[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10923-S10926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 2516. A bill to make improvements in the operation and 
administration of the Federal courts, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.


               the federal courts improvement act of 1998

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, along with my colleague from 
Illinois, Senator Durbin, I am introducing the Federal Courts 
Improvement Act of 1998. As chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on 
Administrative Oversight and the Courts, it is my responsibility to 
review federal court processes and procedures. Every two years or so, 
the Congress receives an official request from the Judicial Conference, 
the governing body of the federal courts, that include changes in the 
law the Judicial Conference believes is necessary to improve the 
functioning of the courts.
  After reviewing the latest official request from the Judicial 
Conference, Senator Durbin, who is the ranking member of the 
subcommittee, and I worked together in putting together a modification 
of this request to introduce as legislation. We are introducing this 
legislation today.
  The bill contains four different titles including numerous changes in 
subjects such as judicial financial administration, judicial process 
improvements, judicial personnel administration, other personnel 
matters and federal public defenders. While many of these items may not 
be essential for the court system to operate, they will certainly help 
the system function better, and hopefully, more effectively.
  Mr. President, it is my hope that we can consider this bill and pass 
it during these last few weeks of this Congress. I will work with 
Senator Durbin to try and make that happen. I urge my colleagues to 
support us in this effort.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2516

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Federal 
     Courts Improvement Act of 1998.''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.

               TITLE I--JUDICIAL FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 101. Extension of Judiciary Information Technology Fund.
Sec. 102. Bankruptcy fees.
Sec. 103. Disposition of miscellaneous fees.

                TITLE II--JUDICIAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS

Sec. 201. Extension of statutory authority for magistrate judge 
              positions to be established in the district courts of 
              Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Sec. 202. Magistrate judge contempt authority.
Sec. 203. Consent to magistrate judge authority in petty offense cases 
              and magistrate judge authority in misdemeanor cases 
              involving juvenile defendants.

[[Page S10924]]

Sec. 204. Savings and loan data reporting requirements.
Sec. 205. Membership in circuit judicial councils.
Sec. 206. Sunset of civil justice expense and delay reduction plans.
Sec. 207. Repeal of Court of Federal Claims filing fee.
Sec. 208. Technical bankruptcy correction.
Sec. 209. Technical amendment relating to the treatment of certain 
              bankruptcy fees collected.

TITLE III--JUDICIAL PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION, BENEFITS, AND PROTECTIONS

Sec. 301. Judicial administrative officials retirement matters.
Sec. 302. Travel expenses of judges.
Sec. 303. Transfer of county to Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Sec. 304. Payments to military survivors benefits plan.
Sec. 305. Creation of certifying officers in the judicial branch.
Sec. 306. Authority to prescribe fees for technology resources in the 
              courts.

                   TITLE IV--FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDERS

Sec. 401. Tort Claims Act amendment relating to liability of Federal 
              public defenders.

               TITLE I--JUDICIAL FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION

     SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF JUDICIARY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUND.

       Section 612 of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``equipment'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``resources'';
       (2) by striking subsection (f) and redesignating subsequent 
     subsections accordingly;
       (3) in subsection (g), as so redesignated, by striking 
     paragraph (3); and
       (4) in subsection (i), as so redesignated--
       (A) by striking ``Judiciary'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``judiciary'';
       (B) by striking ``subparagraph (c)(1)(B)'' and inserting 
     ``subsection (c)(1)(B)''; and
       (C) by striking ``under (c)(1)(B)'' and inserting ``under 
     subsection (c)(1)(B)''.

     SEC. 102. BANKRUPTCY FEES.

       Subsection (a) of section 1930 of title 28, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(7) In districts that are not part of a United States 
     trustee region as defined in section 581 of this title, the 
     Judicial Conference of the United States may require the 
     debtor in a case under chapter 11 of title 11 to pay fees 
     equal to those imposed by paragraph (6) of this subsection. 
     Such fees shall be deposited as offsetting receipts to the 
     fund established under section 1931 of this title and shall 
     remain available until expended.''.

     SEC. 103. DISPOSITION OF MISCELLANEOUS FEES.

       For fiscal year 1999 and thereafter, any portion of 
     miscellaneous fees collected as prescribed by the Judicial 
     Conference of the United States pursuant to sections 1913, 
     1914(b), 1926(a), 1930(b), and 1932 of title 28, United 
     States Code, exceeding the amount of such fees in effect on 
     September 30, 1998, shall be deposited into the special fund 
     of the Treasury established under section 1931 of title 28, 
     United States Code.

