Skip to main content
HR 2868 116th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal justice information and records Employment and training programs Employment discrimination and employee rights Law enforcement administration and funding Lawyers and legal services Student aid and college costs Wages and earnings

EQUAL Defense Act of 2019

Introduced: May 21, 2019 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 26, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
May 21, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 21, 2019
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense Act of 2019 or the EQUAL Defense Act of 2019

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).

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).

The bill also directs DOJ to award grants to nonprofits and government organizations to train public defenders, court-appointed attorneys, and contract attorneys.

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.

It also reauthorizes through FY2022 the student loan repayment program for prosecutors and public defenders and otherwise revises the program, including by increasing the maximum benefit amount.

What's happening now June 26, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3