Monitor Accountability Act

What this does

Directs the Judicial Conference to set rules capping fees, limiting terms, and requiring public notice, accounting, and judge transfers for court-appointed monitors of state and local governments.

House vote · 219-204

Democrats5–204

Republicans213–0

Independents1–0

How we know · 11 sourced claims

The bill directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to establish, by rule within 180 days, conditions on the appointment of court monitors who oversee a state or local government under a court order.Source: Sec. 2(a) In general
The rules must cap monitor fees at a maximum rate the Judicial Conference may set and must authorize pro bono or reduced-rate work.Source: Sec. 2(a)(1) Fees
A monitor may not hold more than one monitorship at a time, may not serve a term longer than 5 years, and may not be reappointed under the same court order after the term expires.Source: Sec. 2(a)(2) Exclusivity and term
A monitor appointed after the prior monitor's term under the same court order may not be employed by the same employer as the previous monitor.Source: Sec. 2(a)(3) Subsequent monitors
Before appointing a monitor, the court must give public notice of the person to be appointed and allow public comment.Source: Sec. 2(a)(4) Public comment
Revising a monitorship requires the court to hold a hearing, and the court may revise a monitorship requirement only where the subject has not attained substantial and sustained compliance.Source: Sec. 2(a)(5) Termination (Revision and Scope of monitorship)
If a monitorship is still in effect 6 years after the court order imposing it, the case is transferred to another judge in the district.Source: Sec. 2(b) Transfer
A monitor must submit an annual accounting to the court covering services provided, fees charged, and any pro bono or reduced-rate work, and the court must make that accounting public.Source: Sec. 2(c) Accounting
For a monitorship already in effect for 6 years at enactment, a new monitor must be appointed within 180 days and the case transferred within 1 year.Source: Sec. 2(d) Retroactivity
The bill states a non-binding sense of Congress that monitoring is a public service and monitorships should encourage pro bono or reduced-rate work.Source: Sec. 2(e) Sense of Congress
The bill covers a single subject: the appointment and terms of court-appointed monitors of state and local governments, with a short-title section and one operative section and no unrelated rider.Source: Sec. 1 Short title; Sec. 2 Conditions on the appointment of monitors by courts

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House roll call

The full roll call

R213–0D5–204I1–0

Position

Party

State

Republicans

217

Democrats

212

Independents

YeaKevin KileyCA · District 3