                TITLE II--JUDICIAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS

     SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR MAGISTRATE 
                   JUDGE POSITIONS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE 
                   DISTRICT COURTS OF GUAM AND THE NORTHERN 
                   MARIANA ISLANDS.

       Section 631 of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking the first two sentences of subsection (a) 
     and inserting the following: ``The judges of each United 
     States district court and the district courts of the Virgin 
     Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands shall appoint 
     United States magistrate judges in such numbers and to serve 
     at such locations within the judicial districts as the 
     Judicial Conference may determine under this chapter. In the 
     case of a magistrate judge appointed by the district court of 
     the Virgin Islands, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands, 
     this chapter shall apply as though the court appointing such 
     a magistrate judge were a United States district court.''; 
     and
       (2) by inserting in the first sentence of paragraph (1) of 
     subsection (b) after ``Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,'' the 
     following: ``the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Mariana Islands,''.

     SEC. 202. MAGISTRATE JUDGE CONTEMPT AUTHORITY.

       Section 636(e) of title 28, United States Code, is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(e) Contempt Authority.--
       ``(1) In general.--A United States magistrate judge serving 
     under this chapter shall have within the territorial 
     jurisdiction prescribed by his or her appointment the power 
     to exercise contempt authority as set forth in this 
     subsection.
       ``(2) Summary criminal contempt authority.--A magistrate 
     judge shall have the power to punish summarily by fine or 
     imprisonment such contempt of his or her authority 
     constituting misbehavior of any person in the magistrate 
     judge's presence so as to obstruct the administration of 
     justice. The order of contempt shall be issued pursuant to 
     the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
       ``(3) Additional criminal contempt authority in civil 
     consent and misdemeanor cases.--In any case in which a United 
     States magistrate judge presides with the consent of the 
     parties under subsection (c) of this section, and in any 
     misdemeanor case proceeding before a magistrate judge under 
     section 3401 of title 18, the magistrate judge shall have the 
     power to punish by fine or imprisonment criminal contempt 
     constituting disobedience or resistance to the magistrate 
     judge's lawful writ, process, order, rule, decree, or 
     command. Disposition of such contempt shall be conducted upon 
     notice and hearing pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal 
     Procedure.
       ``(4) Civil contempt authority in civil consent and 
     misdemeanor cases.--In any case in which a United States 
     magistrate judge presides with the consent of the parties 
     under subsection (c) of this section, and in any misdemeanor 
     case proceeding before a magistrate judge under section 3401 
     of title 18, the magistrate judge may exercise the civil 
     contempt authority of the district court. This paragraph 
     shall not be construed to limit the authority of a magistrate 
     judge to order sanctions pursuant to any other statute, the 
     Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or the Federal Rules of 
     Criminal Procedure.
       ``(5) Criminal contempt penalties.--The sentence imposed by 
     a magistrate judge for any criminal contempt provided for in 
     paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not exceed the penalties for a 
     Class C misdemeanor as set forth in sections 3581(b)(8) and 
     3571(b)(6) of title 18.
       ``(6) Certification of other contempts to the district 
     court.--Upon the commission of any such act--
       ``(A) in any case in which a United States magistrate judge 
     presides with the consent of the parties under subsection (c) 
     of this section, or in any misdemeanor case proceeding before 
     a magistrate judge under section 3401 of title 18, that may, 
     in the opinion of the magistrate judge, constitute a serious 
     criminal contempt punishable by penalties exceeding those set 
     forth in paragraph (5) of this subsection; or
       ``(B) in any other case or proceeding under subsection (a) 
     or (b) of this section, or any other statute, where--
       ``(i) the act committed in the magistrate judge's presence 
     may, in the opinion of the magistrate judge, constitute a 
     serious criminal contempt punishable by penalties exceeding 
     those set forth in paragraph (5) of this subsection;
       ``(ii) the act that constitutes a criminal contempt occurs 
     outside the presence of the magistrate judge; or
       ``(iii) the act constitutes a civil contempt,

     the magistrate judge shall forthwith certify the facts to a 
     district judge and may serve or cause to be served upon any 
     person whose behavior is brought into question under this 
     paragraph an order requiring such person to appear before a 
     district judge upon a day certain to show cause why he or she 
     should not be adjudged in contempt by reason of the facts so 
     certified. The district judge shall thereupon hear the 
     evidence as to the act or conduct complained of and, if it is 
     such as to warrant punishment, punish such person in the same 
     manner and to the same extent as for a contempt committed 
     before a district judge.
       ``(7) Appeals of magistrate judge contempt orders.--The 
     appeal of an order of contempt pursuant to this subsection 
     shall be made to the court of appeals in cases proceeding 
     under subsection (c) of this section. In any other proceeding 
     in which a United States magistrate judge presides under 
     subsection (a) or (b) of this section, section 3401 of title 
     18, or any other statute, the appeal of a magistrate judge's 
     summary contempt order shall be made to the district 
     court.''.

