as a judge of the Family Court for the 
        judge's entire term of service as a judge of the Superior Court 
        under section 431(c) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.
    ``(d) Reassignment to Other Divisions.--The chief judge may 
reassign a judge of the Family Court to any division of the Superior 
Court if the chief judge determines that in the interest of justice the 
judge is unable to continue serving in the Family Court.''.
    (b) Plan for Family Court Transition.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the chief judge of the Superior 
        Court of the District of Columbia shall prepare and submit to 
        the President and Congress a transition plan for the Family 
        Court of the Superior Court, and shall include in the plan the 
        following:
                    (A) The chief judge's determination of the role and 
                function of the presiding judge of the Family Court.
                    (B) The chief judge's determination of the number 
                of judges needed to serve on the Family Court.
                    (C) The chief judge's determination of the number 
                of magistrate judges of the Family Court needed for 
                appointment under section 11-1732, District of Columbia 
                Code.
                    (D) The chief judge's determination of the 
                appropriate functions of such magistrate judges, 
                together with the compensation of and other personnel 
                matters pertaining to such magistrate judges.
                    (E) A plan for case flow, case management, and 
                staffing needs (including the needs for both judicial 
                and nonjudicial personnel) for the Family Court.
                    (F) A plan for space, equipment, and other physical 
                plant needs and requirements during the transition, as 
                determined in consultation with the Administrator of 
                General Services.
                    (G) An analysis of the number of magistrate judges 
                needed under the expedited appointment procedures 
                established under section 6(d) in reducing the number 
                of pending actions and proceedings within the 
                jurisdiction of the Family Court (as described in 
                section 11-902(d), District of Columbia, as amended by 
                subsection (a)).
                    (H) Consistent with the requirements of paragraph 
                (2), a proposal for the disposition or transfer to the 
                Family Court of child abuse and neglect actions pending 
                as of the date of enactment of this Act (which were 
                initiated in the Family Division but remain pending 
                before judges serving in other Divisions of the 
                Superior Court as of such date) in a manner consistent 
                with applicable Federal and District of Columbia law 
                and best practices, including best practices developed 
                by the American Bar Association and the National 
                Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
                    (I) An estimate of the number of cases for which 
                the deadline for disposition or transfer to the Family 
                Court, specified in paragraph (2)(B), cannot be met and 
                the reasons why such deadline cannot be met.
            (2) Implementation of the proposal for transfer or 
        disposition of actions and proceedings to family court.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (C), the chief judge of the Superior Court and the 
                presiding judge of the Family Court shall take such 
                steps as may be required as provided in the proposal 
                for disposition of actions and proceedings under 
                paragraph (1)(H) to ensure that each child abuse and 
                neglect action of the Superior Court (as described in 
                section 11-902(d), District of Columbia Code, as 
                amended by subsection (a)) is transferred to the Family 
                Court or otherwise disposed of as provided in 
                subparagraph (B). The requirement of this subparagraph 
                shall not apply to a child abuse or neglect action 
                pending before a senior judge as defined in section 11-
                1504, District of Columbia Code.
                    (B) Deadline.--
                            (i) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                        provision of this Act or any amendment made by 
                        this Act and except as provided in subparagraph 
                        (C), no child abuse or neglect action shall 
                        remain pending with a judge not serving on the 
                        Family Court upon the expiration of 18 months 
                        after the filing of the transition plan 
                        required under paragraph (1).
                            (ii) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
                        subparagraph shall preclude the immediate 
                        transfer of cases to the Family Court, 
                        particularly cases which have been filed with 
                        the court for less than 6 months prior to the 
                        date of enactment of this Act.
                    (C) Retained cases.--Child abuse and neglect cases 
                that were initiated in the Family Division but remain 
                pending before judges in other Divisions of the 
                Superior Court as of the date of enactment of this Act 
                may remain before judges in such other Divisions when--
                            (i) the case remains at all times in full 
                        compliance with section 103(a)(3) of Public Law 
                        105-89 (42 U.S.C. 675(5)(E)); and
                            (ii) the case has been assigned 
