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HR 585 114th Congress House Environmental Protection Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration Civil actions and liability Endangered and threatened species Government information and archives Intergovernmental relations State and local government operations

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to establish a procedure for approval of certain settlements.

Introduced: January 28, 2015 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 17, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.
Mar 17, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Jan 28, 2015
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 28, 2015
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to revise provisions governing citizen suits against the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, that allege a failure of the relevant department to perform an act or duty related to an endangered species or threatened species. Interior must publish the complaint in a citizen suit within 30 days of being served. Affected parties shall be given a reasonable opportunity to intervene in the suit. If affected parties intervene, the court must refer the action to a mediation program or magistrate judge to facilitate settlement discussions.

The court is prohibited from: (1) awarding litigation costs in a citizen suit that is settled by a consent decree, or (2) awarding litigation costs to a plaintiff in a citizen suit that is settled.

Interior must provide notice of a proposed settlement to each state or county in which an affected species occurs. A settlement can only be approved if states or counties approve the settlement or fail to respond.

What's happening now March 17, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 3