     SEC. 203. CONSENT TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE AUTHORITY IN PETTY 
                   OFFENSE CASES AND MAGISTRATE JUDGE AUTHORITY IN 
                   MISDEMEANOR CASES INVOLVING JUVENILE 
                   DEFENDANTS.

       (a) Amendments to Title 18.--
       (1) Petty offense cases.--Section 3401(b) of title 18, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``that is a class 
     B misdemeanor charging a motor vehicle offense, a class C 
     misdemeanor, or an infraction,'' after ``petty offense''.
       (2) Cases involving juveniles.--Section 3401(g) of title 
     18, United States Code, is amended--
       (A) by striking the first sentence and inserting the 
     following: ``The magistrate judge may, in a petty offense 
     case involving a juvenile, exercise all powers granted to the 
     district court under chapter 403 of this title.'';
       (B) in the second sentence by striking ``any other class B 
     or C misdemeanor case'' and inserting ``the case of any 
     misdemeanor, other than a petty offense,''; and
       (C) by striking the last sentence.
       (b) Amendments to Title 28.--Section 636(a) of title 28, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking paragraphs (4) and 
     (5) and inserting in the following:
       ``(4) the power to enter a sentence for a petty offense; 
     and
       ``(5) the power to enter a sentence for a class A 
     misdemeanor in a case in which the parties have consented.''.

     SEC. 204. SAVINGS AND LOAN DATA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

       Section 604 of title 28, United States Code, is amended in 
     subsection (a) by striking the second paragraph designated 
     (24).

     SEC. 205. MEMBERSHIP IN CIRCUIT JUDICIAL COUNCILS.

       Section 332(a) of title 28, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

[[Page S10925]]

       ``(3) Except for the chief judge of the circuit, either 
     judges in regular active service or judges retired from 
     regular active service under section 371(b) of this title may 
     serve as members of the council. Service as a member of a 
     judicial council by a judge retired from regular active 
     service under section 371(b) may not be considered for 
     meeting the requirements of section 371(f) (1)(A), (B), or 
     (C).''; and
       (2) in paragraph (5) by striking ``retirement,'' and 
     inserting ``retirement under section 371(a) or section 372(a) 
     of this title,''.

     SEC. 206. SUNSET OF CIVIL JUSTICE EXPENSE AND DELAY REDUCTION 
                   PLANS.

       Section 103(b)(2)(A) of the Civil Justice Reform Act of 
     1990 (Public Law 101-650; 104 Stat. 5096; 28 U.S.C. 471 
     note), as amended by Public Law 105-53 (111 Stat. 1173), is 
     amended by inserting ``471,'' after ``sections''.

     SEC. 207. REPEAL OF COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS FILING FEE.

       Section 2520 of title 28, United States Code, and the item 
     relating to such section in the table of contents for chapter 
     165 of such title, are repealed.

     SEC. 208. TECHNICAL BANKRUPTCY CORRECTION.

       Section 1228 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``1222(b)(10)'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``1222(b)(9)''.

     SEC. 209. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT RELATING TO THE TREATMENT OF 
                   CERTAIN BANKRUPTCY FEES COLLECTED.

       (a) Amendment.--The first sentence of section 406(b) of the 
     Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, 
     and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1990 (Public Law 
     101-162; 103 Stat. 1016; 28 U.S.C. 1931 note) is amended by 
     striking ``service enumerated after item 18'' and inserting 
     ``service not of a kind described in any of the items 
     enumerated as items 1 through 7 and as items 9 through 18, as 
     in effect on November 21, 1989,''.
       (b) Application of Amendment.--The amendment made by 
     subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to fees collected 
     before the date of the enactment of this Act.

TITLE III--JUDICIAL PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION, BENEFITS, AND PROTECTIONS

     SEC. 301. JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS RETIREMENT 
                   MATTERS.

