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     &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense Act of 2021 or the EQUAL Defense Act of 2021&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; This bill establishes and modifies certain programs that support the delivery of public defense services (i.e., legal services for criminal defendants who cannot afford counsel). &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to state and local governments, tribal organizations, and public defender offices for public defense. A grant recipient must use the grant to establish a data collection process, develop workload limits, and satisfy specified compensation requirements (e.g., pay parity between public defenders and prosecutors).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The bill also directs DOJ to award grants to nonprofits and government organizations to train public defenders, court-appointed attorneys, and contract attorneys.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Additionally, a state that receives Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program funds must annually submit to DOJ information related to the legal representation of defendants in criminal cases.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Finally, it reauthorizes through FY2025 the student loan repayment program for prosecutors and public defenders and otherwise revises the program, including by increasing the maximum benefit amount.&lt;/p&gt;
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   Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress
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   This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.
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2021-04-28
Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
hsju08
1
House committee actions
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Committee
H11100
2021-02-26
Judiciary Committee
hsju00
2
House floor actions
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
IntroReferral
Intro-H
2021-02-26
9
Library of Congress
Introduced in House
IntroReferral
1000
2021-02-26
9
Library of Congress
Introduced in House
IntroReferral
2021-02-26T14:00:35Z
Referred to
House
Judiciary Committee
2021-04-28T06:12:31Z
Referred to
Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
hsju08
hsju00
Standing
D000627
10
Val
Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]
Demings
Butler
D
2021-02-26
FL
D000631
4
Madeleine
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
Dean
D
2021-02-26
PA
J000032
18
SHEILA
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
JACKSON LEE
D
2021-02-26
TX
M001188
6
Grace
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Meng
D
2021-02-26
NY
S000185
3
Robert
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Scott
C. "Bobby"
D
2021-02-26
VA
S001205
5
Mary
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Scanlon
Gay
D
2021-06-24
PA
J000306
17
Mondaire
Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17]
Jones
D
2021-07-02
NY
N000147
0
ELEANOR
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
NORTON
HOLMES
D
2021-12-13
DC
D000399
35
LLOYD
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-35]
DOGGETT
D
2021-12-13
TX
B001278
1
Suzanne
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Bonamici
D
2021-12-14
OR
C001068
9
Steve
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Cohen
D
2022-02-04
TN
P000604
10
Donald
Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
Payne
M.
D
2022-03-15
NJ
S001145
9
JANICE
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
SCHAKOWSKY
D.
D
2022-05-11
IL
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress
This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
2021-02-26
2021-04-28
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
House
Crime and Law Enforcement
2022-11-17
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
CRS
Related bill
EQUAL Defense Act of 2022
HR
D000610
22
Theodore
Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22]
N
Deutch
E.
D
FL
Business records Correctional facilities and imprisonment Criminal justice information and records Criminal procedure and sentencing Employment and training programs Employment discrimination and employee rights Higher education Juvenile crime and gang violence Law enforcement administration and funding Lawyers and legal services State and local government operations Student aid and college costs Wages and earnings
2021-02-26
Introduced in House
 <p><b>Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense Act of 2021 or the EQUAL Defense Act of 2021</b></p> <p> This bill establishes and modifies certain programs that support the delivery of public defense services (i.e., legal services for criminal defendants who cannot afford counsel). </p> <p>Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to state and local governments, tribal organizations, and public defender offices for public defense. A grant recipient must use the grant to establish a data collection process, develop workload limits, and satisfy specified compensation requirements (e.g., pay parity between public defenders and prosecutors).</p> <p>The bill also directs DOJ to award grants to nonprofits and government organizations to train public defenders, court-appointed attorneys, and contract attorneys.</p> <p>Additionally, a state that receives Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program funds must annually submit to DOJ information related to the legal representation of defendants in criminal cases.</p> <p>Finally, it reauthorizes through FY2025 the student loan repayment program for prosecutors and public defenders and otherwise revises the program, including by increasing the maximum benefit amount.</p>
2021-04-22T15:24:48Z
00
2021-02-26T05:00:00Z
Introduced in House
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117hr1408ih/xml/BILLS-117hr1408ih.xml
EQUAL Defense Act of 2021
EQUAL Defense Act of 2021
Display Title
IH
Introduced in House
To incentivize States and localities to improve access to justice, and for other purposes.