                        continuously to the judge for 18 months or more 
                        and the judge has a special knowledge of the 
                        child's needs, such that reassignment would be 
                        harmful to the child.
                    (D) Progress reports.--The chief judge of the 
                Superior Court shall report to the Committee on 
                Appropriations of each House, the Committee on 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee 
                on Government Reform of the House of Representatives at 
                6-month intervals for a period of 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this Act on the progress made 
                towards disposing of actions or proceedings described 
                in subparagraph (B).
            (3) Effective date of implementation of plan.--The chief 
        judge of the Superior Court may not take any action to 
        implement the transition plan under this subsection until the 
        expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date the 
        chief judge submits the plan to the President and Congress 
        under paragraph (1).
    (c) Transition to Required Number of Judges.--
            (1) Analysis by chief judge of superior court.--The chief 
        judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall 
        include in the transition plan prepared under subsection (b)--
                    (A) the chief judge's determination of the number 
                of individuals serving as judges of the Superior Court 
                who--
                            (i) meet the qualifications for judges of 
                        the Family Court of the Superior Court under 
                        section 11-908A, District of Columbia Code (as 
                        added by subsection (a)); and
                            (ii) are willing and able to serve on the 
                        Family Court; and
                    (B) if the chief judge determines that the number 
                of individuals described in subparagraph (A) is less 
                than 15, a request that the Judicial Nomination 
                Commission recruit and the President nominate (in 
                accordance with section 433 of the District of Columbia 
                Home Rule Act) such additional number of individuals to 
                serve on the Superior Court who meet the qualifications 
                for judges of the Family Court under section 11-908A, 
                District of Columbia Code, as may be required to enable 
                the chief judge to make the required number of 
                assignments.
            (2) Role of district of columbia judicial nomination 
        commission.--For purposes of section 434(d)(1) of the District 
        of Columbia Home Rule Act, the submission of a request from the 
        chief judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia 
        under paragraph (1)(B) shall be deemed to create a number of 
        vacancies in the position of judge of the Superior Court equal 
        to the number of additional appointments so requested by the 
        chief judge, except that the deadline for the submission by the 
        District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission of nominees 
        to fill such vacancies shall be 90 days after the creation of 
        such vacancies. In carrying out this paragraph, the District of 
        Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission shall recruit 
        individuals for possible nomination and appointment to the 
        Superior Court who meet the qualifications for judges of the 
        Family Court of the Superior Court.
    (d) Report by Comptroller General.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
        prepare and submit to Congress and the chief judge of the 
        Superior Court of the District of Columbia a report on the 
        implementation of this Act (including the transition plan under 
        subsection (b)), and shall include in the report the following:
                    (A) An analysis of the procedures used to make the 
                initial appointments of judges of the Family Court 
                under this Act and the amendments made by this Act, 
                including an analysis of the time required to make such 
                appointments and the effect of the qualification 
                requirements for judges of the Court (including 
                requirements relating to the length of service on the 
                Court) on the time required to make such appointments.
                    (B) An analysis of the impact of magistrate judges 
                for the Family Court (including the expedited initial 
                appointment of magistrate judges for the Court under 
                section 6(d)) on the workload of judges and other 
                personnel of the Court.
                    (C) An analysis of the number of judges needed for 
                the Family Court, including an analysis of how the 
                number may be affected by the qualification 
                requirements for judges, the availability of magistrate 
                judges, and other provisions of this Act or the 
                amendments made by this Act.
            (2) Submission to chief judge of superior court.--Prior to 
        submitting the report under paragraph (1) to Congress, the 
        Comptroller General shall provide a preliminary version of the 
        report to the chief judge of the Superior Court and shall take 
        any comments and recommendations of the chief judge into 
        consideration in preparing the final version of the report.
    (e) Conforming Amendment.--The first sentence of section 11-908(a), 
District of Columbia Code, is amended by striking ``The chief judge'' 
and inserting ``Subject to section 11-908A, the chief judge''.
    (f) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 9 of 
title 11, District of Columbia Code, is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 11-908 the following new item:

