United States · Law · S
S. 2915 (106th)
Federal Courts Improvement Act of 2000
Introduced
25 July 2000
Last action
13 November 2000 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 106-518.
Sponsors
Chuck Grassley, Rep. Torricelli, Robert G. [D-NJ-9]
Subjects
Defence, Budget
Source updated
10 August 2026
Summary
Federal Courts Improvement Act of 2000 - Title I: Judicial Financial Administration - Amends Federal judicial code provisions regarding the Judiciary Information Technology Fund to repeal provisions subjecting information technology procurement to provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (also known as the Information Technology Management Reform Act) applicable to executive agencies (thus subjecting the Fund to the budget management process of the executive branch). (Sec. 102) Authorizes the Judicial Conference of the United States to require the debtor in a chapter 11 bankruptcy case in a district that is not part of a United States trustee region to pay fees equal to those imposed in districts that are part of such a region. Provides for transfers to the fund of specified: (1) reimbursement to the judiciary for civil and criminal forfeiture expenses; and (2) retirement funds. Increases fees: (1) in chapter nine bankruptcy filings; and (2) for converting a chapter seven or chapter 13 bankruptcy case to a chapter 11 bankruptcy case. Title II: Judicial Process Improvements - Provides authority for the appointment of magistrate judges in the district courts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Amends: (1) the Federal Magistrates Act to grant U.S. magistrate judges the power to exercise contempt authority within his or her territorial jurisdiction, including summary criminal contempt authority and criminal and civil contempt authority in civil consent and misdemeanor cases; and (2) the Federal criminal and judicial codes to remove certain limitations on the authority of magistrate judges to try petty offense cases. (Sec. 205) Authorizes judges retired from regular active service to serve as members of the judicial council of the circuit. Provides for the sunset of provisions requiring a civil justice expense and delay reduction plan. Repeals a U.S. Court of Federal Claims fee for the filing of any petition. (Sec. 210) Amends the Criminal Justice Act to: (1) increase the maximum amounts of compensation permitted for attorneys; and (2) authorize reimbursement of expenses in defense of certain malpractice actions. Title III: Judicial Personnel Administration, Benefits, and Protections - Amends the judicial code to include within the definition of "service" for purposes of retirement provisions applicable to the Directors of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, and the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice, service as 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 House or Senate committee or subcommittee. (Sec. 302) Makes applicable to employees of the United States Sentencing Commission provisions regarding incentive awards, leave, compensation for work injuries, retirement, unemployment compensation, life and health insurance, and payment for accumulated and accrued leave. Permits continued payment from retired or retainer pay into a military survivors' benefits plan with respect to a regular, reserve, or former member of a uniformed service receiving such pay who becomes employed as a U.S. justice or judge. Authorizes the Director of the Administrative Office to designate judicial branch officers and employees to be disbursing and certifying officers. Authorizes the Judicial Conference to prescribe fees for technology resources in the courts. (Sec. 306) Authorizes: (1) the clerk under the supervision of the court, if the jury selection plan so authorizes, to determine qualification for jury service; and (2) the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to appoint a circuit executive. (Sec. 308) Exempts retired judges of the Court of Federal Claims (CFC) from restrictions as to residence and considers the place where a retired judge maintains the actual abode in which such judge customarily lives to be the judge's official duty station. Provides for the recall of any CFC judge on disability status who, in the estimation of the chief judge, has recovered sufficiently to render judicial service. Deems a CFC judge to be an "officer" for purposes of provisions regarding Federal employees. (Sec. 311) Includes: (1) for purposes of entitlement to lump-sum payment for accumulated and accrued leave on separation, an officer in the legislative or judicial branch who is transferred to a position appointed by the President; and (2) an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch within the scope of provisions regarding the employment of personal assistants for handicapped employees. (Sec. 311) Repeals a requirement for mandatory retirement for the Director of the Federal Judicial Center at age 70. Title IV: Federal Public Defenders - Exempts Federal public defenders from the Tort Claims Act for claims related to representational services.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
25 July 2000
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
25 July 2000
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7544-7545)
Source: IntroReferral
25 July 2000
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
28 September 2000
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 860.
Source: Calendars
28 September 2000
Reported
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
28 September 2000
Reported
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
19 October 2000
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Floor
19 October 2000
Reported
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10844-10848; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S10844-10847)
Source: Floor
23 October 2000
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
23 October 2000
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
23 October 2000
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
25 October 2000
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
25 October 2000
Passed
On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
25 October 2000
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
25 October 2000
Floor
Considered by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
25 October 2000
Floor
Mr. Coble asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
Source: Floor
26 October 2000
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
27 October 2000
Passed
Senate agreed to the House amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S11278; text as Senate agreed to House amendments: CR S11278)
Source: ResolvingDifferences
27 October 2000
Passed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S11278; text as Senate agreed to House amendments: CR S11278)
Source: NotUsed
6 November 2000
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
6 November 2000
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
13 November 2000
Became law
Became Public Law No: 106-518.
Source: President
13 November 2000
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
13 November 2000
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Enrolled Bill · undated · Official file
- Public Law · 13 November 2000 · Official file
- Engrossed Amendment House · 25 October 2000 · Official file
- Engrossed in Senate · 20 October 2000 · Official file
- Reported to Senate · 28 September 2000 · Official file
- Introduced in Senate · 25 July 2000 · Official file
Documents
14 official files
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 13 November 2000
Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 13 November 2000
Engrossed Amendment House (text)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 25 October 2000
Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 25 October 2000
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 25 October 2000
Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 20 October 2000
Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 20 October 2000
Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 28 September 2000
Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 28 September 2000
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 25 July 2000
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 25 July 2000
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 25 July 2000
Sponsors
- Chuck Grassley · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Torricelli, Robert G. [D-NJ-9] · D · Sponsor
- · ssju00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Federal Courts Improvement Act of 2000
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/2915
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/106/s/2915
- us · 106-s-2915 · source updated 10 August 2026