Monitor Accountability Act

Key Points

• This bill sets new rules for court-appointed monitors who oversee state and local governments under court orders. These monitors are often assigned to watch over police departments, jails, or school systems that a court has found in violation of people's rights.
• Monitors would be limited to a single five-year term per case and could not serve on more than one monitorship at a time. After the term expires, a new monitor from a different employer must be brought in, preventing any single firm from holding long-term control over a case.
• The Judicial Conference would set maximum fee rates for monitors, and the bill encourages the use of free or discounted work. Congress considers monitoring a form of public service.
• After six years, any case with a monitor still in place must be transferred to a different judge in the same district. This aims to bring fresh eyes to decide whether oversight is still needed.
• Monitors must submit yearly public reports detailing their services and fees. Existing monitorships that have already lasted six years would need to appoint new monitors within 180 days and transfer cases within a year of the law taking effect.