``11-908A. Special rules regarding assignment and service of judges of 
                            Family Court.''.

SEC. 4. IMPROVING ADMINISTRATION OF CASES AND PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY 
              COURT.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 11 of title 11, District of Columbia, is 
amended by striking section 1101 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 11-1101. Jurisdiction of the Family Court
    ``(a) In General.--The Family Court of the District of Columbia 
shall be assigned and have original jurisdiction over--
            ``(1) actions for divorce from the bond of marriage and 
        legal separation from bed and board, including proceedings 
        incidental thereto for alimony, pendente lite and permanent, 
and for support and custody of minor children;
            ``(2) applications for revocation of divorce from bed and 
        board;
            ``(3) actions to enforce support of any person as required 
        by law;
            ``(4) actions seeking custody of minor children, including 
        petitions for writs of habeas corpus;
            ``(5) actions to declare marriages void;
            ``(6) actions to declare marriages valid;
            ``(7) actions for annulments of marriage;
            ``(8) determinations and adjudications of property rights, 
        both real and personal, in any action referred to in this 
        section, irrespective of any jurisdictional limitation imposed 
        on the Superior Court;
            ``(9) proceedings in adoption;
            ``(10) proceedings under the Act of July 10, 1957 (D.C. 
        Code, secs. 30-301 to 30-324);
            ``(11) proceedings to determine paternity of any child born 
        out of wedlock;
            ``(12) civil proceedings for protection involving 
        intrafamily offenses, instituted pursuant to chapter 10 of 
        title 16;
            ``(13) proceedings in which a child, as defined in section 
        16-2301, is alleged to be delinquent, neglected, or in need of 
        supervision;
            ``(14) proceedings under chapter 5 of title 21 relating to 
        the commitment of the mentally ill;
            ``(15) proceedings under chapter 11 of title 21 relating to 
        the commitment of the substantially retarded; and
            ``(16) proceedings under Interstate Compact on Juveniles 
        (described in title IV of the District of Columbia Court Reform 
        and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970).
    ``(b) Definition.--
            ``(1) In general.--In this chapter, the term `action or 
        proceeding' with respect to the Family Court refers to cause of 
        action described in paragraphs (1) through (16) of subsection 
        (a).
            ``(2) Exception.--An action or proceeding may be assigned 
        to or retained by cross-jurisdictional units established by the 
        Superior Court, including the Domestic Violence Unit.
``Sec. 11-1102. Use of alternative dispute resolution
    ``To the greatest extent practicable and safe, cases and 
proceedings in the Family Court of the Superior Court shall be resolved 
through alternative dispute resolution procedures, in accordance with 
such rules as the Superior Court may promulgate.
``Sec. 11-1103. Standards of practice for appointed counsel
    ``The Superior Court shall establish standards of practice for 
attorneys appointed as counsel in the Family Court of the Superior 
Court.
``Sec. 11-1104. Administration
    ``(a) `One Family, One Judge' Requirement for Cases and 
Proceedings.--To the greatest extent practicable, feasible, and lawful, 
if an individual who is a party to an action or proceeding assigned to 
the Family Court has an immediate family or household member who is a 
party to another action or proceeding assigned to the Family Court, the 
individual's action or proceeding shall be assigned to the same judge 
or magistrate judge to whom the immediate family member's action or 
proceeding is assigned.
    ``(b) Retention of Jurisdiction Over Cases.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to the requirement of 
        subsection (a), any action or proceeding assigned to the Family 
        Court of the Superior Court shall remain under the jurisdiction 
        of the Family Court until the action or proceeding is finally 
        disposed, except as provided in paragraph (2)(C).
            ``(2) One family, one judge.--
                    ``(A) For the duration.--An action or proceeding 
                assigned pursuant to this subsection shall remain with 
                the judge or magistrate judge to whom the action or 
                proceeding is assigned for the duration of the action 
                or proceeding to the greatest extent practicable, 
                feasible, and lawful.
                    ``(B) All cases involving an individual.--If an 
                individual who is a party to an action or proceeding 
                assigned to the Family Court becomes a party to another 
                action or proceeding assigned to the Family Court, the 
                individual's subsequent action or proceeding shall be 
                assigned to the same judge or magistrate judge to whom 
                the individual's initial action or proceeding is 
                assigned to the greatest extent practicable and 
                feasible.
                    ``(C) Family court case retention.--If the full 
                term of a Family Court judge to whom the action or 
                proceeding is assigned is completed prior to the final 
                disposition of the action or proceeding, the presiding 
                judge of the Family Court shall ensure that the matter 
                or proceeding is reassigned to a judge serving on the 
