[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 39 (Monday, March 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E338-E339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS, PUBLIC DEFENDER 
SERVICE, AND COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY ACT OF 2014

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 10, 2014

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce an important bill for the 
administration of justice in the District of Columbia. The bill would 
make minor, technical changes to the authorities of the District of 
Columbia Courts (Courts), the Public Defender Service for the District 
of Columbia (PDS) and the Court Services and Offender Supervision 
Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA), placing these entities in 
the same position as their federal counterparts for more effective 
management and operation.
  This bill would allow the Courts to collect debts owed to it by its 
employees (e.g., debts from loss or damage to property, improper credit 
card payments, erroneous payments to employees). The Executive Officer 
of the Courts would have to provide employees with at least 30 days' 
written notice regarding the debt collection, and employees would have 
the right to a hearing conducted by an independent officer. The bill 
would also give the Courts the authority to purchase uniforms to ensure 
the safety of its building engineers, facilities maintenance workers 
and mail personnel. These service employees must regularly access 
buildings run by the Courts at all hours. The increase in the number of 
security incidents in courthouses throughout the country and the 
location of the Courts in the nation's capital require visual security 
and uniformity of staff to help ensure that unauthorized persons do not 
enter secure areas.
  The bill would expressly allow PDS to accept and use public grants, 
voluntary and uncompensated services, such as unpaid law clerks and 
interns, and private contributions made to advance PDS's work. It would 
also allow PDS board members to be treated as PDS employees for 
purposes of liability. Apparently, a drafting oversight in the National 
Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 
makes PDS's volunteer board of trustees District of Columbia employees 
for purposes of any action brought against board members. This bill 
would rectify this oversight.
  Finally, the bill would allow CSOSA to develop and implement 
incentive-based programming to accompany its current sanction policies. 
Combining both sanctions and incentives has been proven to be more 
effective in improving compliance with supervision. The bill also would 
authorize CSOSA to solicit, receive and use gifts for the purpose of 
advancing its work, and would require the Director to keep detailed 
records on the use of CSOSA's gift authority. It would also permit the 
Director to enter into cost-reimbursable agreements with the D.C. 
government for space or services provided. The D.C. government is a 
frequent partner of CSOSA due to its location in D.C. and CSOSA's 
mandate to assist in the reintegration of D.C. code offenders into 
society. Giving CSOSA the authority to enter into reimbursable 
agreements with the District is necessary to assist CSOSA in its daily 
work.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

[[Page E339]]



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