       (a) Director of Administrative Office.--Section 611 of 
     title 28, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (d), by inserting ``a congressional 
     employee in the capacity of primary administrative assistant 
     to a Member of Congress or in the capacity of staff director 
     or chief counsel for the majority or the minority of a 
     committee or subcommittee of the Senate or House of 
     Representatives,'' after ``Congress,'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking ``who has served at least fifteen years 
     and'' and inserting ``who has at least fifteen years of 
     service and has''; and
       (B) in the first undesignated paragraph, by striking ``who 
     has served at least ten years,'' and inserting ``who has at 
     least ten years of service,''; and
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by striking ``served at least fifteen years,'' and 
     inserting ``at least fifteen years of service,''; and
       (B) by striking ``served less than fifteen years,'' and 
     inserting ``less than fifteen years of service,''.
       (b) Director of the Federal Judicial Center.--Section 627 
     of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (e), by inserting ``a congressional 
     employee in the capacity of primary administrative assistant 
     to a Member of Congress or in the capacity of staff director 
     or chief counsel for the majority or the minority of a 
     committee or subcommittee of the Senate or House of 
     Representatives,'' after ``Congress,'';
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by striking ``who has served at least fifteen years 
     and'' and inserting ``who has at least fifteen years of 
     service and has''; and
       (B) in the first undesignated paragraph, by striking ``who 
     has served at least ten years,'' and inserting ``who has at 
     least ten years of service,''; and
       (3) in subsection (d)--
       (A) by striking ``served at least fifteen years,'' and 
     inserting ``at least fifteen years of service,''; and
       (B) by striking ``served less than fifteen years,'' and 
     inserting ``less than fifteen years of service,''.

     SEC. 302. TRAVEL EXPENSES OF JUDGES.

       Section 456 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(h)(1) In this subsection, the term `travel expenses'--
       ``(A) means the expenses incurred by a judge for travel 
     that is not directly related to any case assigned to such 
     judge; and
       ``(B) shall not include the travel expenses of a judge if--
       ``(i) the payment for the travel expenses is paid by such 
     judge from the personal funds of such judge; and
       ``(ii) such judge does not receive funds (including 
     reimbursement) from the United States or any other person or 
     entity for the payment of such travel expenses.
       ``(2)(A) Each circuit judge of a court of appeals shall 
     annually submit the information required under paragraph (3) 
     to the chief judge for the circuit in which the judge is 
     assigned.
       ``(B) Each district judge shall annually submit the 
     information required under paragraph (3) to the chief judge 
     for the district in which the judge is assigned.
       ``(3)(A) Each chief judge of each circuit and each district 
     shall submit an annual report to the Director of the 
     Administrative Office of the United States Courts on the 
     travel expenses of each judge assigned to the applicable 
     circuit or district (including the travel expenses of the 
     chief judge of such circuit or district).
       ``(B) The annual report under this paragraph shall 
     include--
       ``(i) the travel expenses of each judge, with the name of 
     the judge to whom the travel expenses apply;
       ``(ii) a description of the subject matter and purpose of 
     the travel relating to each travel expense identified under 
     clause (i), with the name of the judge to whom the travel 
     applies; and
       ``(iii) the number of days of each travel described under 
     clause (ii), with the name of the judge to whom the travel 
     applies.
       ``(4)(A) The Director of the Administrative Office of the 
     United States Courts shall--
       ``(i) consolidate the reports submitted under paragraph (3) 
     into a single report; and
       ``(ii) annually submit such consolidated report to 
     Congress.
       ``(B) The consolidated report submitted under this 
     paragraph shall include the specific information required 
     under paragraph (3)(B), including the name of each judge with 
     respect to clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of paragraph 
     (3)(B).''.

     SEC. 303. TRANSFER OF COUNTY TO MIDDLE DISTRICT OF 
                   PENNSYLVANIA.

       (a) Transfer.--Section 118 of title 28, United States Code, 
     is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``Philadelphia, and 
     Schuylkill'' and inserting ``and Philadelphia''; and
       (2) in subsection (b) by inserting ``Schuylkill,'' after 
     ``Potter,''.
       (b) Effective Date.--
       (1) In general.--This section and the amendments made by 
     this section shall take effect 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (2) Pending cases not affected.--This section and the 
     amendments made by this section shall not affect any action 
     commenced before the effective date of this section and 
     pending on such date in the United States District Court for 
     the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
       (3) Juries not affected.--This section and the amendments 
     made by this section shall not affect the composition, or 
     preclude the service, of any grand or petit jury summoned, 
     impaneled, or actually serving on the effective date of this 
     section.

     SEC. 304. PAYMENTS TO MILITARY SURVIVORS BENEFITS PLAN.

       Section 371(e) of title 28, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting after ``such retired or retainer pay'' the 
     following: ``, except such pay as is deductible from the 
     retired or retainer pay as a result of participation in any 
     survivor's benefits plan in connection with the retired 
     pay,''.

     SEC. 305. CREATION OF CERTIFYING OFFICERS IN THE JUDICIAL 
                   BRANCH.