                Family Court.
                    ``(D) Exception.--A judge whose full term on the 
                Family Court is completed but who remains in Superior 
                Court may retain the case or proceeding for not more 
                than 18 months after ceasing to serve if--
                            ``(i) the case remains at all times in full 
                        compliance with section 103(a)(3) of Public Law 
                        105-89 (42 U.S.C. 675(E)), if applicable, and 
                        the case has been assigned continuously to the 
                        judge for 18 months or more and the judge has a 
                        special knowledge of the child's needs, such 
                        that reassignment would be harmful to the 
                        child; and
                            ``(ii) the chief judge, in consultation 
                        with the presiding judge of the Family Court 
                        determines that such retention is in the best 
                        interests of the parties.
            ``(3) Standards of judicial ethics.--The actions of a judge 
        or magistrate judge in retaining an action or proceeding under 
        this paragraph shall be subject to applicable standards of 
        judicial ethics.
    ``(c) Training Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The chief judge, in consultation with 
        the presiding judge of the Family Court, shall carry out an 
        ongoing program to provide training in family law and related 
        matters for judges of the Family Court and other judges of the 
        Superior Court who are assigned Family Court cases, including 
        magistrate judges, attorneys who practice in the Family Court, 
        and appropriate nonjudicial personnel, and shall include in the 
        program information and instruction regarding the following:
                    ``(A) Child development.
                    ``(B) Family dynamics, including domestic violence.
                    ``(C) Relevant Federal and District of Columbia 
                laws.
                    ``(D) Permanency planning principles and practices.
                    ``(E) Recognizing the risk factors for child abuse.
                    ``(F) Any other matters the presiding judge 
                considers appropriate.
            ``(2) Use of cross-training.--The program carried out under 
        this section shall use the resources of lawyers and legal 
        professionals, social workers, and experts in the field of 
        child development and other related fields.
    ``(d) Accessibility of Materials, Services, and Proceedings; 
Promotion of `Family-Friendly' Environment.--
            ``(1) In general.--To the greatest extent practicable, the 
        chief judge and the presiding judge of the Family Court shall 
        ensure that the materials and services provided by the Family 
        Court are understandable and accessible to the individuals and 
        families served by the Family Court, and that the Family Court 
carries out its duties in a manner which reflects the special needs of 
families with children.
            ``(2) Location of proceedings.--To the maximum extent 
        feasible, safe, and practicable, cases and proceedings in the 
        Family Court shall be conducted at locations readily accessible 
        to the parties involved.
    ``(e) Integrated Computerized Case Tracking and Management 
System.--The Executive Officer of the District of Columbia courts under 
section 11-1703 shall work with the chief judge of the Superior Court--
            ``(1) to ensure that all records and materials of cases and 
        proceedings in the Family Court are stored and maintained in 
        electronic format accessible by computers for the use of 
        judges, magistrate judges, and nonjudicial personnel of the 
        Family Court, and for the use of other appropriate offices of 
        the District government in accordance with the plan for 
        integrating computer systems prepared by the Mayor of the 
        District of Columbia under section 4(b) of the District of 
        Columbia Family Court Act of 2001;
            ``(2) to establish and operate an electronic tracking and 
        management system for cases and proceedings in the Family Court 
        for the use of judges and nonjudicial personnel of the Family 
        Court, using the records and materials stored and maintained 
        pursuant to paragraph (1); and
            ``(3) to expand such system to cover all divisions of the 
        Superior Court as soon as practicable.
``Sec. 11-1105. Social services and other related services
    ``(a) Onsite Coordination of Services and Information.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Mayor of the District of Columbia, 
        in consultation with the chief judge of the Superior Court, 
        shall ensure that representatives of the appropriate offices of 
        the District government which provide social services and other 
        related services to individuals and families served by the 
        Family Court (including the District of Columbia Public 
        Schools, the District of Columbia Housing Authority, the Child 
        and Family Services Agency, the Office of the Corporation 
        Counsel, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of 
        Health, and other offices determined by the Mayor) are 
        available on-site at the Family Court to coordinate the 
        provision of such services and information regarding such 
        services to such individuals and families.
            ``(2) Duties of heads of offices.--The head of each office 
        described in paragraph (1), including the Superintendent of the 