Official Title as Introduced
IH
Introduced in House
EQUAL Defense Act of 2021
Short Title(s) as Introduced
IH
Introduced in House
Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense Act of 2021
Short Title(s) as Introduced
HR
2023-01-11T13:47:02Z
2023-01-11T13:47:02Z
3.0.0
2022-11-17
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
CRS
Related bill
EQUAL Defense Act of 2022
HR
2021-04-28
Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
hsju08
1
House committee actions
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Committee
H11100
2021-02-26
Judiciary Committee
hsju00
2
House floor actions
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
IntroReferral
Intro-H
2021-02-26
9
Library of Congress
Introduced in House
IntroReferral
1000
2021-02-26
9
Library of Congress
Introduced in House
IntroReferral
D000610
22
Theodore
Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22]
N
Deutch
E.
D
FL
D000627
10
Val
Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]
Demings
Butler
D
2021-02-26
FL
D000631
4
Madeleine
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
Dean
D
2021-02-26
PA
J000032
18
SHEILA
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
JACKSON LEE
D
2021-02-26
TX
M001188
6
Grace
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Meng
D
2021-02-26
NY
S000185
3
Robert
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Scott
C. "Bobby"
D
2021-02-26
VA
S001205
5
Mary
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Scanlon
Gay
D
2021-06-24
PA
J000306
17
Mondaire
Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17]
Jones
D
2021-07-02
NY
N000147
0
ELEANOR
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
NORTON
HOLMES
D
2021-12-13
DC
D000399
35
LLOYD
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-35]
DOGGETT
D
2021-12-13
TX
B001278
1
Suzanne
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Bonamici
D
2021-12-14
OR
C001068
9
Steve
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Cohen
D
2022-02-04
TN
P000604
10
Donald
Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
Payne
M.
D
2022-03-15
NJ
S001145
9
JANICE
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
SCHAKOWSKY
D.
D
2022-05-11
IL
Business records Correctional facilities and imprisonment Criminal justice information and records Criminal procedure and sentencing Employment and training programs Employment discrimination and employee rights Higher education Juvenile crime and gang violence Law enforcement administration and funding Lawyers and legal services State and local government operations Student aid and college costs Wages and earnings
2021-02-26
Introduced in House
 <p><b>Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense Act of 2021 or the EQUAL Defense Act of 2021</b></p> <p> This bill establishes and modifies certain programs that support the delivery of public defense services (i.e., legal services for criminal defendants who cannot afford counsel). </p> <p>Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to state and local governments, tribal organizations, and public defender offices for public defense. A grant recipient must use the grant to establish a data collection process, develop workload limits, and satisfy specified compensation requirements (e.g., pay parity between public defenders and prosecutors).</p> <p>The bill also directs DOJ to award grants to nonprofits and government organizations to train public defenders, court-appointed attorneys, and contract attorneys.</p> <p>Additionally, a state that receives Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program funds must annually submit to DOJ information related to the legal representation of defendants in criminal cases.</p> <p>Finally, it reauthorizes through FY2025 the student loan repayment program for prosecutors and public defenders and otherwise revises the program, including by increasing the maximum benefit amount.</p>
2021-04-22T15:24:48Z
00
EQUAL Defense Act of 2021
EQUAL Defense Act of 2021
Display Title
IH
Introduced in House
To incentivize States and localities to improve access to justice, and for other purposes.
Official Title as Introduced
IH
Introduced in House
EQUAL Defense Act of 2021
Short Title(s) as Introduced
IH
Introduced in House
Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense Act of 2021
Short Title(s) as Introduced
2021-04-28
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.