       (a) Appointment of Disbursing and Certifying Officers.--
     Chapter 41 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 613. Disbursing and certifying officers

       ``(a) Disbursing Officers.--The Director may designate in 
     writing officers and employees of the judicial branch of the 
     Government, including the courts as defined in section 610 
     other than the Supreme Court, to be disbursing officers in 
     such numbers and locations as the Director considers 
     necessary. Such disbursing officers shall--
       ``(1) disburse moneys appropriated to the judicial branch 
     and other funds only in strict accordance with payment 
     requests certified by the Director or in accordance with 
     subsection (b);
       ``(2) examine payment requests as necessary to ascertain 
     whether they are in proper form, certified, and approved; and
       ``(3) be held accountable for their actions as provided by 
     law, except that such a disbursing officer shall not be held 
     accountable or responsible for any illegal, improper, or 
     incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or 
     misleading certificate for which a certifying officer is 
     responsible under subsection (b).
       ``(b) Certifying Officers.--(1) The Director may designate 
     in writing officers and employees of the judicial branch of 
     the Government, including the courts as defined in section 
     610 other than the Supreme Court, to certify payment requests 
     payable from appropriations and funds. Such certifying 
     officers shall be responsible and accountable for--
       ``(A) the existence and correctness of the facts recited in 
     the certificate or other request for payment or its 
     supporting papers;
       ``(B) the legality of the proposed payment under the 
     appropriation or fund involved; and
       ``(C) the correctness of the computations of certified 
     payment requests.
       ``(2) The liability of a certifying officer shall be 
     enforced in the same manner and to the same extent as 
     provided by law with respect to the enforcement of the 
     liability of disbursing and other accountable officers. A 
     certifying officer shall be required to make restitution to 
     the United States for the amount of any illegal, improper, or 
     incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or 
     misleading certificates made by

[[Page S10926]]

     the certifying officer, as well as for any payment prohibited 
     by law or which did not represent a legal obligation under 
     the appropriation or fund involved.
       ``(c) Rights.--A certifying or disbursing officer--
       ``(1) has the right to apply for and obtain a decision by 
     the Comptroller General on any question of law involved in a 
     payment request presented for certification; and
       ``(2) is entitled to relief from liability arising under 
     this section in accordance with title 31.
       ``(d) Other Authority Not Affected.--Nothing in this 
     section affects the authority of the courts with respect to 
     moneys deposited with the courts under chapter 129 of this 
     title.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
     chapter 41 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following item:

``613. Disbursing and certifying officers.''.
       (c) Rule of Construction.--The amendment made by subsection 
     (a) shall not be construed to authorize the hiring of any 
     Federal officer or employee.
       (d) Duties of Director.--Paragraph (8) of subsection (a) of 
     section 604 of title 28, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(8) Disburse appropriations and other funds for the 
     maintenance and operation of the courts;''.

     SEC. 306. AUTHORITY TO PRESCRIBE FEES FOR TECHNOLOGY 
                   RESOURCES IN THE COURTS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 41 of title 28, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 614. Authority to prescribe fees for technology 
       resources in the courts

       ``The Judicial Conference is authorized to prescribe 
     reasonable fees pursuant to sections 1913, 1914, 1926, 1930, 
     and 1932, for collection by the courts for use of information 
     technology resources provided by the judiciary for remote 
     access to the courthouse by litigants and the public, and to 
     facilitate the electronic presentation of cases. Fees under 
     this section may be collected only to cover the costs of 
     making such information technology resources available for 
     the purposes set forth in this section. Such fees shall not 
     be required of persons financially unable to pay them. All 
     fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the 
     Judiciary Information Technology Fund and be available to the 
     Director without fiscal year limitation to be expended on 
     information technology resources developed or acquired to 
     advance the purposes set forth in this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
     chapter 41 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new item:

``614. Authority to prescribe fees for technology resources in the 
              courts.''.
       (c) Technical Amendment.--Chapter 123 of title 28, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the section 1932 entitled ``Revocation 
     of earned release credit'' as section 1933 and placing it 
     after the section 1932 entitled ``Judicial Panel on 
     Multidistrict Litigation''; and
       (2) in the table of sections by striking the 2 items 
     relating to section 1932 and inserting the following:

``1932. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
``1933. Revocation of earned release credit.''.

                   TITLE IV--FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDERS

     SEC. 401. TORT CLAIMS ACT AMENDMENT RELATING TO LIABILITY OF 
                   FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDERS.

       Section 2671 of title 28, United States Code, is amended in 
     the second undesignated paragraph--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``includes''; and
       (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
     following: ``, and (2) any officer or employee of a Federal 
     public defender organization, except when such officer or 
     employee performs professional services in the course of 
     providing representation under section 3006A of title 18.''.
                                 ______