        District of Columbia Public Schools and the Director of the 
        District of Columbia Housing Authority, shall provide the Mayor 
        with such information, assistance, and services as the Mayor 
        may require to carry out such paragraph.
    ``(b) Appointment of Social Services Liaison With Family Court.--
The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall appoint an individual to 
serve as a liaison between the Family Court and the District government 
for purposes of subsection (a) and for coordinating the delivery of 
services provided by the District government with the activities of the 
Family Court and for providing information to the judges, magistrate 
judges, and nonjudicial personnel of the Family Court regarding the 
services available from the District government to the individuals and 
families served by the Family Court. The Mayor shall provide on an 
ongoing basis information to the chief judge of the Superior Court and 
the presiding judge of the Family Court regarding the services of the 
District government which are available for the individuals and 
families served by the Family Court.
``Sec. 11-1106. Reports to Congress
    ``Not later than 90 days after the end of each calendar year, the 
chief judge of the Superior Court shall submit a report to Congress on 
the activities of the Family Court during the year, and shall include 
in the report the following:
            ``(1) The chief judge's assessment of the productivity and 
        success of the use of alternative dispute resolution pursuant 
        to section 11-1102.
            ``(2) Goals and timetables as required by the Adoption and 
        Safe Families Act of 1997 to improve the Family Court's 
        performance in the following year.
            ``(3) Information on the extent to which the Family Court 
        met deadlines and standards applicable under Federal and 
        District of Columbia law to the review and disposition of 
        actions and proceedings under the Family Court's jurisdiction 
        during the year.
            ``(4) Information on the progress made in establishing 
        locations and appropriate space for the Family Court that are 
        consistent with the mission of the Family Court until such time 
        as the locations and space are established.
            ``(5) Information on any factors which are not under the 
        control of the Family Court which interfere with or prevent the 
        Family Court from carrying out its responsibilities in the most 
        effective manner possible.
            ``(6) Information on--
                    ``(A) the number of judges serving on the Family 
                Court as of the end of the year;
                    ``(B) how long each such judge has served on the 
                Family Court;
                    ``(C) the number of cases retained outside the 
                Family Court;
                    ``(D) the number of reassignments to and from the 
                Family Court; and
                    ``(E) the ability to recruit qualified sitting 
                judges to serve on the Family Court.
            ``(7) Based on outcome measures derived through the use of 
        the information stored in electronic format under section 11-
        1104(d), an analysis of the Family Court's efficiency and 
        effectiveness in managing its case load during the year, 
        including an analysis of the time required to dispose of 
        actions and proceedings among the various categories of the 
        Family Court's jurisdiction, as prescribed by applicable law 
        and best practices, including (but not limited to) best 
        practices developed by the American Bar Association and the 
        National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
            ``(8) If the Family Court failed to meet the deadlines, 
        standards, and outcome measures described in the previous 
paragraphs, a proposed remedial action plan to address the failure.''.
    (b) Expedited Appeals for Certain Family Court Actions and 
Proceedings.--Section 11-721, District of Columbia Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) Any appeal from an order of the Family Court of the District 
of Columbia terminating parental rights or granting or denying a 
petition to adopt shall receive expedited review by the District of 
Columbia Court of Appeals.''.
    (c) Plan for Integrating Computer Systems.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Mayor of the District of 
        Columbia shall submit to the President and Congress a plan for 
        integrating the computer systems of the District government 
        with the computer systems of the Superior Court of the District 
        of Columbia so that the Family Court of the Superior Court and 
        the appropriate offices of the District government which 
        provide social services and other related services to 
        individuals and families served by the Family Court of the 
        Superior Court (including the District of Columbia Public 
        Schools, the District of Columbia Housing Authority, the Child 
        and Family Services Agency, the Office of the Corporation 
        Counsel, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of 
        Health, and other offices determined by the Mayor) will be able 
        to access and share information on the individuals and families 
        served by the Family Court.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Mayor of the District of Columbia 
        such sums as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (1).
    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 11 of 
title 11, District of Columbia Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new items:

``11-1102. Use of alternative dispute resolution.
``11-1103. Standards of practice for appointed counsel.
``11-1104. Administration.
``11-1105. Social services and other related services.
``11-1106. Reports to Congress.''.

SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF HEARING COMMISSIONERS AS MAGISTRATE JUDGES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Redesignation of title.--Section 11-1732, District of 
        Columbia Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``hearing commissioners'' each 
                place it appears in subsection (a), subsection (b), 
                subsection (d), subsection (i), subsection (l), and 
                subsection (n) and inserting ``magistrate judges'';
                    (B) by striking ``hearing commissioner'' each place 
                it appears in subsection (b), subsection (c), 
                subsection (e), subsection (f), subsection (g), 
                subsection (h), and subsection (j) and inserting 
                ``magistrate judge'';
                    (C) by striking ``hearing commissioner's'' each 
                place it appears in subsection (e) and subsection (k) 
                and inserting ``magistrate judge's'';
                    (D) by striking ``Hearing commissioners'' each 
                place it appears in subsections (b), (d), and (i) and 
                inserting ``Magistrate judges''; and
                    (E) in the heading, by striking ``Hearing 
                commissioners'' and inserting ``Magistrate judges''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 16-924, District of 
        Columbia Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``hearing commissioner'' each place 
                it appears and inserting ``magistrate judge''; and
                    (B) in subsection (f), by striking ``hearing 
                commissioner's'' and inserting ``magistrate judge's''.
            (3) Clerical amendment.--The item relating to section 11-
        1732 of the table of sections of chapter 17 of title 11, D.C. 
        Code, is amended to read as follows:

``11-1732. Magistrate judges.''.
    (b) Transition Provision Regarding Hearing Commissioners.--Any 
individual serving as a hearing commissioner under section 11-1732 of 
the District of Columbia Code as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act shall serve the remainder of such individual's term as a magistrate 
judge, and may be reappointed as a magistrate judge in accordance with 
section 11-1732(d), District of Columbia Code, except that any 
individual serving as a hearing commissioner as of the date of the 
enactment of this Act who was appointed as a hearing commissioner prior 
to the effective date of section 11-1732 of the District of Columbia 
Code shall not be required to be a resident of the District of Columbia 
to be eligible to be reappointed.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. SPECIAL RULES FOR MAGISTRATE JUDGES OF FAMILY COURT.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 11, District of Columbia Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 11-1732 the following new 
section:
``Sec. 11-1732A. Special rules for magistrate judges of the Family 
              Court of the Superior Court and the Domestic Violence 
              Unit
    ``(a) Use of Social Workers in Advisory Merit Selection Panel.--The 
advisory selection merit panel used in the selection of magistrate 
judges for the Family Court of the Superior Court under section 11-
1732(b) shall include certified social workers specializing in child 
welfare matters who are residents of the District and who are not 
employees of the District of Columbia Courts.
    ``(b) Special Qualifications.--Notwithstanding section 11-1732(c), 
no individual shall be appointed as a magistrate judge for the Family 
Court of the Superior Court or assigned to handle Family Court cases 
unless that individual--
            ``(1) is a citizen of the United States;
            ``(2) is an active member of the unified District of 
        Columbia Bar;
            ``(3) for the 5 years immediately preceding the appointment 
        has been engaged in the active practice of law in the District, 
        has been on the faculty of a law school in the District, or has 
        been employed as a lawyer by the United States or District 
        government, or any combination thereof;
            ``(4) has not fewer than 3 years of training or experience 
        in the practice of family law as a lawyer or judicial officer; 
        and
            ``(5)(A) is a bona fide resident of the District of 
        Columbia and has maintained an actual place of abode in the 
        District for at least 90 days immediately prior to appointment, 
        and retains such residency during service as a magistrate 
        judge; or
            ``(B) is a bona fide resident of the areas consisting of 
        Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland, Arlington 
        and Fairfax Counties, and the City of Alexandria in Virginia, 
        has maintained an actual place of abode in such area, areas, or 
        the District of Columbia for at least 5 years prior to 
        appointment, and certifies that the individual will become a 
        bona fide resident of the District of Columbia not later than 
        90 days after appointment.
    ``(c) Service of Current Hearing Commissioners.--Those individuals 
serving as hearing commissioners under section 11-1732 on the effective 
date of this section who meet the qualifications described in 
subsection (b)(4) may request to be appointed as magistrate judges for 
the Family Court of the Superior Court under such section.
    ``(d) Functions of Family Court and Domestic Violence Unit 
Magistrates.--A magistrate judge, when specifically designated by the 
chief judge in consultation with the presiding judge to serve in the 
Family Court or in the Domestic Violence Unit and subject to the rules 
of the Superior Court and the right of review under section 11-1732(k), 
may perform the following functions:
            ``(1) Administer oaths and affirmations and take 
        acknowledgements.
            ``(2) Subject to the rules of the Superior Court and 
        applicable Federal and District of Columbia law, conduct 
        hearings, make findings and enter interim and final orders or 
        judgments in uncontested or contested proceedings within the 
        jurisdiction of the Family Court and the Domestic Violence Unit 
        of the Superior Court (as described in section 11-1101), 
        excluding jury trials and trials of felony cases, as assigned 
        by the presiding judge of the Family Court.
            ``(3) Subject to the rules of the Superior Court, enter an 
        order punishing an individual for contempt, except that no 
        individual may be detained pursuant to the authority of this 
        paragraph for longer than 180 days.
    ``(e) Location of Proceedings.--To the maximum extent feasible, 
safe, and practicable, magistrate judges of the Family Court of the 
Superior Court shall conduct proceedings at locations readily 
accessible to the parties involved.
    ``(f) Training.--The chief judge, in consultation with the 
presiding judge of the Family Court of the Superior Court, shall ensure 
that all magistrate judges of the Family Court receive training to 
enable them to fulfill their responsibilities, including specialized 
training in family law and related matters.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 11-1732(a), District of 
Columbia Code, is amended by inserting after ``the duties enumerated in 
subsection (j) of this section'' the following: ``(or, in the case of 
magistrate judges for the Family Court or the Domestic Violence Unit of 
the Superior Court, the duties enumerated in section 11-1732A(d))''.
    (2) Section 11-1732(c), District of Columbia Code, is amended by 
striking ``No individual'' and inserting ``Except as provided in 
section 11-1732A(b), no individual''.
    (3) Section 11-1732(k), District of Columbia Code, is amended--
            (A) by striking ``subsection (j),'' and inserting the 
        following: ``subsection (j) (or proceedings and hearings under 
        section 11-1732A(d), in the case of magistrate judges for the 
        Family Court or the Domestic Violence Unit of the Superior 
        Court),''; and
            (B) by inserting after ``appropriate division'' the 
        following: ``(or, in the case of an order or judgment of a 
        magistrate judge of the Family Court or the Domestic Violence 
        Unit of the Superior Court, by a judge of the Family Court or 
        the Domestic Violence Unit)''.
    (4) Section 11-1732(l), District of Columbia Code, is amended by 
inserting after ``responsibilities'' the following: ``(subject to the 
requirements of section 11-1732A(f) in the case of magistrate judges of 
the Family Court of the Superior Court or the Domestic Violence 
Unit)''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter II of 
chapter 17 of title 11, District of Columbia, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 11-1732 the following new item:

``11-1732A. Special rules for magistrate judges of the Family Court of 
                            the Superior Court and the Domestic 
                            Violence Unit.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
            (2) Expedited initial appointments.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the chief judge of the 
                Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall 
                appoint not more than 5 individuals to serve as 
                magistrate judges for the Family Division of the 
                Superior Court in accordance with the requirements of 
                sections 11-1732 and 11-1732A, District of Columbia 
                Code (as added by subsection (a)).
                    (B) Transition responsibilities of initially 
                appointed family court magistrates.--The chief judge of 
                the Superior Court and the presiding judge of the 
                Family Division of the Superior Court (acting jointly) 
                shall first assign the magistrate judges of Family 
                Court appointed under this paragraph to work with 
                judges to whom the cases are currently assigned in 
                making case disposition or transfer decisions as 
                follows:
                            (i) The action or proceeding involves an 
                        allegation of abuse or neglect.
                            (ii) The judge to whom the action or 
                        proceeding is assigned as of the date of 
                        enactment of this Act is not assigned to the 
                        Family Division.
                            (iii) The action or proceeding was 
                        initiated in the Family Division prior to the 
                        2-year period which ends on the date of 
                        enactment of this Act.

SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING BORDER AGREEMENT WITH MARYLAND AND 
              VIRGINIA.

    It is the sense of Congress that the State of Maryland, the 
Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia should promptly 
enter into a border agreement to facilitate the timely and safe 
placement of children in the District of Columbia's welfare system in 
foster and kinship homes and other facilities in Maryland and Virginia.

SEC. 8. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE USE OF COURT APPOINTED 
              SPECIAL ADVOCATES.

    It is the sense of the Senate that the chief judge of the Superior 
Court and the presiding judge of the Family Division should take all 
steps necessary to encourage, support, and improve the use of Court 
Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in family court actions or 
proceedings.

SEC. 9. INTERIM REPORTS.

    Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the chief judge of the Superior Court and the presiding judge of the 
Family Court--
            (1) in consultation with the General Services 
        Administration, shall submit to Congress a feasibility study 
        for the construction of appropriate permanent courts and 
        facilities for the Family Court; and
            (2) shall submit to Congress an analysis of the success of 
        the use of magistrate judges under the expedited appointment 
        procedures established under section 6(d) in reducing the 
        number of pending actions and proceedings within the 
        jurisdiction of the Family Court (as described in section 11-
        902(d), District of Columbia).

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Courts of the 
District of Columbia and the District of Columbia such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall take effect upon the initial 
appropriation of funds specifically designated by Federal law for 
purposes of carrying out this Act.




                                                       Calendar No. 258

107th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 2657

                          [Report No. 107-108]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To amend title 11, District of Columbia Code, to redesignate the Family 
   Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as the 
 Family Court of the Superior Court, to recruit and retain trained and 
experienced judges to serve in the Family Court, to promote consistency 
 and efficiency in the assignment of judges to the Family Court and in 
 the consideration of actions and proceedings in the Family Court, and 
                          for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            December 5, 2001

                       Reported with an amendment